My Talipes Equinovarus (Club feet) Journey

@_kursti posted a photo of #bootsandbar apparatus similar to the one I used to wear on my #feet which helps to correct #talipes or #clubfeet

As I was a toddler and there was no photos taken of me in them, I can only go on how they were described to me.

"The #orthosis is two open-toed leather boots connected by a metal bar. The Boots and Bar orthosis is also called a #footabductionbrace orthosis or a #DenisBrownesplint The brace holds the child’s feet turned outwards and in the corrected position. "

I remember feeling #frustrated that I had to sit in the one position and it made it difficult to move around. My mum helped me by teaching me how to read by the age of 2 and I always had a #book handy to take my mind off things. I am now sitting in one position for up to 18 hrs a day with my #website and #socialmedia #marketing company.

I am #grateful for the lessons of tolerance and patience that it taught me. I had some amazing people in my life that went out of their way to increase my quality of life and extend upon my skills and talents.

I know it was hard for my mother but she persisted with my #physicaltherapy and despite doctors advice that I wouldn't walk until the age of three, she would strengthen my leg muscles.

She would hold me up against the wall and build up the #muscle strength in my feet and legs until I not only walked developed #calfmuscles which was again contrary to doctor's opinion.

My mum was determined that I would walk and I can never thank her enough for the #fierce #determination she showed as a #mother of a #babywith #talipesequinovarus

I still experience #pain and #discomfort on a daily basis with poor circulation after my first #operation where they cut my #tendons and tried to make my feet turn outwards. It didn't work and means that I get #pinsandneedles on a regular basis.

I feel blessed that the #orthopaedic doctors and #orthapedicsurgeryspecialists met for a convention when I was 9. My mum and I had travelled up from #wollongong to the #sydneychildrenshospital and I was presented to a group of surgeons who specialised in talipes correction. After examining me they said that there was a new operation which I would be a good candidate for.

In this ground breaking surgery they broke some bones in my feet, chiseled bones and then re-set them and added a surgical staple in my #calcanae which is still in operation today.

The breaking and chiseling of bones caused #juvenilearthritis and cold #weather made it worse. I remember that I did a lot of crying through the night with pain that was crippling and my heart goes out to people like my husband who lives with the pain and aches of arthritis on a daily basis.

Today I wear #colorado #boots which help to lock my #weakankles and allow me to walk up to 3km on level ground. I wear them almost every day and they provide support but are heavy and very constrictive and make my feet ache. I prefer aching, constricted feet to the alternate of walking over my malformed heel and twisting my ankle and not being able to walk at all.

Thanks to my mothers determination that I would have a good education I #graduated from university of wollongong with a degree in #Education with a specialisation in #informationtechnology and #communication which I am forever #thankful for.

I was a casual/ substitute teacher in primary school ( Years K-6 ) until I moved to Tasmania with the death of my father in law. It was mandatory that casual teachers must supervise yard duty at recess and lunch time plus sport where I stood on uneven ground which caused great pain and sometimes I couldn't walk without yelping in pain.

In my degree ( B.Ed) I had excelled at Website Design and Development and whilst living in Tasmania 2000-2002 I focused on creating a collaborative group work project called The Crab Street Journal, a web based magazine for Land Hermit Crab owners. There were over 2000 people in the Land Hermit Crab Owners Society and a group of us published the magazine which is still in operation today.

It made me feel productive and fulfilled and I decided that since I could work around my Panhypopituitarism ( PHP) which in simple terms is Pituitary Disease. I could work my own hours and live a creative, fulfilling life.
I love my job as Website Developer and Social Media Specialist. I still use my Education degree when I train my adult clients and whilst I miss teaching children I am glad that I made the decision to chose to retire from teaching in primary schools that were not sensitive to my physical issues due to talipes and health issues with PHP.

I love my life and feel that my adversity had made me the strong, resilient and compassionate person that I am today