Because not everyone with a brace has a broken ankle (why I advocate number 2 of n)

When well-meaning folks ask Aster, "Oh, did you have an owie?" Aster does not realize he's being asked, "Why are you wearing an AFO?*" nor, the few times we've been asked, do I, at least not immediately.  Weird pauses have ensued

With AFO Nov. 2014

June 2014

Explaining that he did not recently injure himself is not a big deal in our lives, but I know many CHASA parents and adults with hemiplegia tire of the questions, and some parents fear casted constraint therapy** just because they don't want to deal with queries about broken bones.

King of the Hill, Nov. 2014

Helping people understand that there are many reasons for braces, casts, gloves, and supports***, and that assuming recent injury can be awkward is a small reason for why I'm raising awareness about pediatric strokes, but it one.  I can recognize "When is he going to get that off?" as a kindly-meant conversation starter, yet I can see how tired mothers of kids who may be wearing AFOs for life see it as a trigger for defensive outbursts or tears. Some would rather pretend injury than deal with the embarrassed pity that can accompany, "actually he had a stroke/cerebral palsy/permanent brain damage and has worn braces since he was 2."
As you can see from the images, three-year-old Aster does not lead a life requiring pity, even with his oh-so-fashionable supports.



*Ankle Foot Orthosis

**The non-affected ("good") hand is casted so that the child must use the affected ("bad") hand and develop new neural circuitry and new muscle memories.

***Not to suggest that I am an expert on all of the many reasons.