The family of the hulking 14-year-old Michigan boy, who is 6ft 10″ tall and 23ft tall, have asked for help finding shoes that actually fit him.
Eric Kilburn Jr. of Ortonville, near Flint, had been wearing size 22 shoes, but they were still too small for him and causing him discomfort from painful calluses, blisters and ingrown toenails from outgrowing his shoes.
His mother, Rebecca, 36, asked for help finding shoes to accommodate his unusually large feet, as the average shoe size for American men is 10.5.
“At 14 he’s still growing. Most kids that big and big that age have an endocrine disorder and he doesn’t. He has no health issues with exponential growth,” she told HometownLife.
Already in the first class, Eric could wear a women’s size 12. In seventh grade, family and friends were told to look for size 17 and larger shoes to plan for the future.
Eric Kilburn Jr., a 14-year-old Michigan boy who is 6ft 10″ tall and 23ft tall, has sought help finding shoes that will fit him
Eric Kilburn Jr. has been in pain from painful calluses, blisters and ingrown toenails due to his poor fit
As the average American male shoe size is 10.5, Eric’s mother requested assistance in finding shoes that would fit his unusually large feet. Shown, size 22
At one point, Eric was forced to wear Crocs for two years, even in the dead of winter, because he had no other options other than the expensive $1,500 insoles that he would quickly outgrow.
Although Rebecca offered to buy her son a pair, Eric felt uncomfortable wearing them because they only came with Velcro.
“I spent hours crying because I felt like I had let my child down because I couldn’t find what they needed,” Rebecca told Today. “It’s frustrating that his mother can’t find shoes, which is such a basic need. I can’t find shoes for my teenager. What can I do when his feet grow?’
“The orthopedic catalog consisted mainly of shoes with Velcro. Eric said, ‘I’d rather be 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 men’s Velcro shoes.’
The Kilburn family are pictured with father, Eric Sr., Eric Jr., brother Graesyn and mother Rebecca
Eric’s mother, Rebecca, 36, asked for help finding shoes that will be able to accommodate his unusually large feet
For two years Eric, pictured alongside Brother Graesyn, had to carry crocodiles to accommodate his feet
Eric says he’s already getting a lot of questions, not to mention looks from people amazed at his size, and is considering having business cards printed that will give people the answers to the regular questions people want to know, including whether he plays basketball — he doesn’t.
After a local Michigan reporter published an article about Eric’s struggle to find shoes that fit, his story went viral and the family received a surge of support.
For years, the family was simply told by shoe manufacturers, “Sorry, there’s nothing we can do.”
A Nike rep told her, “The only way you could have a size 22 is if it was made for a pro athlete and they didn’t use it and it went back into circulation.”
A size 22 seems to be the max, but Eric needs a size 23 or 24. The average shoe size in the NBA is 14.
Eric is given basic sneakers, basketball shoes, and soccer shoes
Eric pictured in his Crocs from a few years ago alongside his younger brother
But it’s at least underway as Under Armor and Puma are now offering to create bespoke shoes and cleats for Eric, while Cat Footwear intends to send him boots.
Under Armor says Eric’s feet will be the largest pair they’ve ever made shoes for.
“We’re in a limited space, there aren’t many people in the world that size,” said Robb Cropp, the company’s senior director of footwear development. “We had to help. We know how important sport is for children and their development.”
Puma is also planning something similar.
“There’s no mold size for this because it’s such a rarity from a mass production perspective,” said Max Staiger, head of Puma’s basketball division. “What we’re going to do looks and feels like a regular shoe, with just a little tweak. … We’ve done this before with no problems. $1,500 for a pair of shoes is almost insane, I don’t care what size it is.
Eric receives basic sneakers, basketball shoes and soccer shoes, while an Italian company, Mauri, offers to make elegant shoes for school and more formal occasions.
Eric says he’s considering printing business cards that will give people answers to common questions people want to know, including does he play basketball
“It restored my faith in humanity,” Rebecca replied. “I’ve encountered so many dead ends where people have laughed 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 was this puddle of emotions, all good… It’s the coolest thing to be able to say we made it! He has shoes! I’m not usually a screamer, but I was constantly in tears of joy… We are so grateful.”
A GoFundMe 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 as NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s) but the family is grateful for all the support they’ve received.
“It’s a dream for him to have shoes, boots and cleats,” said Rebecca. ‘That would be wonderful … . As a mother, it is on my heart not to find such a basic need.