Meet MackenzieAge 12- St. Louis Children's Hospital
At the age of four, Mackenzie began to dream of becoming a ballerina as she skipped across the floor in her first dance class. Soon after that class, Mackenzie was diagnosed with Leggs-Calves-Perthes Disease in her left hip. A degenerative bone disease, Mackenzie’s parents immediately thought of dreams – would she still be able to dance or even walk one day? Five months later, Mackenzie’s family met Dr. Schoenecker and his staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. They immediately began treatment on her hip, releasing her tendons and extending her legs to ensure the fragmenting femoral head would remain contained. She was wheelchair-bound to protect her fragile bone, but over time it absorbed, rebuilt, and re-ossified allowing Mackenzie to walk for the first time at school for her Kindergarten graduation. Later Mackenzie was able to have her first dance, not in a studio or class, but instead impromptu while on vacation with her family to “Brick House” by The Commodores! CMN-STL |