Getting Cast Made for New Shoe

A Milestone Day: New Shoes and New Beginnings

On August 17th, I visited Hanger Prosthetics in Lima to be fitted for a custom shoe for my reconstructed right foot. For most, new shoes are a simple purchase; for me, they represent a life-changing milestone.

After 36 years of being unable to flatten my foot due to rheumatoid arthritis, my April 6th surgery finally returned my ankle to a 90° angle. The recovery hasn't been easy—disuse osteoporosis made my heel bone fragile, leading to complications with my "halo" wires. However, thanks to Dr. William DeCarbo’s incredible patience and expertise, my foot is healing beautifully.

 

This is John Druckemiller, the talented

Orthotist who casted both of my feet. When

John's not expertly molding fiberglass, he's

likely riding his motorcycle or working as

an auctioneer!

Here, John is carefully molding the wrap

to capture every detail of my right foot.

That yellow strip is a safety guide; once the

cast dries, John uses a special tool to cut

along it, allowing the mold to pop right off.

The final result is a perfect blueprint for my new

custom shoe.

This X-ray from June 14th shows my heel

after the halo was removed. Because of

disuse osteoporosis, my heel bone became

slightly pointed.

To avoid further surgery, my new shoe will 

feature a custom insert with a "hole" to off-

load pressure from that specific spot. As the

"X" shows, we’re making sure I can walk

without any direct pressure on the bone!

I am so grateful to Hanger for crafting shoes that allow me to walk in comfort. To celebrate, my niece Abby joined me as my official photographer! Afterward, Abby, my aide Dianne, and I headed to Staples to use a Christmas gift card on an easel for Abby’s art, followed by lunch at McDonald’s. It was my first "fun" outing since 2009—Yoohoo!!!

 

TIMBER!!!

On Monday, August 9th, a piece of neighborhood history came down. Our neighbor, Opal Subler—a remarkable 100-year-old—and her son Dick (78) have lived across the street since 1948. While Opal’s husband, Alfred, passed away in 1994, the family has remained a staple of our street for decades.

The evergreen tree they had removed was dying, but it held many memories. I remember the beautiful Christmas lights hung on it (and its twin on the east side) when I was a child. Opal’s daughter, Dianne—who is a dear friend and my dedicated home health aide—was kind enough to capture these photos of the tree coming down.

Opal's other son, Bruce, stopped by on
his way to coffee break to talk to the tree
trimmer soon after they started.

The guy with the chain saw continues
to move up the tree as he gradually
reaches the top.

And then he cuts down the logs for firewood.

This tree that was standing for close to 60
years, took less than two hours to be cut

down to a stump.