The Podiatry Appointment

I have been thinking about Elina's feet for a long time. I began to notice months ago that Elina only puts weight on her heels. In fact, her toes are often off the ground, pointed up in the air. This quirk has been setting off sirens in my mind for quite a while.


























When the physical therapist mentioned the possibility of a foot brace, I knew it was time to get something done. I had a conversation with Elina's doctor and we got a referral to see a podiatrist.

So, I have a habit of thinking Elina is going to need every special help that is available. I was expecting the doctor to give her a foot brace, and I was glad it was going to happen, because I wanted Elina to have everything she needed to succeed.

I was a little nervous when he said she didn't need it.

He saw her moving and cruising and told us that she would be walking soon. He believed that the problem would resolve it self once she started walking. He told us that she should be walking "any day now", and honestly I didn't know how to register that.

A few quick reactions were...

1. Skepticism: No way, dude. It can't happen.

2. Jubilation: Wow, its going to happen sooner than we think!

3. More Skepticism

First I will explain the skepticism. I have not really been around a child when they are near or just have acquired the ability to walk, but it seems like Elina has a lot more ground to cover. For example, she is not standing on her own, at least not beyond a few seconds at a time. I feel like she has months left before she is stable enough, but that might just my limited experience talking.

Along with this skepticism was a quiet excitement. I felt like she might just do it. She had pulled up on the coffee table way before I thought she could. My excitement increased when we began to hear the same comment everywhere we turned. Lots of people saying she was going to be walking soon.

As excited as I was, I soon realized that there were many reasons why the people who made the comments might have been a bit premature. For one, the average for children with Down Syndrome walking is 24 months. So not only does it seem impossible, it just seems very odd for her situation. In the end I decided to try and take all of these walking predictions with a grain of salt.

So, walking or not, the doctor doesn't want Elina in a foot brace right now. He told us to come back when she is walking, or at 18 months if she is not walking.


For now all I can do is turn my brain off. I drive myself crazy sometimes with this development stuff. I need to remember that when it happens isn't important. It will happen, and if it is earlier or later it won't change the pride and joy it will bring.