AFO'S (leg splints) and finding shoes that fit.

[quimmy]

Hi. My daughter is 8 years old and has left Hemiplegia (CEREBAL PALSY). She has to wear a leg splint on her left leg. I normally buy hatchbacks which are really expensive but the only shoes that fit over her splint. She has now gone up in shoe size (3 1/2 g without the splint) and I can no longer get hatchbacks to fit. Does anyone know how to get funding so I can buy her duna shoes. These cost over 100 pound a pair. I have tried every cheap shoe shop, clarks, barrats, you name it I've tried but I would end up having to buy a size 6 for the splinted foot and normal size for her good foot. She then ends up looking ridiculous and very embarrassed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kim

sorry to hear you arr having difficulty finding shoes to accomodate your daughters splint, m ds is 7 and also has left hemi but we just buy trainers from a sports shop for his...
what about applying to the family fund? i personally havent had any dealings with them but i think they may be able to help ...

I just bought some hush puppies for dd (mary janes) which fit over her splints. Biomechanics are good as well.

I feel your pain. At just over your DD's age I had terrible trouble getting shoes (which has lasted all my life) and I absolutely hated going to the shoe shop because it was so difficult getting anything to remotely fit.

However, one of the boys in DS1's class at school now goes to our Orthopaedic hospital and has his shoes made (as do I!). They are great with him and are so much nicer than the ones I was offered 30 years ago.

I assume that she gets the splints from the hospital? Are they able to refer to the orthotics department for shoes too? I know they may be reluctant to do so, because they are expensive, so you may need to push for it, but see how you go.