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The expansion is bringing, and will continue to bring a little more attention to the program. With attention, there comes news stories and investigations (read: digging into closets - looking for skeletons.)
I strongly believe it's best to be upfront and honest; presenting the information so you hear it from us, not read it in the paper. So, as a teammate of the walk, we wish to disclose the following:
The founding chairman of Walk with a Doc, David Sabgir, has seven (7) toes on his left foot.
The Walk with a Doc Board was made aware of the situation just 6 days ago. After consultation with several PR 'experts', they organized an impromptu press conference. This was intended for the local press to address the situation before it got out of hand. Three (3) "journalists" showed up (one of the three was janitorial staff that had no desire or intention to attend). Again, in the spirit of transparency, what follows is a complete transcript of the questions and answers from this most recent Tuesday.
Q: Do the 6th and 7th toes provide Dr. Sabgir with increased stability and therefore an unfair advantage while walking? Therefore, making something difficult (walking) seem easy - deceiving those that join the program.
A: Yes, of course two extra toes provide an advantage. That we cannot deny. However, we have found that even without the unfair stability, walking is still quite easy and a very successful tool for billions of people for many reasons.
Q: Are the extra toes part of a congenital syndrome with other issues?
(i.e. Is that why Dr. Sabgir is so funny looking?)
A: Good question, but no, he is just funny looking.
Q: Does he have to wear special socks?
A: That is personal, but yes...and no. If they are the socks with openings for each toe (glove socks) yes. However, if they are normal, masculine socks - no. Reason being, while the big toe and the two immediately adjacent toes are normal sized; the fourth through seventh toes are three-quarter-sized (medically termed "small toes"). This produces an equivalent of actually six toes. The classic masculine sock can withstand the added pressure of the 'sixth' toe.
Q: How common is this?
A: Terribly uncommon.- a MEDLINE literature search shows that since 1959, ironically there are only seven people to have been born with this dysmorphology. 2 in southern India, 4 Peruvians, 1 in the US. Unfortunately, we discovered that there is a very strong link with major depression developing in the early teenage years
Q:That's horrible. Why?
A: Come on! Have you seen his left foot? These kids' feet are so goofy looking they often get bullied to the point where they really get a complex.
Q: His Jeep Wrangler license plate reads DOS MAS. If I'm correct this means 'two more' in Spanish? Am I also correct that this is referring to toes #'s 6 & 7 in concert with his dream of introducing Walk with a Doc to Spanish speaking countries?
A: Bingo.
Q: You know it is funny that this comes up. I remember at a walk in March he seemed confused and kept walking to the left, almost as if he was going in circles. Now in retrospect, I assume he was having trouble with his toes that morning?
A: Mr. Reporter, you are old enough to know what happens when you assume. But, yes your assumptions are correct; he was having balance issues that morning...and he was constipated. But, you didn't hear that from me.
Q: Will we ever show us his feet?
A: First, it is his foot Not feet! What do you think, he's some freak with 14 toes! Quite honestly that question is rude and disrespectful to the doctor. The answer to whether he will show you his deformed foot is an absolute NO!
That being said...he did attend a Halloween party in 2007 as Jasmine (his wife Kristin was Aladdin) and I snapped a picture after his third glass of 'Goblin juice'. If interested, please see below.
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