KSHB 41: 10-year-old cancer patient gets second chance with unique surgery that rotated her foot

By Jordan Betts

After 81 days in the hospital, 10-year-old Harper Claar will finally get to leave Children’s Mercy Hospital on Thursday and go home.

In May, Harper started to have knee pain. Doctors diagnosed her with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Doctors immediately took action, treating her first with chemotherapy, followed by a unique surgery called rotationplasty.

As part of the procedure, surgeons removed part of her upper leg and then rotated her lower leg 180 degrees. Her foot, which is now backwards, will function as her knee, said Dr. Allyson Hays, a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Mercy.

Harper’s parents hope this option gives their daughter her life back.

Harper said she’s just happy to go home and, most importantly, see her family dog again.

Read the full story via 41 Action News

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