spinal cord injury — Nicole O'Meara | Blog

Cute Shoes to Wear with an Ankle Foot Orthotic (AFO)

AFO’s require wearing shoes 1-2 sizes bigger than your foot and often require the removal of the insole. On top of that, a person wearing an AFO should be in a shoe with ample support for the whole foot, a backstrap or heel cup so the shoe stays on, and a sole that makes firm contact with the ground but without too much tread (which could be a tripping hazard).

After two years of searching, I have found a few options worth noting. For my fellow shoe-lovers with limits, I’ve listed 5 options that meet my requirements for shoes I can wear with an AFO.

BlogNicole O'MearaMarch 9, 2024spinal cord injury, AFO, Orthotics, Shoes Comments

Storms of Suffering Reveal The Strength of Your Foundation

It wasn’t until the storm came and beat against the man’s house that he could see for himself that his foundation was secure. How will we know if our foundation is solid as a rock? By seeing how well it holds up during a storm.

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 15, 2023suffering, foundation, Matthew, rehab, spinal cord injuryComment

Your Problem is a Light Thing for the Lord

We think our chronic illness is a 605 pound, bar-bending beast and we cannot find our way out from under it. But it is as light as a toothpick for our all-powerful God. Why do we try to handle our beasts alone, in our own pitiful strength? We are fools to do that when God is standing beside us ready to lift a finger and lighten our load. He is more than able.

BlogNicole O'MearaDecember 6, 2022chronic disease, pain, spinal cord injury Comments

What’s so Mysterious About Irrational Love?

When we invest our hope in God, we get his unfailing love in return. Of course, the only way we ever come to the place where we can put our hope in him is through his grace. We cannot do it in our own strength. So, God gives us the grace to love him, then he gives us his unfailing love in return. Sounds like he’s doing all the work, right? Exactly.

It is embarrassing to be loved like that. Brennan Manning calls this, “irrational love.” It makes no sense. He gives his love and we don’t have to do anything for it. Nothing. God loves us because he loves us. That’s it.

Why would a perfect God love us despite our many imperfections? It’s a mystery.

BlogNicole O'MearaApril 20, 2022spinal cord injury, love, PsalmComment

It Takes Time For Hearts to Heal

“It’s ok if your heart needs more time to accept what your head already knows.” - anonymous

What a great way to describe what we all feel when we’re suffering.

We can’t make our hearts accept what our heads already knows. It’s not something we can do. It is the shaping and molding work of the living God. He will do it.

BlogNicole O'MearaMarch 16, 2022disability, spinal cord injury, waitingComment

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