Meet Dayton

Earlier this year, Dayton’s mom noticed how her six-year-old son was limping.

When we don’t witness our children being injured, we imagine many different possibilities. It could be anything, right?

A visit to the local Retreat Day Hospital led to blood tests and X-rays, which were inconclusive at the time. However, little Dayton didn’t want to move much or play. Something was seriously wrong.

Following the Retreat Day Hospital visit, Dayton and his mom were contacted by Victoria Hospital, the sister hospital of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, for further examination.

They positioned the X-ray differently at Victoria Hospital by asking Dayton to spread his legs like a frog. This showed up something very peculiar and very worrying. Only one of Dayton’s hips had developed.

Dayton was diagnosed with Perthes disease. The disease is a childhood condition that occurs when blood doesn’t flow to the ball part of the hip joint, and the bone gets flattened. Parents first sight it once the child starts limping.

Mom was beside herself. How is this possible? “he wasn’t born like this,” she shares her dismay. The doctors at Victoria Hospital explained that a vein that ran from his neck to his hip had collapsed. Without the blood flow to his hip, the development of Dayton’s bone had been disrupted. The deterioration that was beginning to occur was now causing pain.

At this point, Dayton’s healthcare was escalated to attendance at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Further X-rays and more blood tests for this little one established a plan of action.

Although care shifted from one healing facility to the next, what would be best for the child was quickly established. Dayton was placed on abduction traction, which he had for a few weeks, and then it was removed again. He must attend follow-ups to check if there is any improvement. Doctors believe that with good treatment Dayton can be well on his recovery as children’s bones can regrow.

This is just the beginning of his journey, and no time was wasted getting him to the right place fast!

Mom is apprehensive about what lies ahead for her son. Already, little Dayton has had extended stays in hospital after operations. The new Orthopaedic Unit will benefit thousands of children like Dayton each year. He will make regular visits to Red Cross Hospital and the Orthopaedic Unit, possibly, for years to come. His skeletal development will be carefully monitored, and in conjunction with the Ortho Unit, he may recover mobility well.

Dayton believes that it will just take a little time. This little six-year-old is brave and determined. When his mom raises her concerns about the healing process, he quickly interrupts her. ‘I’ll wait,” he says. It will take time to heal the hip and improve blood flow and development. But it is possible! Dayton knows this. And more importantly, he believes it.

Donate towards a new Orthopaedic Unit at the Red Children’s Cross Hospital and help give little ones like Dayton effective patient-centred care. 100% of your donation goes directly towards the project.