A story of shoe shopping and resilience in adapting to ALS

I know I’ve said this many times, but it’s worth repeating: One of the most important lessons ALS has taught me is to never give up. This leads me into this week’s column. It’s a story about shoes and my pursuit of the perfect pair. Spoiler alert: There’s a happy ending ahead. But, boy oh boy, it was a challenge to get there.

My story begins where last year’s column left off. In it, I wrote about the pair of athletic shoes I wear around the house. They’re lightweight and comfy and have an easy-peasy Velcro closure, all of which accommodates my ALS symptoms of stiff hands and clumsy walking.

Although the shoes were more than five years old, they still looked practically brand new. However, after putting them on and taking them off each day for five years, the fuzzy side of each Velcro strap morphed into a stringy mess. Naturally, I thought, “Time to order a new pair.”

Looking online, I had a moment of panic when discovering that the shoe company had discontinued my particular pair. Trying not to hyperventilate, I did a deeper search — but nada, nothing, zero hits.

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A temporary solution

Long story short, I relied on my DIY crafting skills and a package of self-sticking Velcro tape to replace the deteriorating original Velcro. Even though I was happy with the result, I knew the shoe clock was winding down, and I’d eventually have to buy a new pair of shoes.

Before having ALS, I would’ve driven to the local mall and happily wandered through the we-have-all-brands shoe mart. Never mind stepping over opened shoeboxes strewn in the aisles or digging through the sales rack; I could try on everything and anything that caught my eye.

Now shoe stores have downsized, and most have moved their business online. Not good for someone with mobility issues like me. So I procrastinated. In the past year, I’ve replaced the Velcro four times. Then the rubber sole of the right shoe began peeling away, and to prevent a possible trip and fall, I began gluing the rubber to the shoe.

To buy, or not to buy?

Oh, I’ve tried ordering shoes online. The first pair was uncomfortable and nonreturnable, so I gave them away. The second pair showed up a half size larger than advertised. My husband offered his help and drove me to a shoe store carrying the brand that always worked for him.

We entered the store with positive attitudes: me on my mobility scooter while he pushed along my rollator, to have on hand so I could do test walks.

I sat on my scooter while my husband and the sales clerk brought me what seemed like every shoe on the shelves. I felt like one of the women whose feet Cinderella’s prince tried to fit into the glass slipper; with anyone other than Cinderella, the shoes were too tight, too loose, or too wrong. The sales clerk’s patience was amazing, as was that of my husband. Still, we left empty-handed.

Back home and frustrated, I read an article about how I could use Google Lens on my computer to find shoes. All I had to do was open the app, take a photo of my current shoes, upload it, and then click enter. I did, and whoo-hoo! A few good prospects appeared, one with an uncanny similarity to the shoes I’ve been gluing and nursing along for the past year.

Honing in on a specific pair, I embarrassingly devoted a whole week to reading the reviews, watching demonstration YouTube videos, and reading the fine print about sizing and return policies.

Finally, finally, I hit the purchase button, crossed my fingers, and waited for the package to arrive. It arrived, I put the shoes on, and I indeed had happy feet.

That’s the thing about living with ALS. It can make us cautious and frustrated, feeling restricted from things we used to do, and we can slide into a “give in, give up” attitude. But we don’t have to.

Instead, ask, “What do I need, and who or what can help me?” Look for positive solutions to what’s challenging us. Let’s continue to help each other learn to live well while living with ALS.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.