Teens and AFOs

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am responding to about your son's unwillingness to wear AFOs.

My daughter, Nora, was not happy about it when she got them at age 12,but as

soon as she began to wear them, she wore them all the time asthey made walking

SO much easier and resulted in much less tripping. She did go for a couple of

years in high school not wearing them, which may have been due to improved leg

strength due to riding horses.

Now, however, at age 20, she wears her AFOs most of the time. She still only

tells her very closest friends about them. I was thrilled in December that we

were able to find a pair of real shoes (not sneakers) that she could wear with

her AFOs. They are made by Teva (I didn't know they made anything but sandals,

but these are a neat leather shoe with an insole that comes out and of a young

style that appealed to her.).

She has a " real " job this summer working at Bath and Body Works at our mall, so

she needed real shoes. I worry about all the time on her feet, but she is

thrilled to have gotten this job plus it is part time.

I do hope your son will come to accept the AFOs. It is so hard to be a teen and

dealing with all that teen stuff and this too.

Best of luck,