When my daughter was 4 years old, she was eager to help. We wanted to find a way that would enable her help set and clear the table for meals. However, at the time she needed her walker or crutches to move around, meaning she couldn’t carry anything in her hands. We tried having her push an […]
Posts in the AFOs category:
Adapting Jump Rope for AFOs and Crutches
When the fundraising paper came home from school for the Healthy Heart Challenge (sponsored by the American Heart Association), I thought it was important for my daughter to learn about the importance of being active and to raise money for heart health along side her peers. We worked with her gym teacher and physical therapist […]
How Spina Bifida influences how I dress & shop for my daughter
At the beginning of summer, I realized my son had grown out of his 18-24 month clothes, and it was time to upgrade to the next size. Shopping for him was surreal. What is this uber-easy experience of walking into a store, looking for a size, seeing something I like, and… buying it? Good-ness. SO. SIMPLE. When gifting […]
Where to buy shoes when your feet are two different sizes
One of the questions I’ve been asked a few times is whether I’ve heard of any resources for people who need two differently sized shoes due to two differently sized feet. I’d heard rumor that Nordstrom will sell two different sizes shoes, so I went investigating. And guess what? It’s TRUE! And you know what? […]
A fabulous day for clothes & shoes!
When I think of all challenges we’ve faced over the last 4 years, the two that rear their ugly heads over and over again are clothes and shoes. Clothes: Over AFOs & twister cables Every day when I pick out Lily’s clothes, my mind is running scenarios. “Hmmm… I know these pants fit over her braces, but […]
How to buy shoes for AFOs in less than 15 minutes
This past weekend, as I surveyed the 3 pairs of shoes we have to fit over Lily’s AFOs, I felt discouraged. On the plus side, we have 3 pairs of shoes that fit! On the down side, two pairs look REALLY worn. I can literally look through the sole as a window to her AFOs. The third… well, […]
How to “Hack” Shoes for AFOs #2: A Coat of Armor to Extend Shoe Life
As my girl has gotten stronger and more capable with her walker, she has also gotten more creative with her walking. The recommended “heel-toe” walking gait (which I’m pulling my hair out trying to get her back to) just seems to frustrate her because it’s not getting her where she wants to go fast enough. […]
How to “Hack” Cute Shoes for AFOs #1: Remove the Tongue
One of the most frustrating things about having a child who wears AFOs is how hard it is to find shoes to fit. My daughter started wearing AFOs at 3 months old. For the first year, she simply did not wear shoes. However, when she started pulling to stand I knew I needed to tackle the […]