Finally, My Custom-made Shoes!

I remember Show and Tell from my kindergarten days; how I loved to have something to share. Kelli from Kelli's House hosts this fun meme. Go to her place to join in the fun!



Feel the excitement in the air? I'm going shopping to buy custom-made leather shoes! I first posted about it here. That time, it didn't work out. This doesn't look like a shoe store, does it?


"Hanger," yep that's the name of the place where I'm supposed to go to get fitted for my custom-made shoes.


Hm, I don't see anything that I like; do you? They all look "yuk" to me. As it turns out, Gregory, the nice fellow who fitted me told me that those would not be my shoes. Gregory explained that those shoes are not custom.
(Whew! I was worried.)


Next, Gregory put both of my feet into plaster casts, just like a broken leg is put into a cast. When the casts were hardened, he cut them off with a saw. You can see how badly deformed my right foot is if you look at this cast on the left. (The right foot is on the left--confusing, I know. Sorry.) It seems to be leaning to the right. That's how I have stood ever since I was eleven, broke my ankle, and my parents decided it was only a sprain. I was not taken to a doctor, and it healed crooked--like the cast shows. Yes, my right ankle is that thick; it always looks swollen.


When I tore my achilles tendon and had to have emergency surgery, something went awry with the nerve, and my right big toe now sticks up like a little mountain. It will not straighten out. You can see it here by looking at the cast on the left (that is actually the right foot cast). You can also see how the ankle rolls over so that the toe is not on the floor when I stand or walk.


Here's a little closer shot of that deformed right toe, looking like a little bump, which I call a mountain toe. That mountain toe makes it impossible for me to wear normal shoes. Therefore, the need for custom.


Here's a picture of the nice shoe fitter, Gregory. He liked the idea that I'm a blogger, and he posed with the outline he made of my feet. I know, I know--there's Big. Yes, God never wanted me to fall down, so He gave me a good sized foundation.


Four weeks later, I got a phone call The shoes are here! The ones pictured above look better. I had no choice in style. My only choices were either beige or black color and either laces or velcro.


This shot looks a bit more normal, but I'll tell you the truth: they're ugly. I do not like them; who would? However, it's these or shoeboxes. I have nothing else! I've been wearing men's tennis shoes in a huge size, just to accommodate that mountain toe. No, they are not comfortable; I feel as if I'm tipping over when I walk. Furthermore, I must go back today for an adjustment as there are two pressure points (that means two places where my foot gets red when I wear the shoe).


Oh, the cost? Sure, I'll tell you. They cost $536.26. If you'd like a pair for yourself, I can send you the address. Gregory will be happy to assist you.


We're waaay too somber; it's time to smile. I must finish this post with a chuckle.

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!