Fancy Footwear

Posted On June 20, 2019

Tate’s doctor recommended braces to help with his foot drop. His doctor gave us a prescription for them a while ago, but after Tate broke his foot, caught a cold, and had a frighteningly low ANC for a few weeks, getting the braces fell out of focus. Suddenly we realized we hadn’t made the appointment for the braces. It was an embarrassed parent moment for both of us.

But we’re back on track now.

Tate’s at-home physical therapist Janet recommended we go to Hanger, and it turned out to be a great place for him. Hanger is a nationwide company that creates all manner of prosthetics and orthotics. The company even made a prosthetic tail for a dolphin. (Obviously not the Mesa, AZ location ha ha ha.)

Within a few minutes of arriving at Hanger, they assessed Tate’s walk and set him up with a set of composite carbon braces that fit in his shoes.

Honestly, Tate doesn’t walk very much, and the braces barely got used at first. Seeing them sitting on his bedroom floor for days at a time made me a little less upset with myself for not getting them sooner.

The braces are getting regular use now that three weeks have passed since Tate’s last chemotherapy. Having multiple physical and occupational therapy appointments every week is getting him on his feet more. Tate says it took some time to get used to them but that they really help.

At the follow-up appointment they added some padding (blue stuff in the picture) where it was hitting Tate’s ankles and sent us on our way. There are no more appointments scheduled at Hanger.

Tate has been in a great mood this week. He insisted we try $5 Sushi Wednesday at Sprouts after his physical therapy appointment. I was leery, but his doctor tells me he is supposed to live as normal a life as possible and for Tate that means eating questionable grocery store sushi. It was pretty good! Good enough that we went two Wednesdays in a row.

Next week Tate has chemotherapy on Tuesday and begins a 5-day steroid pulse. We have become accustomed to the rhythm of Maintenance. Tate’s spirits and energy levels are very low with his pain level high during treatment weeks. As his parents, it crushes us to watch him suffer that way. It reminds us how hard he’s still fighting and how harsh the treatment is. But eight days after chemo he wakes up a little brighter and a little more energetic, and it lifts our moods, too. Three weeks after chemo Tate is buzzing around the house in his wheelchair knocking little chunks of drywall out of our corners, gaming with his brother, and antagonizing his dad.

Weeks like this we just want to soak up every moment.