When Jor’el Bolden’s Sizable Feet Created a Struggle For Comfortable Shoes
From an early age, Jor’el Bolden faced a unique challenge: finding shoes that could accommodate his large feet. Born with feet so big that his mother, Tamika Neal, struggled to find baby shoes that fit, his feet only grew in size as he got older. Now at 16 years old, Jor’el wears a size 23 wide shoe, a rarity indeed.
Living in Independence, Missouri, Jor’el’s family was lucky to come across a lone pair of shoes that fit, found on eBay. However, those shoes have now become rather tight, leaving Jor’el longing for something bigger and more comfortable.
His dreams of sporting popular brands like Jordans, Air Force Ones, and Nikes have remained just that – dreams. The struggle to find shoes that fit has resulted in what Jor’el described as “torture.” The restriction caused by ill-fitting shoes has even hindered him from enjoying simple pleasures, like going to see a movie, as his shoes would prove too painful. As Jor’el put it, “I have to wear the shoes that hurt my feet. Every time I go out to walk and stuff, it hurts my feet.”
Struggles from Birth: Finding Baby Shoes and Beyond
Jor’el’s journey of searching for shoes that fit started from birth. Being a 7-pound, 14-ounce newborn measuring 21 inches long, his large feet posed an immediate challenge for his mother. Baby shoes that could accommodate his “fat little foot” were nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, as Jor’el grew up, his cousin wore the same shoe size, making it easier to find suitable shoes. Hand-me-downs from his cousin and the kindness of his nephew, who worked at a shoe store and would even purchase shoes for him, eased the situation for the first six years of his life.
However, as he entered his preteen years, Jor’el once again faced the difficulty of finding appropriate footwear. Wearing a size 10 or 11 in men’s shoes, his shoe size continued to present a challenge into adolescence.
The Road Ahead: Searching for Solutions
As a single mother, Tamika Neal always strives to meet her children’s basic needs. The struggle to find shoes for Jor’el weighs heavily on her, so she took matters into her own hands to find a solution. Neal started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money in order to provide her son with a wider variety of shoes. Their initial goal of raising funds was achieved early on, with almost $10,000 gathered from the generosity of friends and strangers alike. This unexpected support has been a true blessing for the family.
Aside from shoes, Jor’el has various interests and aspirations. He enjoys drawing video game and cartoon characters and, after speaking with Titus Ozell Golden, a local business owner, he has considered taking up wrestling and boxing. Golden, who runs Ozell Brand in Missouri and specializes in shoe and cleat production, reached out to the family and plans to craft shoes tailored specifically to Jor’el’s needs. All that’s left is to get his feet measured so they can create shoes that fit him comfortably.
With his shoe dilemma inching towards resolution, Jor’el can look forward to a future with a newfound freedom of movement. He can finally enjoy various activities without the constant discomfort and pain caused by improperly fitting shoes.
A Shared Struggle and Lessons Learned
Jor’el’s story is not the only instance of a teenager with size 23 feet encountering difficulties in finding shoes that fit. Another similarly themed story took place in Michigan, involving a 14-year-old named Eric Kilburn Jr. With the support of a million readers, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, and help from shoe companies such as Under Armour and Puma, Eric eventually received custom-made shoes that fit him comfortably, rescuing his football season from the clutches of a sprained ankle.
