Mac was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was about fourteen months old. He didn't walk until after he turned two. By three years old he had his first AFO (ankle-foot orthosis). The brace helps anchor his foot so he doesn't pull up on his toes when he walks. It also has meant he needed two different size shoes. A couple of times a year, after a brace check, we have been at Nordstroms surrounded by shoe boxes trying to get the correct mismatched pair. Nordstroms has been the only company that has been consistently willing to split sizes for us. This was fine when he was little, but for the last few years having his shoe choices severely limited has truly impacted Mac's fashion loving ways.
Since an endocrinologist confirmed last fall that Mac is done growing (he is exactly five feet tall), he knew the day was coming that his orthopedist would let him out of the brace. He was so excited for today's appointment and sat on the examination table almost beaming with hope. Sure enough, he was told he could try not wearing his brace for the next six months and we will check back to see how he does.
Within a couple hours we were sitting at Nordstroms again and surrounded by shoe boxes, but only because Mac had a lot of choices. He has wanted a pair of Toms forever, but the brace wouldn't begin to fit (although we tried). Today he got his pair.
