Making Custom Ankle Foot Orthotics at Chedoke

Finding shoes for Cassie to fit over her leg braces is always a challenge. Cassie has two totally different braces on each foot making shoe fitting tricky. I feel as a mother that Cassie's footwear is an integral part of her orthotic management. It goes along with all that her orthotist does and needs to work for Cassie or else she struggles at school, gym and play.
Cassie is a typical 7 year old girl who wants to look fashionable and dress just like her girlfriends. Finding running shoes has been challenging. I have had luck with New Balance running shoes. New Balance have a removable insole and seem to be more adjustable with more velcro options.
Chedoke Prothetics and Orthotics department sells a pediatric running shoe called "hatchbacks". They cost around $67.00. Cassie has tried these shoes. The running shoes are wider and have a deeper inner heel box and toe box with cool velcro adjustable straps. The adjustable velcro allows the orthotist to internally adjust the shoe to varying thicknesses and offers good medial and lateral stability over the brace.
Personally, I was not satisfied with the Hatchback as I found the velcro started loosening off and Cassie had a loose shoe continually. Her EA complained many times that the shoe hindered her in gym class or at school. We had multiple adjustments of the Hatchbacks by Sharon her Orthotist and I was never completely satisfied.
In comparison, the new balance velcro stayed tighter longer. Interestly the New Balance even worked when Sharon cut them and adapted them to fit over her serial casts.
Finding a nice children's dress shoe for Cassie has been next to impossible at this point in time. I found a cool zip up boot that worked over the one set of braces and Cassie wore them with her dress and felt fashionable . Unfortunately I have not seen them in bigger sizes. We look at Childrens shoes often and find very little that is suitable but once we find a shoe that works Cassie just sticks with it.
Display of shoes on the wall at Chedoke. At least Hatchbacks are available in Cassie 's favourite colour pink!!
Cassie playing in the waiting room with the toys. She is waiting for Sharon Carr her Orthotist.

Making the new custom ankle foot orthotic. Cassie likes holding on to parts and participating in the process. Sharon is incredible with Children and knows Cassie well after seven years. It always goes smoothly with Sharon. Sharon's skilled hands, expertise and knowledge is unmeasurable to anyone else I've seen.
Next Monday it will be back to Orthotics for another serial casting and Sharon will continue making Cassie's new braces. Mom and Dad will plan for payment of our 25 percent of the braces and new shoes. Assisted Devices pays for 75 percent of Sharon's outstanding work, time and the braces themselves. Various funding options exist to pay the 25 percent but lots exclude you if you are middle class. I am battling Chris's Extended health benefits that have way to low a cap on orthotics and only pay every 3 years. I always ask for special consideration and send the benefits notes from specialists but the rules are set by the employer and the group benefit packages.