Piedro Boots

Today was our appointment with the Orthotics in the "Gait Lab" to assess if Wriggles needs additional support for walking and if so, what. Our physio had warned us that she was willing to take a hefty bet that she would be needing at least some support, whatever it was, so to be prepared to come away with something. She was not wrong; we have come away with an order for some pink Piedro boots.

"Piedro boots are orthotic shoes designed for children with disabilities and/or children who require extra arch or ankle support . They look similar to a normal boot but open closer to the toes so they are easier to put on children particularly if their toes curl. Piedros help to maintain a good foot position for standing (and walking) and may be tried before other orthotic devices such as AFOs are used."

I was pleasantly surprised that the styles of Piedro boots now are far from clumpy and hideous and "sensible" but are very child-friendly and practically funky. Judging by the chunky catalogue that the orthotics team possessed, they come in styles for every occasion and age range to suit the individual child. In our case, fuchsia nubuck boots.

They will be fitted in a few weeks to help the toe-clenching, ankle wobbling, wonky footedness and help control the variable muscle tone that appears to have lead to all of the above. I'm really glad we have an opportunity to try these boots before moving to anything more hardcore and I'm really really glad to have a supportive and proactive physio and a very competent community paediatrics team in my city who so far have been nothing but helpful and reassuring. Too many parents have to fight for help for their children and would trade in their right arm (and left one. And their leg) for some productive help or to get "in the system" to advantage their offspring. Having been born into the system and never having been straight forward enough to escape it, we are lucky to have always had someone to advocate for us because we've always needed some aspect of help or monitoring. And I really hope I do not sound ungrateful when I say this because I truly am anything but, but this in itself makes me a little bit sad. I love that my daughter is able to get help when she needs it, and I'm really glad that sometimes help can be bright pink and supportive, I just kind of wish we didn't need it in the first place. I will always take what is best for her, but a little bit of me that lives in the world where pre-Wriggles I dreamt of what it would be like to have children, wishes we could be in the Clarks shoes gang everyone else is in.