Information on ClubFeet in Black and White

Christopher Weber's Story

Where do I begin?? My name is Chris Weber, I am 25 yrs old and my right foot is a club foot. I don't remember much about my early days as a child with a club foot, but my mom has told me plenty of stories. I'm not sure what the procedures are for club feet now days, but I have had many surgeries. I am not sure of the exact number, but I can tell you it has been more then twelve. I had my metatarcles cut, heel cord lengthend many times, and some stuff to do with my ankle(or the lack there of). My last surgery was when I was in 5th grade. Thats the only one I can vividly remember.

My ankle looks permanently swollen, and i still have about 12-15 degrees that I can't put my foot down flat. I had a great surgeon who I keep in touch with, to this day. He did an outstanding job.

When I was a kid, my mother was watching me at a soccer game. Yes, soccer!! She said she was scared for my foot, she didn't want me to go through anymore surgeries. I played anyway. This is after she was told that I wouldn't be able to lead a "normal" life. So I played soccer in JR. high. I got to high school, and played more soccer. Pretty soon this not normal life, got me some good awards in high school. Not to toot my own pipe, I was pretty darn good goallie. I wasn't as fast as everyone else, but not the slowest by any means. I was "average". My dad and mom were so happy to see that my foot never held me up.

After high school, i tried to join the Military. Of course I was denied. That was the worst day of my life. Up until this point I was normal.

It hurt really bad. I wasn't sure how to recover from this blow. So I played more soccer, and tried to go on with my life like normal. I never went to college, and I never planned to go. I am not the college type you could say. A few years later I met a girl. We dated for a while, and almost a year into it, I was talking to my mom about my foot and my girlfriend said, "Whats wrong with your foot?" After almost a year together she never noticed. So I told her what was wrong and it was no big deal. I guess not cause I married her a couple years later. In September of 2001, I was watching the news like everyone else. I said to myself, I should be able to make a difference, and help protect our great country. I went to the Army recruiter, and gave him my problems. Very honestly I was hoping for the best and expecting the worst. He was very honest and told me that my chances of getting into the Army were slim to none. I wanted to try again anyway. With letters of recommendation in hand, from bossess, soccer coaches, parents and friends, I went to see the Army Doctor. He looked at my records, and shook his head. My records had to go to Washington D.C. to be reviewed.

Almost a month went by and no word. Then the recruiter called me and wanted me to go see the doc again. I went and dulk walked, marched, ran, and walked. Then I picked a job!! I was in!! This was my dream, to be like everyone else. was told so many times that i wasn't going to make it. Here I was, making it. I went to Ft. Knox, Ky, for basic training. Sixteen weeks of hell, not mentally, but physically. No one back home was expecting me to make it. On my way back from a 17 Kilometer road march, on my feet marching. I was told to take off my boot by a Drill Sergeant. He looked at my foot with a look of, hurt. He asked me why I keep going? I replied, cause everyone said I can't do it. Well, 16 weeks goes by and I am a Private in the U.S. Army.

I get stationed at Ft. Hood, TX and get deployed to Iraq from APR 2003-March 2004. I came back to Tx, and went to the promotion board. I now am a E-5, SGT. I am again in Iraq. I left Dec 9. 2005, and will be back in Nov. 2006. I am going to the promotion board again, now I will be a E-6, SSG.
All of this has come at a price. Everytime I go home, my parents ask to see my heel cord. They scrinch, when they see my heel cord. It has extra scars from boots, and big calouse from running all the time. But I have my dream.


Don't think of a club foot as the end of the world. A doctor says that you may not live a normal life. Do it, live a normal life. Follow your dreams, you can be or do what ever you want. Don't let this hold you back. If you are a parent of a child with a club foot, please, please, encourage them to do anything they want.

When they grow up and try to do things that are painful to their foot, they will endure it, cause they want to show everyone that they CAN.

Comments

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Comment added by : Terry Ann Sigur on the 27 Nov 2009 at 22:44pm
Your story brought me to tears,because when I was young I tried going into the Army but was denied,yes I am a female.All I ever wanted was to be treated equally but this isn't always the case.I have never been married but thats ok,I do have a 4 year old son who is healthy.I really needed to read your story ,it gave me strength I didn't think I had anymore.I live with sever pain but as a nurse I want to be normal even if that means enduring pain without showing it.God bless you and your family.Oh I forgot to tell you I'm a nurse at the VA Hospital in New Orleans ,La.
Comment added by : Terry Ann Sigur on the 27 Nov 2009 at 22:34pm
Your story brought me to tears,because when I was young I tried going into the Army but was denied,yes I am a female.All I ever wanted was to be treated equally but this isn't always the case.I have never been married but thats ok,I do have a 4 year old son who is healthy.I really needed to read your story ,it gave me strength I didn't think I had anymore.I live with sever pain but as a nurse I want to be normal even if that means enduring pain without showing it.God bless you and your family.Oh I forgot to tell you I'm a nurse at the VA Hospital in New Orleans ,La.
Comment added by : name on the 25 May 2009 at 19:55pm
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Comment added by : Javi Cardenas on the 28 Mar 2009 at 16:26pm
Youre an inspiration to me. I also have a right clubfoot that Im self conscious about and when I wear my JROTC boots for some reason they cut me right next to the tendon. Im also planning to go to the army after high school, and hearing this just raises my hopes about what I can do to prove people wrong
Comment added by : Ursuline Griffith on the 08 Nov 2006 at 10:49am
I am so glad that you have fullfill your dreams.My lrft foot is a clubfoot. aand i wanted to be a nurse but they never gave me a chance. I am 55years old, so you know that is way back, but i am so glad that your dreams has come through, you are doing it for you and i. keep up that good work i will pray for you my God Bless you.
Comment added by : Julie Demerly on the 10 Aug 2006 at 18:28pm
You will be such an inspiration to my son who is now 11 yrs old. He was born with clubfeet and has had 2 surgeries, his 2 older brothers have both signed up for the Michigan Army National Guard and Seth says he wants too to. He also wants to be a doctor, we've always told him go for the gold. In September he's testing for his black belt in katate. We're so proud of him. I can't wait to tell him your story. Thank-You. God Bless You.
Comment added by : Lori Williams on the 09 Aug 2006 at 16:31pm
I am so glad to hear that you made it in the military. My son who is eight has had club feet since he was born. He has had three surgies and I am so scared for him but after I read your story I have hope for him. Good luck with everything you do in your life. God Bless you Lori Williams

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