Shopping for shoes has never been easy. Since my son has needed to wear AFOs, Ankle Foot Orthotics, I have dreaded going into the stores to find shoes. It was one more reminder that my child was not like typical kids. I often have felt that after juggling all the doctor's appointments, therapy sessions and meeting all the needs of my child, buying shoes should be the easiest of all challenges. Unfortunately, this often was the single event that regularly broke me.

In the end, I ended up buying shoes that were two sizes larger than the shoe size that was actually needed. I would force the shoe to work by taking out the inner sole, stretching the material and praying that they would at least last a month before I needed to start the process all over again.

On more than one occasion, on the verge of ultimate emotional stress, I would return to my orthotist and beg to have the braces changed. Instead of making braces that assisted my child with walking, I demanded braces were made to fit the shoes. For survival, the goal had to change.

By the time I conquered the quest for a new shoe and AFO marriage, I was desperately frustrated. I was further saddened by the fact that all I could find were sneakers. This frustration gave me the desire to create shoes that were fashionable, trendy and made to fit braces.