07/22/2026
One year ago this week, Gavin had surgery on both of his feet.
In just four weeks, we’ll be back at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for another major surgery—but this time, his biggest orthopedic reconstruction yet.
The photo below is from his 2019 tendon lengthening surgery. His setup will be similar, but this surgery is far more invasive and much more complex. The biggest difference? He’s no longer a little boy. Gavin is now 5’8” and 110 pounds.
He will require both Mom and Dad home for toileting, transfers, hygiene, stretching, repositioning, and around-the-clock care, and we need your help. ❤️
Here’s what the next few months look like:
August 6: Pre-anesthesia testing and ophthalmology
August 25: Lower body reconstructive surgery
October 26–30: Intensive outpatient PT and OT at St. Louis Children’s
This surgery is different than his spinal fusion. The operation itself is shorter, but the recovery will be much harder.
The team will be correcting his windswept hip deformity, reconstructing his entire left hip, performing multiple tendon and muscle releases, shortening and pinning his right femur to level his pelvis, and reconstructing both ankles with tendon transfers.
The goal is simple: improve his comfort, positioning, and give him the best opportunity to return to standing and using his gait trainer.
After surgery, Gavin will be casted and braced from his toes to his chest for four weeks before beginning months of intensive rehabilitation. Honestly… he is so ready for that part. He’s ready to put in the work.
We’ve been preparing for this since before his spinal fusion in April.
Every appointment, every therapy session, every surgery has been another step toward giving him a more comfortable, more functional future.
We’re incredibly grateful for the love you’ve shown our family already. Your prayers, messages, donations, Meal Train sign-ups, and shares carried us through his spinal fusion, and now we’re asking for your help one more time.
We’re officially halfway to our fundraising goal.
The first $10,000 helped us purchase an in-home lift, positioning wedges, cover travel expenses, hospital meals, co-pays, and FMLA leave so both Mom and Dad could be home to safely care for Gavin. Because he doesn’t qualify for in-home nursing, every transfer, diaper change, repositioning, bath, and stretch falls on us.
Now we’re preparing to do it all over again.
To be completely honest, July has been our hardest month financially.
It’s always our slowest month at Bewitching Botanicals, but this year it’s also come with four kids’ school registration, three birthdays, and everything that comes with preparing for another major surgery.
If you’ve been meaning to stop into the shop, stock up on your favorites, or pick up a gift, this week would mean more than you know.
Supporting our little family business helps us continue showing up for Gavin through everything that’s ahead.
If you’re able, we’d also be incredibly grateful if you’d consider donating, sharing this post, or simply keeping Gavin in your prayers.
We know this community has carried us before, and we truly believe you’ll help carry us through this next chapter too.
Every share matters. Every donation helps. Every prayer means more than we can put into words.
GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/27ff87b53
Meal Train:
https://mealtrain.com/7g6839
One appointment at a time. One surgery at a time. One step closer to getting Gavin back on his feet—and giving him the most comfortable, functional life possible. ❤️
