I grew up in Lebanon at
a time when the smell of war shells was always in the air.
It was 1989. While I was
studying Business at the American University of Beirut, I decided to open a small shoe repair shop.
I took this decision because
I wanted to be my own boss.
Proudly,
I had a lot of success running Bigfoot Shoe Repair.
Being 21 years old, making a lot of money; or I thought I was!
I considered my future to be
in shoe repair until one day at work, I received an old man walking
in for his shoes resoling; they were custom fabricated to accommodate
his foot problems. He was concerned because the specialist who made
his shoes was not available anymore (Later I learned that this shoe
maker was kidnapped and disappeared during the civil war).
The customer was a physician
and, knowing that I was a university graduate, he said that I should
not repair shoes but instead become “Bottier Orthopediste”
(Orthopedic shoe maker). He said also that the same job I served him
for $10, I could have charged $100 for, had a small paper been
hanging on my wall; a diploma.
These words inspired me and I
was so lucky to join a Prosthetic-Orthotic Program.
I graduated again in 1994 and
re-founded Bigfoot Orthopedics.
I went later to
France for additional studies in Pedorthics.
Pedorthic knowledge and shoe
experience blended well at Bigfoot:
The first in the Middle East to
introduce Cad Cam Orthotics, moving later to a better location in
Beirut, and eventually exporting therapeutic shoes to France.
Bigfoot
had many successful stories!
In July 2006, another war
period made me consider immigration.
When we have a family we think
children first! I therefore sold and moved to Canada in June
2008.
Today..
- Certified
from the College of Pedorthics Canada
- Member
of the Pedorthic Association Canada
- Member
of the The American Board for Certification in Orthotics,
Prosthetics & Pedorthics
- Many
years of experience in traditional and digital orthotic techniques
- I can serve you in
French, English, and more.
- CadCam expert in systems related to orthotics.
