14-year-old boy from Michigan, six feet tall, begs for help finding shoes that fit his SIZE 23 feet
The family of a 14-year-old six-foot-tall Michigan boy has pleaded for help finding shoes that fit his 7-foot size.
Eric Kilburn Jr. of Ortonville, near Flint, wore size 22 shoes, but they were too small and caused painful calluses, blisters, and ingrown toenails.
His mother Rebecca, 36, begged for help finding shoes to accommodate his feet, as the average American male shoe size is 10.5.
Her calls seemed to have been answered when Puma and Under Armor said they would design monster shoes just for him.
“At 14, he’s still growing. Most kids that are this big and tall at this age have an endocrine disorder and he doesn’t. He has no health problems with exponential growth,” she told HometownLife.
Even in seventh grade, family and friends were told to be wary of size 47 and larger shoes as he continued to grow.
Eric Kilburn Jr., a 14-year-old boy from Michigan who is six feet tall and 25 feet tall, seeks help finding shoes that fit him
Eric Kilburn Jr. has experienced discomfort from the presence of painful calluses, blisters, and ingrown toenails due to its ill-fitting
Eric’s mother has made a plea for help finding footwear suitable for his unusually large feet, as the average American male shoe size is 10.5. Size 22 in the photo
At one point, Eric had to wear Crocs for two years, even in the middle of winter, because there were no options available to him other than the expensive $1,500 custom orthotics that he would soon grow out of.
Although Rebecca offered to buy a pair for her son, Eric was uncomfortable wearing them because they only came with Velcro.
“I’ve cried for hours feeling like I’ve let my kid down because I can’t find what he needs,” Rebecca told Today.
“It’s frustrating when his mom and can’t find shoes, which is such a basic necessity. I can’t find shoes for my teen. What can I do if his feet grow?’
‘The orthotics catalog mainly consisted of Velcro shoes. Eric was like, “I’d rather go barefoot.” she said.
“It’s hard enough to stand out like him. You don’t want to be that giant kid walking down the hall in old Velcro shoes.”
The Kilburn family is depicted with father, Eric Sr., Eric Jr, brother Graesyn and mother Rebecca
Eric’s mother, Rebecca, 36, pleaded for help finding footwear that could accommodate his unusually large feet
For two years, Eric, pictured with brother Graesyn, had to wear crocs to accommodate his feet
Eric says he’s already getting a lot of questions, not to mention the stares from people amazed at his height, and he’s considering printing business cards that will give people answers to the common questions people want to know, like whether he plays basketball – he doesn’t.
After a local Michigan reporter ran a piece about Eric’s struggle to find matching shoes, his story went viral and the family received an outpouring of support.
For years, the family of shoe manufacturers was simply told, “Sorry, there’s nothing we can do.”
A Nike representative told her, “The only way you’re a size 22 is if it’s made for a professional athlete and they haven’t used it and it’s come back into circulation.”
Size 22 seems to be the max but Eric needs size 23 or 24. The average shoe size in the NBA is 14.
Eric gets basic sneakers, basketball shoes and soccer shoes
Eric, pictured in his crocs from a few years back with his younger brother
But at least held is going on with Under Armor and Puma now offering to make custom shoes and cleats for Eric, while Cat shoes are planning to send him boots.
Under Armor says Eric’s feet will be the biggest pair they’ve ever made shoes for.
“We’re in a thin space, there aren’t that many people in the world in these sizes,” said the company’s Senior Director of Footwear Development Robb Cropp. ‘We had to help. We know the importance of sport for children and their development.’
Puma also wants to do something similar.
“There’s no shape size for it because it’s such a rarity from a mass production point of view,” said Max Staiger, head of basketball operations at Puma. “What we’re going to make looks and feels like a normal shoe, with just a little adjustment. … We’ve done this before without any problem. $1,500 for a pair of shoes is almost madness, I don’t care what size it is.’
Eric gets basic sneakers, basketball boots and football boots, while an Italian company, Mauri, offers to make dress shoes for school and more formal occasions.
Eric says he’s considering printing business cards that will give people answers to the regular questions people want to know, like if he plays basketball
“It restored my faith in humanity,” Rebecca replied. “I’ve hit so many dead ends with people laughing when I called to ask about shoes. It was a very lonely feeling. And now we are overflowing with support, generosity and kindness.”
“It was overwhelming,” she told USA Today. “I’ve been this pool of emotions, all good… It’s the coolest thing to be able to say we did it!” He has shoes! I’m not normally much of a cryer, but I’ve been in a state of happy tears all the time… We’re so thankful.”
A GoFundMe has raised nearly $23,000 for the family, and Rebcca also started a Facebook group called “Big Shoe Network” to help people find big shoes to buy.
Eric still wears his size 22 Nike sneakers (the same size worn by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal), but the family is thankful for all the support they’ve received.
“It’s a dream for him to have shoes, boots, and cleats,” Rebecca said. ‘That would be great … . It is a burden on my heart as a mother not to find such a basic necessity.’