Friday, August 29, 2008

New Shoes



I'm getting a pair of custom made, leather shoes--every woman's dream-come-true. However, not mine.

Another blogger wrote a post lamenting the loss of her ability to wear pretty shoes. She wrote about having to toss out all of her shoes. I know the feeling; I've been there. I left a comment, encouraging her a bit, and promised her I would post on this subject.



When I was eleven years old, on the 4th of July, I had sparklers and jumped up and down, making the lovely swirls in the darkening sky. I'm the most nonathletic person you'll ever meet, and as proof, I landed on my right ankle. My mom heard a snap. My family did not have money for doctors, and so it was decided that the ankle was just a bad sprain. I could not walk for over three weeks; I hopped on my left leg until my mother insisted I stop babying myself. It hurt to put weight on it, but Mama said to begin to stand. So I walked. My ankle was painful; it swelled every day for a while, but eventually life went on.

Many years later, x-rays showed a broken bone that had healed, leaving me with a badly deformed ankle. The bottom of my foot slants! I've had problems throughout my life with my feet and legs. (Don't even talk to me about wearing high heels!)



As I aged, I became bow legged, and my knees had to both be replaced. When the right knee was done, the doctor was proud of how well he straightened the leg, but because that ankle was deformed, my Achilles Tendon couldn't take the additional strain and tore off the bone! In fact, it tore three times! I had two surgeries for the first two tears and then wore leg braces for a long while.

The first Achilles Tendon surgery damaged a nerve, and my right big toe now thinks it's a mountain. It protrudes such that I can no longer put my foot into a shoe--even a diabetic shoe. Therefore, I need the custom made shoes.

I went last Friday and had casts made of both feet. My new shoes should be ready in another week.

I will be grateful for those shoes. I will!


"The wear pattern on your running shoes suggests that you watch too much TV."



PS Please don't take this as me feeling sorry for myself; it's just my story and how I came to be what I am today. God is good. I will have shoes, and I will be grateful.

ALERT! Don't miss this fantastic video over at Melodie and Hymn Songs of a mama moose and her twins visiting a backyard with a sprinkler going!

19 comments:

Unknown said...

So many of us take these things for granted. I just had to get fitted for custom orthotics to wear in my "special" running shoes and that made me feel sad. I had a little pity party for myself, a brief one, that certainly wasn't necessary. I think too often we think of how bad we have it rather than realizing how good we really do! I bet your new shoes will be lovely and most importantly will feel great!

Dawn said...

OUCH!! I have sprained my ankle so many times and I know how much that hurt. I can't imagine breaking it!! I hope when your shoes come in that your feet fall in love with them!!!

take care,
Dawn

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally
I have to come back and read your post.

You were at my site for the Friday Trivia questions. They are there but its pretty little so you might need a bigggg reading glass. sorry about that. There are statements and you need to say which of them are true. Everyone's name participating will go in the basket...good luck.

See you back later.

Beverly said...

E-mail me at

how_sweet_the_sound@aegisholdings.com

Thanks, Beverly

Cathy said...

Bless your heart, Sally. You have really been through something. I know you will be glad to get your new shoes. I don't worry about how they look. It's how they feel to me. My feet swell from some medicine I take. And thanks for the mention of my video. :o)

artis1111 said...

The owner of the hair salon had a foot that rollenin and her knees went in. She has surgery on her knee then on her foot. She walks a lot better. Her mom had the same thing and can barely get around. Hope the new shoes help. went to a sale of a ladys shoes ., She had 1600 pair. Some had never been worn. Some there were two and three just diffrent colors. I bought a pair for $%.00 that had never been worn. I couldn't werar them they are just pretty.Heee Kathy

Raxx - A day in the life said...

Hi Sally
Thanks for visiting my blog, it was fun to have you! I laughed when i saw your comment on Bridget's 'blog around the world post' i guess i do qualify as an international blog to you guys!

Be sure to post your new shoes!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally, It sounds as though you have been through a lot. Getting the proper shoes can be difficult. Our son had Osteo (bone infection) when he was young and it left him with a deformed heel. It has caused problems for him through the years. I'm sorry you had to go through that. My tag post is up. I hope you have a nice evening.

all day (allen d) said...

thanks for sharing this Mom. Love you.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for your poor little ankle and feet. My Mother had fallen arches when she was a child and has to wear orthepedic shoes and sometimes she has a hard time getting the right fit! I'm so glad you can get some shoes that won't hurt your feet.

Oh, you cleaver sweet smiling one! You got my bathroom pun! I couldn't help myself!! I'm so clever, have I told you that before! lol I hope you know I'm totally kidding

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Sally , bless your heart, I hope your new shoes really help you start kicking high !
Sally , you can use my pic for your Blue Monday if you need it. I didn't know if you meant it would be Perfect for you to use or if you were suggesting I use it. I haven't looked at your Blue Monday thingie yet.
But take the pic, if that was what you were talking about, I don't mind at all .

Confuzzled Shannon said...

You and my mom would things to talk about. She's had at least five surgeries on her feet starting from when she was little and in the last ....10 years has gone thru 2 knee replacement and 2 hip replacements. They say that the replacements are good for about 10 years she's been kinda having trouble in those areas. So here's hoping your knees are doing much better now a days and your feet.

Justine said...

oh my goodness, that sounds awfully painful! Money or no money, I think your parents should have brought you to the doctor. Oh my, all that pain could have been avoided. How come none of your doctors have ever tried to fix your ankle? I would think that would be the first thing to do, before replacing knees and all that. I know from watching my mom go through two knee replacements (on the same knee!) how painful that recovery is. You're a strong woman! I bet you're going to be so happy to have comfy shoes to wear. But the masochist in me sure wishes you would have posted pics of your feet! LOL

Justine :o )

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally,

I hope your new shoes serve you well. I can relate to what you are saying, and I do NOT think you are feeling sorry for yourself. I have had problems with my feet since I was a young teen. That and the fact that I wear a size twelve have led to...well...not pretty shoes, that's for sure. I thought I was used to that and in for the comfort until I noticed women my age just recently wearing the kind of shoes I used to put on my Barbie. I have to admit, I wanted the pretty shoes, just a little. We'll get them in heaven, won't we? :)

nikkicrumpet said...

Wow you must have been one tough kid...I can't imagine how much that had to hurt! I'm sure hope the new shoes will make a big difference for you! Oh and I saw that moose video you mentioned...it was the coolest thing...made me get all choked up! HAVE A SUPER WEEKEND!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Well, I certainly feel sorry for you, even if you don't for yourself. I guess readers can take a lesson to get things checked out, for sure. I hope the new ones are comfy. I'm praying they will be. This is a big thing.

Unknown said...

I don't have foot problems, but I've seen what so many of my friends have gone through, so I can sort of understand.
For myself, I no longer own any pretty shoes for a couple of reasons. I've had 2 back surgeries, and i'm a teacher standing on linoleum all day. Cute shoes and standing on hard floors just don't mix! Since I've been sick for the past 2 years, I barely wear shoes at all, these days! barefoot summer, slippers winter, Birkenstocks, boots, or slip-on sneakers when I leave the house, depending on the weather!

Unknown said...

Interesting..! Well, I like the way you are thinking about shoes.

Patty said...

I can't imagine how painful your ankle must have been! You poor thing. I was lucky because my foot never hurt, probably because I was keeping weight off of it since my knee was broken. Anyway, I cannot wait to see your new shoes. And, I want to hear more about them. Can you please email me? Thank you!!