{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-story-js","path":"/story/braces-for-my-legs-e/","result":{"pageContext":{"data":{"id":"-40e6e395-5c62-5543-93b5-6c75bddaed2f","authorFirstName":"Ella","storyTitle":"Braces for My Legs","photo":{"asset":{"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/nr9digz2/production/9928cdfb2b42edd5c36481b6acffdb5e3a856eb7-1500x1000.jpg"}},"audio":{"asset":{"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/files/nr9digz2/production/465f79e5a201d895683d3df285097cba101eccb8.mp3"}},"secondLanguageAudio":{"language":"English","audio":null},"school":{"name":"Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology","city":"Petersburg","location":"Virginia"},"tags":["Different Abilities","Discrimination","Health and Illness"],"_rawText":[{"_key":"fa0dc777ec38","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b35c1371f4540","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"When I was a toddler, I never walked right; I was always up on my toes instead of my heels. I went to the doctor when I was 4, and the doctor noticed and asked, “Does she always walk on her toes like this?” “I’m not sure. I’ve never really paid attention to the way she walks. Is that bad?” my parents asked her. The doctor explained that walking on your toes tightens your calf muscles, which can lead to your entire body being in pain, and sometimes the only solution in severe cases is surgery. My parents opted for the less invasive option of wearing braces 24/7."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e3e15ffbe77e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c2c0dc95af830","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I picked out my favourite design, all different shades of pink in a camouflage pattern. I had to have special shoes too, neon pink, three sizes too big, but they fit perfectly with how big the braces made my feet. They were snug to my legs, perfectly molded to help me walk properly. I couldn’t flex my calves or point my toes. I was really uncomfortable and barely able to walk for the first few days, but it didn’t matter. I was so excited to go to school and show my friends my new braces."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6aea8240e3c2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4298d808e6da0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I got to school early that day, the big brick building with white columns and trim; it used to be a church, so it had a big steeple with a cross at the top. I went down the stairs to the entrance. My teachers were already in the room. I strutted in and looked up with my hands on my hips."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"95288cd83cec","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d0a5d2be85d60","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"\"Wow, Ella! What's on your legs, sweetheart?” my teacher asked."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a8421cb879e5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3528dfe735a80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“My cool new braces and shoes. The doctor said I’m wearing them now,” I replied."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"179533ae9fb7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d1cd7a3d60ff0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“Those are super cool! Let’s get ready to go outside before class starts!” My teacher ushered me toward the door to the playground outside."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8eb631009a05","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e7a04f4ae9f10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I immediately ran to my favourite place on the playground. The little house with a fake kitchen and utensils. I obviously had my own restaurant in there; my best friend Sophie and I ran it. We sold pizza."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"39c57a3a46e5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ba65e2190f430","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"When I stopped before the house, Sophie was already in there with two other girls."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"17ee1cd41bcb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c528383580ac0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“Can I come in? It’s time to make pizza, Sophie,” I asked."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ceda114fe197","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4e906a6255f40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"\"No, you can’t. Your legs look weird,” one of the girls said."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d3680adb2bce","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9e5dee69b8640","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"\"Yeah, you can’t come in,\" the other girl chimed in."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4544a0417f55","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b8f42f39e9390","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I was thrown off; this was where I always went with Sophie. I figured she’d still want to stay with me."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"699974cacfb5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a8a6b1fdc71c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“Sophie, do you want to go to the sandbox?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c0a9bfd1f29b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9b2ad495b38f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“No, I want to stay in the house. You can’t come,” Sophie said."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"402c992a5659","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e0c6c6eb71380","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Looking back now, this probably doesn’t sound so severe, but to a toddler who has just been turned away by their best friend, this felt like my world was ending. I can remember the feeling so well of being left alone, even though it was well over 12 years ago. I went to the sandbox alone feeling sick. My teachers came over to check on me, and I told them I wanted my mom."},{"_key":"e4c2c23650d80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"\n"},{"_key":"e4c2c23650d81","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The next few weeks were hard. I was trying my hardest to get these braces off, fighting with my parents when it was time to change into my nighttime braces, when it was time to put them back on after a break, and crying at night trying to rip them off my legs."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}}},"staticQueryHashes":["3309388390","890781507"]}