Wore A Shoe - July 30-31, 2007

Are you ready for some MARVELOUS news? Miracles still happen …. there have been several rays of sunshine and huge hope in the past two days. Clearly in the midst of our darkest hour God speaks, if we trust completely.

This spoke to me on Sunday …. “Trust Him in the dark, honor Him with unwavering confidence, even in the midst of trials and storms. He will show you only into a way where, if you go cheerfully and trustfully forward, He will show you on still farther.”

After much prayer time late Sunday night, my four small toes actively moved (without moving them manually or doing anything with my hands). It was not a flicker of movement, but actual up and down toe movement. No movement has happened in any of the toes for over two years. The big toe (that is fused and never supposed to move) actually moved some, too. I also managed to get the foot into a size 10 tennis shoe that I had buried in the closet. I was scared that neither would last, so I did not call or tell anyone.

On Monday morning, the movement was still there & I could still get the foot in the shoe. The foot seemed to have changed position and laid flatter to the ground also. I wore the tennis shoe to work on that foot all day on Monday. I kept checking the toes for movement, nearly every hour, and I could still get the toes to wiggle. The toes are still stiff, but there is life in the toes.

At 4:00, I met with my St. Louis orthopedic doctor and my intention was to get his opinion on choosing a prosthetic foot. Last Saturday he agreed to see me & allowed me to be the last patient, because we both knew it was going to be a tough and emotional discussion.

I walked into his office at 4:00 in my shoe and some discomfort, but nothing severe. He fully agreed that the foot looked significantly different on Monday, than when I saw him last Tuesday (or even last Friday). He took pictures w/his digital camera and agreed that there could be hope for saving the foot. I went ahead and asked all my prosthetic questions, but deep down thinking that there is massive renewed hope that the foot still could “come around.” This doctor encouraged me to sit tight for two weeks and see if the improvements will remain or get even better.

I went to the New Balance store after the appt. & bought a pair of “rocker bottom tennis shoes” (recommended by Chicago orthopod) that promotes the stepping motion without the foot having to work as hard. My parents came over Monday night and agreed that the positioning clearly has changed, and I can now get the foot to lay flat (or pretty close). I e-mailed the Chicago orthopod and told her that there might be hope yet … she was equally thrilled and couldn’t believe that two days ago the foot looked severely deformed, coloring was awful and there was no getting the foot to lay flat.

I wore the new tennis shoes the entire day at work today. Wearing an athletic shoe is HUGE, because presumably this could lead to the ability to wear other shoes. There is definitely a glimmer of hope – things can change and what looks like the impossible is sometimes where God works best.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you ….” – Isaiah 43:2

Clearly, we don’t have the situation entirely solved. There is still a lot of work that needs to happen with walking, stiffness, pain situation needs to be evaluated. Our hope and prayer is that the toe movement, improved positioning issue and ability to wear a shoe will continue improve a little each day forward; more than we could ever imagine, hope or dream. You can bet that I will be wiggling and wiggling the toes this week, to continue to promote movement.

I was supposed to be researching prosthetic feet and interviewing prosthetic fitters in St. Louis this week; needless to say we are putting a hold (hopefully more like termination) on this plan. On Friday, we heard from the surgeon that I had a substantial bone and nerve problem in the foot that could very well never be corrected. 48 hours later, following tears and great emotional distress, I am able to wear a shoe. There was a lot more that happened on Friday of a negative nature, but for now we are excited about wiggling toes and a rainbow of hope provided. Prayer works … don't stop now. My parents are ecstatic, bursting with joy and thankfulness to God!

Wiggling away ….
je

Laura – your Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s shoe card was superb timing!

Linda - I loved your hilarious card about crossing the Red Sea and the special message!