American’s have always savored stories of beating the odds and while we may not all agree on our neighbor’s political views or how we deal with issues amongst our communities, we love an underdog and we love our champions. Way back in 1956 when the Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne Australia, a young woman named Wilma Rudolph ran part of the women’s 4 x 100 meter relay and helped the US win a bronze medal. Then in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome, she returned (while still a college athlete) and won Gold in the individual 100 and 200 meter individual events and as a part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team. She and a small but unforgettable group of US Black American Athletes became part of the American legacy of sport – that group included Cassius Clay for boxing (later renamed as Muhammed Ali) and Rafer Johnson for track (decathalon).
Wilma is the most special part of the stellar athletics group because she was stricken with polio as a child and with minimal resources outside of a large and caring family; she underwent the home schooling and home therapy so that she could learn to walk unassisted by special shoes or braces. After seven years (by the age of twelve) she was able to not only walk, she was able to participate in sports activities.
Tennessee had few options for Black American families seeking specialized medical treatment in the early 1940’s. So her family sought out the medical learning center of Meharry Medical College in Nashville. She endured a weekly visit, some fifty miles from her home, interactive support of her family sharing the massage treatments for her leg and foot, and by the age of twelve she was advancing without any additional prosthetics or help in sports that demanded full and equal control of her lower limbs and feet. Ultimately she achieved the highest accolades of all in the 1960’s – “She is the fastest woman alive!”
Dr. Kleis, DPM has a fully trained staff for implementing the therapy and support necessary for overcoming what may be seen as “insurmountable” foot problems. Club-foot, hereditary foot conditions, injury-related conditions for the young and the mature are all welcome. Call (714) 760-4944 to set up an appointment in the Costa Mesa office.
All conditions that affect standing and striding upright without pain or immediate mechanical assistance (a cane, a wheelchair, a cumbersome brace) rely on support from a network of people who can decrease the discomfort and retrain the mechanisms of your gait. Wilma Rudolf exemplifies what love amidst a family can accomplish against a formidable foe. She is proof that the most crippling of circumstances do not point to the end of what may be accomplished. Cynics could scoff and say that she was a young girl when her treatment began but the real truth is that everyone is capable of overcoming odds against them with a good practitioner’s monitoring and a strong support team.
Many of the modern technologies addressing foot problems are available now to solve some of the problems in less time that what years of family and medical support did for Wilma Rudolph. She suffered from a combination of illnesses before the age of five that left her partially paralyzed. Then within a span of fifteen years she was still able to achieve athletic stardom in competition against the world’s best.
Dr. Kleis’ 25 years of expertise in Podiatry and well-honed use of laser technology tools for non-invasive healing makes this practice a great starting point for a second opinion or an only opinion on addressing the foot problems of a loved one or for yourself. This is the only office in Orange County, California that offers this level or expertise, support, and a variety of non-invasive treatment options. Call (714) 760-4944 to set up an appointment in the Costa Mesa office.
Life with unhindered mobility is the goal for most. Wilma Rudolph’s Olympian accomplishments set the highest bar for what family and medical support can contribute to an individual’s accomplishment, the other component is the drive of the individual.
Dr. Kleis, DPM can evaluate the problems of mobility for the very young and old patients. They can provide the additional support and ongoing therapy that may be required to restore normal mobility to a loved-one’s life. This is the only office in Orange County, California that offers unique treatment options for problems of the feet. Call (714) 760-4944 to set up an appointment in the Costa Mesa office.