Hey there! My name is Rayna and I was born with congenital clubfoot on both of my feet. I was born in 2001 and I just turned 13 this year. Having my clubfeet hasn’t really affected my life when I was younger but now that I am getting older and becoming more aware of my feet compared to others is really getting to me lately and I’m glad I found this site to share my story.
My mother has been my rock growing up and my only parent and I’m so surprised how she has gotten through all of this. But anyways, I started getting corrective surgery when I was only a couple months old and had these huge purple cast on both of my feet until I was maybe a toddler. My feet are not completely corrected, my left foot is flatter then my right foot. So I can stand straight on my left foot but cannot stand comfortably straight on my right. My right foot goes more inward then my left and growing up I’m positive kids have wondered why my feet are oddly shaped, but now I’m getting older and have been going to the same school all my life so my classmates are used to my awkward feet positions but hardly nobody knows why because I am not comfortable with telling them about my feet, they will ask why my foot walks slightly inward and I’ll just say, “I’m just used to walking like that.” But of course getting all my surgeries have left me with scars on my ankles and basically my whole foot.
I would say I have a high tolerance for pain because my ankles will get sore very easily but I really try not to complain because I want to fit in and I don’t want anybody to know. I can do P.E like other kids and thats not a very big struggle but as I said I walk a little inward and its embarrassing to me when people look at me running or when I wear shorts… I have very small calfs and ankles and I am a very bony person. So I hate how whenever me and my mom go jean shopping, that jeans will fit my thighs but not my lower legs properly. It really bugs me wearing shorts and we have to for our p.e class and I feel awkward and uncomfortable and try not to draw attention to my lower body. I’m not a very fast runner (obviously) but I’m I can keep up with other kids as some might not expect that from a kid with corrected clubfoot, but I’m doing well for myself If I say so myself.
I played softball growing up and quit after I felt like other kids kept staring at me and judging me and my ankles get very sore easily so it was a bit of a struggle. I refuse to go swimming with anyone other than my family members, I hate wearing shorts and bathing suits and anything that draws attention to my figure and ankles. I have scars that show enough when I’m wearing normal airwalk or any shoes that are not ankle high. I think to myself so many times during my life that I’m not gonna find someone to marry because of my feet and skinny legs and wont find me attractive. This story of mine is a back story that I never bring up and I am sort of like batman, I have my one side off my life that everybody sees me as but this backstory that nobody knows about.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I would say I’m pretty popular, but if anyone knew and saw my bare feet I would die on the inside. I’m a pretty happy kid, but on the inside once in awhile I just feel like hiding forever and never coming out. I am very insecure about my body and have a very big anxiety problem. I don’t ever cry in public or at school, I don’t think I ever have or will..I don’t like drawing bad attention to myself. I think anyone who has clubfoot and is growing up with it is a very strong person and I admire whoever it is. It is a very hard thing to go through, take it from me. I really hope my children do not have clubfeet because I don’t want them to go through that.
So if you’re reading this, thank you so much for hearing me out and letting me get this off my shoulders.
Hey Rayna I’m Kate and im 23.I was only born with it in my left foot.It was never fully corrected as I have what they call a repeating club foot.My right foot is a size 6 and my left is a size 3.I have to say I have struggled for a long time with it, I was bullied a lot in school over it cause I had a limp. I suffered with depression for a couple of years. I also hated my scars and didn’t wanna show my legs and feet off because my leg is so thin compared to my right.I have so many scars on my left and my right leg.They had to drill holes in my right knee to stop the growth in my legs so my left could catch up it didnt work so now my hips are a few inches off which over the years has curved my spine slightly, but somehow you remind me of me after reading your story. Don’t be nervous about your scars be proud of them and know this it will get easier but for awhile it will be crap but by the time ur 16 17 it will get better. the people will get better.you won’t be bullied anymore you won’t care about the scars ull see them as ur battle scars be proud
Hey Rayna,
My name is Krisel. I am 28 years old now, but reading your post reminded me of how I felt growing up. I went through the exact same thing you are experiencing. I was even made fun of when I was younger. My left foot seems a bit disfigured and has scars, my left leg is thinner and shorter than my right and I walk with with limp. I just want to tell you that it will all be ok. I always thought I would be limited in life, not find someone that would want to marry me, and to this day, I don’t wear shorts or skirts and I live in Miami and barely go to the beach. But let me tell you, I am happily married, I have a beautiful son (who was born with clubfoot too, but is now 100% ok) and I am an attorney. Don’t let this hold you back from anything in life because it shouldn’t. You seem like a smart girl. Don’t think less of yourself, ever.
I am club footed, bt i have no any story !!!
It was not corrected and now it is not possible, i am age of 21yr
I will pass this to my son who has 2 severely clubbed feet. Thank you for your insight
Hey Rayna – I have club foot and went through the same things as you when I was your age. The middle school years were the hardest. I hated P.E. class, never wore shorts and hid my feet as much as possible. I used to envy all the other girls with pretty legs and who could run normal. When I was in high school, my brother told me no one would ever want to marry me because they wouldn’t want to have kids with club foot. While I was at college, I decided to accept my feet and not get embarrassed about it anymore. I held my head high and became a lot more outgoing. When people asked what was wrong with me, I matter-of-factly said, “I have club foot. I was born with it.” Most people didn’t think twice about it. I realized that everyone has some issue in his or her life – physical handicap, mental illness, personality issue, family problem, addiction problem, etc. Compared to a lot of people’s problems, club foot is not so bad. I have done three half marathons and bicycled many miles, even in France and Italy. The pain is always there, like I have a sprained ankle, but I’ve learned to live with it. I never had surgery and have actually sprained my ankle so many times that it is the size of a small apple. I wear a soft ankle brace every day. I agree with you that you have to be a very strong person to live with club foot. I am 52 years old now, and have had a wonderful life so far. I’ve been married to the kindest, most fun-loving man for 24 years. He is a physician. I have had a great career, and own and operate two sandwich shops now. We have three children, 17 to 22 years old. None of them have club foot. It makes me very happy that they are very athletic. Hang in there! You are in the hardest years. It gets easier as you get older.
Teen years are always tough when it comes to accepting your flaws. However, even with clubfoot we all still love our lives and will always continue to. Its normal to have insecurities, and you sound very accepting of your problem. And I know with time, you will overcome your insecurities by accepting them because, you’re already half way there! 🙂