Hey everyone, I wanted to share an update on Greg's journey with JHD. As you may know, he had a bad accident at a trampoline park when he was 20 and broke his leg in two places. That was a tough time for him and us, but he recovered well. However, since then, his JHD has been affecting his legs more and more. He started to walk with his legs turned out and his feet dropping down. This made him lose his balance and fall a lot. It was scary and frustrating for him and us.
We decided to look for some solutions to help him walk better and safer. We found a great place called JP&O Prosthetic & Orthotic Lab that makes custom leg braces for people with different needs. They measured Greg's legs and made him some braces that would correct his feet position and stabilize his gait. They also taught him how to put them on and take them off.
Today, Vance took Greg to pick up the braces and tried them on. Greg was not very happy about them at all and said he hates them. He said they felt weird and uncomfortable. He didn't like how they made him looked either. I have tried to cheer him up and prepare him by telling him that they were just tools to help him, not define him. I told him that he was still the same Greg he always was, with or without the braces. I have also tried reminding him of all the benefits they would bring, like reducing his falls, improving his mobility, and preventing further damage to his legs. Hopefully he will keep this in mind as he gets used to them.
I know it will take some time for him to adjust to the braces and accept them as part of his life. I hope he will see them as a positive thing, not a negative one. My hope is that he will realize that they are not a sign of weakness, but of strength. I hope he will feel more confident and independent with them. I'm so proud of Greg for being brave and trying new things. This isn't always easy for a 26yr old to do. I'm also grateful for JP&O Prosthetic & Orthotic Lab for making these braces possible.
Thank you all for supporting us and following our story. Please keep Greg in your thoughts and prayers as he gets used to his new braces. Please send him some love and encouragement in the comments. Please share this post with anyone who might benefit from it or relate to it.
Thank you for reading and caring.
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