If you're planning to get Ponseti/ shoes & brace

[Guest guest]

Hiya:

Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to parents/parents-

to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

Markells, which are based on standard sizes), likes to

have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

(mdsgns@...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to your

doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's feet

between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on! The

kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist foam

that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor works

mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

s) and our son was already wearing his final post-tenotomy

cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to get

an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in time

to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber that

moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes off!

Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks old

and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm goofing

any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered the

shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa City,

Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot model

so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other doctors

(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was the

best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF patients and

told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because parents

couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing them

blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe that

might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in preventing

relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we need

to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

Hope that's helpful!

- Nicki

Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

[Guest guest]

Hiya:

Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to parents/parents-

to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

Markells, which are based on standard sizes), likes to

have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

(mdsgns@...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to your

doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's feet

between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on! The

kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist foam

that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor works

mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

s) and our son was already wearing his final post-tenotomy

cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to get

an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in time

to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber that

moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes off!

Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks old

and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm goofing

any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered the

shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa City,

Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot model

so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other doctors

(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was the

best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF patients and

told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because parents

couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing them

blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe that

might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in preventing

relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we need

to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

Hope that's helpful!

- Nicki

Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

[Guest guest]

I think this is a wonderful idea

-------------- Original message --------------

Hiya:

Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to parents/parents-

to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

Markells, which are based on standard sizes), likes to

have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

(mdsgns@...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to your

doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's feet

between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on! The

kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist foam

that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor works

mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

s) and our son was already wearing his final post-tenotomy

cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to get

an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in time

to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber that

moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes off!

Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks old

and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm goofing

any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered the

shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa City,

Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot model

so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other doctors

(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was the

best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF patients and

told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because parents

couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing them

blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe that

might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in preventing

relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we need

to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

Hope that's helpful!

- Nicki

Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

[Guest guest]

Me too, thanks for this post!

I was thinking here though... since it's basically florist's foam perhaps

parents should be advised to make impressions themselves even if they're

not planning on the PM's. Since some children may not tolerate the

Markell's and have to move to the PM's, an impression would have already

been made. Which could shave a few days off the lead time on getting new

shoes made.

I couldn't agree more about Mr. , he is always so nice and

wonderful when I talk to him. I spoke to him on Friday afternoon (evening

his time) for about 45 min. and I'm really looking forward to seeing some

of the changes he talked about. The rivets Todd mentioned allow the straps

and buckles to swivel which I think will be a great improvement since

that's part of our problem.

Kori

At 11:36 AM 8/7/2005, you wrote:

>I think this is a wonderful idea

>

>-------------- Original message --------------

>Hiya:

>

>Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to parents/parents-

>to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

>finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

>Markells, which are based on standard sizes), likes to

>have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

>shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

>(mdsgns@...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

>you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to your

>doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's feet

>between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on! The

>kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist foam

>that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

>impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

>brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

>

>We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor works

>mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

>s) and our son was already wearing his final post-tenotomy

>cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

>shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to get

>an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in time

>to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

>

>I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

>Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

>holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber that

>moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

>start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes off!

>Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks old

>and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

>

>Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm goofing

>any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered the

>shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

>background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa City,

>Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot model

>so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other doctors

>(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was the

>best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF patients and

>told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because parents

>couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing them

>blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe that

>might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in preventing

>relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we need

>to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

>

>Hope that's helpful!

>

>- Nicki

>Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

>Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Besides adding the rivets, what else is going

to try? Does he think he'll be able to adjust something

in the back of the shoe to alleviate the problems

Darbi and others are having in that area? Sure hope so.

It's just great that he & Todd are so responsive.

Selfishly, I'm hoping that they are able to resolve these

issues before Lily needs her next pair of P/Ms. I'm grateful

that so far she's escaped the notorious red mark/blister

on the back of her foot. Here's hoping the fix is in soon

for all of our kiddos!

Two more weeks of full time P/M wear for Lily (I hope).

The time does fly ...

Kim

P.S. Kori, hope that tailbone area is feeling better.

I bruised mine slipping on some ice a few years back.

Sure hated carrying around that silly rubber donut to sit on.

> >I think this is a wonderful idea

> >

> >-------------- Original message --------------

> >Hiya:

> >

> >Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to

parents/parents-

> >to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

> >finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

> >Markells, which are based on standard sizes), likes

to

> >have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

> >shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

> >(mdsgns@l...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

> >you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to

your

> >doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's

feet

> >between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on!

The

> >kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist foam

> >that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

> >impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

> >brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

> >

> >We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor

works

> >mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

> >s) and our son was already wearing his final post-tenotomy

> >cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

> >shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to

get

> >an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in

time

> >to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

> >

> >I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

> >Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

> >holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber that

> >moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

> >start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes

off!

> >Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks

old

> >and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

> >

> >Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm

goofing

> >any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered

the

> >shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

> >background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa City,

> >Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot

model

> >so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other

doctors

> >(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was

the

> >best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF patients

and

> >told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because parents

> >couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing

them

> >blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe that

> >might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in

preventing

> >relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we

need

> >to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

> >

> >Hope that's helpful!

> >

> >- Nicki

> >Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

> >Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

We have a shoe made with the rivets and the buckles don't swivel. It

simply takes place of the stitching. We only have had it a month so I

don't know how well it will hold up. I let you know.

KK

> > >I think this is a wonderful idea

> > >

> > >-------------- Original message --------------

> > >Hiya:

> > >

> > >Based on recent experience, a quick bit of advice to

> parents/parents-

> > >to-be who plan to have their babies wearing s once you're

> > >finished with castings. Since s are custom-made (vs.

> > >Markells, which are based on standard sizes),

likes

> to

> > >have an impression of your child's feet in order to construct the

> > >shoes. Therefore it's important to contact and his wife Jean

> > >(mdsgns@l...) BEFORE your final casts are put on so he can send

> > >you a foam impression kit. When you receive the kit, bring it to

> your

> > >doctor's office so that you can get impressions of your child's

> feet

> > >between castings. Kinda hard to get an impression with casts on!

> The

> > >kit is essentially a box filled with a softer kind of florist

foam

> > >that you press your child's foot into. Once they receive your

> > >impressions, it can take them about 12 days to get your shoes and

> > >brace to you (although they got us ours in less than a week).

> > >

> > >We didn't know about this sequence of events because our doctor

> works

> > >mostly with Markells (he's a Kaiser doctor and they won't cover

> > >s) and our son was already wearing his final post-

tenotomy

> > >cast by the time we started talking to our doctor about ordering

> > >shoes. Luckily for us, our son is unilateral so we were able to

> get

> > >an impression of his normal foot and get the kit off to in

> time

> > >to receive the shoes for the final cast removal.

> > >

> > >I know s are a premium ($382 for shoes & bar) over the

> > >Markells but they sure are beautiful sandals. Soft suede straps,

> > >holes in the back so you can be sure the heel is down, rubber

that

> > >moulds to the foot. We'll see how they work -- we won't actually

> > >start wearing them until Tuesday when Farley's final cast comes

> off!

> > >Can't wait to see his foot after the tenotomy. He'll be 7 weeks

> old

> > >and our doc says he has excellent dorsiflexion. Fingers crossed!

> > >

> > >Oh, and a bit about ... Todd, correct me if I'm

> goofing

> > >any of this up. I chatted with for a while when we ordered

> the

> > >shoes and asked how he got into this wonderful business. His

> > >background is in making anatomical models. As he's near Iowa

City,

> > >Dr. Ponseti contacted him about 12 years ago to make a clubfoot

> model

> > >so that he could use it to demonstrate his treatment to other

> doctors

> > >(which helped him succeed in persuading them that his route was

> the

> > >best). He later invited to his clinic to see his CF

patients

> and

> > >told that many of the relapses he'd seen were because

parents

> > >couldn't stomach keeping their kids in shoes that were causing

> them

> > >blisters, sores, etc. He asked if he could design a shoe

that

> > >might prevent discomfort and thereby be more effective in

> preventing

> > >relapses... and so it started. A sweet, dedicated man. Maybe we

> need

> > >to make HIM a quilt! ;-)

> > >

> > >Hope that's helpful!

> > >

> > >- Nicki

> > >Mama to Farley, 6/21/05, LCF

> > >Treated by Dr. Colburn (SF Bay Area)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >