Brian's Feet

When Brian was born, he was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. He came out absolutely perfect.
Nikki was in the hospital with burns, Bruce had been laid off and we found out that Brian had cleft feet.
All that at one time. My beautiful little baby had not moved around enough before he was born and his feet had pretty much molded inward and up.
We all got home and Bruce and I had no idea what his handicap would be. The Dr. told us before he could tell us anything he would have to see us in his office. When Brian was only a week old, he was taken to a bone specialist.
The Dr. was from India and not very friendly to me. He wrapped Brian's feet with tape and told me not to do anything until he saw him in another week. This went on for about a month - every week taking Brian to the specialist, the Dr. chewing me out for something or another and new tape on his feet and ankles.
Then the Dr. told us that Brian needed a cast on one of his feet. Here was this tiny baby with a huge cast hanging off his leg. He ended up with two different casts because he grew.
When the cast and tapes were removed permanently, we had exercises to do with Brian 3 times a day. We also had to buy special shoes for him to wear constantly. The shoes were shaped to the outside of the foot. They also had holes in the bottom them so we could screw his shoes into a plastic bar that he had to wear every night. The good thing about the shoes is that they were open toed so he could wear them a little longer. The shoes back then were $35.00 - 1976.
Brian got to the point where he could actually walk a little bit in that plastic bar! It amazed us how he could adopt to any circumstance.
Our insurance did not cover anything with Brian's disability. We had to pay the Dr. out of our own pocket and buy his shoes and brace ourselves. The first time I paid the Dr., the receptionist said, "That'll be $10.00." I was shocked! I paid the money, then asked why it was so cheap. She said the Dr. loved the little ones. From that point on, I could take whatever grief this Dr. gave me.
When Brian was 2 years old, Dr. said that his feet were in good shape. He was allowed to wear regular shoes for the first time. He has never had any trouble with his feet.