In 2021, my daughter Evie was born with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), meaning her left hip has not properly formed. Unfortunately this wasn’t picked up when Evie was born and she was diagnosed late at 18 months after developing a limp when she started to walk. Due to the late diagnosis, Evie will have to have open reduction surgery in order to place the femoral head back into the hip socket, this will mean they need to break her pelvis and use the bone from her femur to recreate a socket.

Following Evie’s operation she will spend 6-12 weeks in a Spica (full body) cast from belly button to ankle in order to keep her femur and pelvis in place and help the healing process. This will mean she is unable to go to nursery during this time and will need 24/7 care.

DDH effects on average 1 in every 1,000 babies mainly first born girls or those that are breech and usually DDH is diagnosed at birth following the initial infant checks.

Steps charity provide support to families like myself with children with any lower limb condition. They will be helping me in providing a specialist car seats and buggy for Evie, which is specially designed to allow her to sit comfortably in with her cast, this is something she would not physically be able to do it an normal car seat or buggy. This assistance from Steps will allow us to still have some normality, take Evie out and they also provide constant support to us or those individuals and families in a similar postition.

In April 2024 I will be running the London Marathon for Steps in order to raise awareness for a charity close to my heart and to help ensure that Steps can continue to support other families like ours with DDH and other lower limb conditions