Since 2003 two boys from the Deer Canyon Little League have been stricken with a little known disease called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The syndrome is a degenerative disease of the hip joint. The disease is typically found in young children and small dogs, and it can lead to osteoarthritis in adults. The effects of Perthes can also sometimes continue into adulthood.

Shawn Burghardt and Brent Patrick are now back playing with the Deer Creek Little League after suffering with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease for several years.
Special to Rancho Life

Two mothers, Leslie Burghardt, whose son, Sean, was stricken in 2003 and Melissa Patrick, whose son, Brent, was diagnosed in 2004, have shared their sons’ stories that brought them from wheelchairs to the Little League field.

Sean Burghardt was first diagnosed with LCP in November 2003.  In March of the same year we took him into the Dr. because of pain in his groin area.  He also had a peculiar limp.  At that time the doctor took an x-ray and told us it was just a groin pull.  On Halloween night, Sean experienced excruciating pain in his right hip.  When we took him to the Dr. we were told he had LCP. 

At this time, the ball of his hip had already collapsed and there was nothing we could do to correct the damage.  It was devastating for all of us, especially Sean.  He was healthy and very athletic.  He loved baseball, soccer, riding his bike and wrestling with his brother.  In one day, all of that was taken away from him.  Over the next couple of months our family made necessary adjustments to help Sean through this difficult time when, suddenly we were blind-sided a few days before his 6 ^th birthday.  Sean was rushed to the hospital with severe pain throughout his entire body.  We couldn’t even touch him without him screaming. 

He was hospitalized and put into traction for three days.  It was then that we learned he had contracted the disease in his left hip as well.  I remember feeling terrified wondering if this was the end or if it could happen in other bones as well.  He was released on his birthday and sent home.  Because there had been an early diagnosis, we had a few options and decided to go with an osteotomy. He had surgery in April 2004.  For two years he was in and out of a wheel chair.  We would wheel him to the baseball fields to watch his dad and brother.  He never once complained, but I knew he was heartsick.  After each Dr. appointment, Sean always had one question, “When can I play baseball again.”  For two years, Doctors tried to convince him to try other things.  Sports would be too hard on the joints.  In August 2005, Sean had his second surgery. At his six-week check up, the doctor asked, “Do you have any questions Sean?”  “Just one…. When can I play baseball again?” 

This time the Dr. looked at me and said, “Let him play!”  So we did and he is!  For the last several years he continues to defy the odds and play baseball as well as players without the disease.  He has been on the last three all-star teams and even taught himself how to pitch. 

Our family has learned to value every moment he is on the field, for we never really know when or if it will end.  Statistics show that most likely Sean will end up with severe osteoarthritis before he’s 25 and his x-rays support this as well. We have been told that the long-term prognosis for Sean is most likely a double hip replacement. However, Sean has shown an amazing strength through all of this – He never gives up or quits or even complains!  If playing major league baseball is possible with LCP, then, who knows, maybe Sean could one day fulfill his dream of playing in the big leagues.  If anyone can make it happen, I believe he can!

Brent Patrick was diagnosed with the disease in 2004.  This was very hard for everyone in our family, because many doctors don’t know what cause the disease or even how to treat it.  Brent had to get used to not doing the things he loved so much.  He had to be careful at school; he could not ride a bike that he had just learned to do. He couldn’t play baseball or ride his dirt bike.  His parents would baby him all the time for fear he would fall and get hurt. Not knowing about LCP we didn’t let Brent do a whole lot.  We ended up buying him an Xbox for fear if he was playing outside he would hurt himself even further than he already was. 

Brent was scheduled to have an osteotomy in 2005, but the surgery was cancelled because the bone had deteriorated so much there was nothing left to work with.  Brent was taken out of baseball for 2 years.  It was the longest 2 years of his life.  Brent absolutely loves Baseball and still had to attend his brother’s baseball games wishing he could be out on the field. 

Brent has recovered very well in the past few years.  At his last appointment in 2008, his doctor said it is the best case he has ever seen.  Brent has been back playing baseball now for 3 years.  At his first game back when he hit the ball and ran to first base, I just wanted to cry seeing him do what he loves so much.  Brent will never take for granted the things he couldn’t do for he knows what it is like to not be able to do them at all!