The summer of 2011 is memorable to me for several reasons. There were 27 consecutive days of 100+ degrees temperature. My tires became so hot, the rubber "bubbled" and fell apart. Every time I left my air conditioned home, I felt like I had been slapped in the face by the heat. Also, this was the summer my neurologist spoke the words that no MS patient wants to hear, "I think you should consider a leg brace."
I have been living with MS for over 25 years. I knew my doctor was correct with her recommendation. My "lazy leg" often caused me to stumble or fall. Once, I closed the car door on my uncooperative limb. It was, indeed, time to try a leg brace. But, a leg brace doesn't enter your life as a solo act. You must find a shoe that accommodates the added width of the brace. Was the trying on every big, black, Frankenstein shoe in the city of Austin a grim necessity?
After a long afternoon of shopping for unattractive, expensive shoes, I entered the doors of the Karavel Shoe Store in North Austin with a long, sad face. I was silently singing the third verse of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" when I met a salesperson named Bo. He took one look at me and said, "Come with me. I've got the shoes for you!" I couldn't even fake excitement, but I followed him, carrying my brace in a box. He led me to a display that held a pair of sneakers: SILVER SNEAKERS! I wanted to scream, "Hallelujah", but I was sure shoes that cute would not accommodate my foot in a brace. My cheerful sales person explained that he had a niece in her thirties who had a stroke. She, too, needed a pair of shoes that were cute and would accommodate a brace. These shoes had worked for her. Still unconvinced, I was measured and given a pair of sneakers to try. I watched my prosthetic, an AFO, slide into the left sneaker. Then, my foot entered the shoe. Bo was right. The sneakers fit! I almost cried. My shoes were not glass slippers, but I felt like Cinderella.
(For comfort's sake, I'll take silver leather sneakers over glass slippers, any day!)
"Silver Sneakers" is my new code word for the finding solutions to dilemmas life throws in my way.
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I love this. I absolutely LOVE this! I am going to steal your code word for my own little setbacks. Thank you for encouraging me with this post ... though I doubt that was your goal :-)
ReplyDeletePlease write more. You have a gift of writing what people want to read. Never underestimate that.