“Wear this all the time when you’re standing,” she said.

“And keep it elevated when you sit.”

My father carried Noah into room 214 at the Holiday Inn Express while I leaned heavily on the wall, dragging the rigid black boot across the commercial carpet.

The room smelled of air conditioning and clean cotton sheets.

A wooden baby crib sat against the wall between the two queen beds, brought up by the front desk clerk when we checked in.

My father gently lowered Noah onto the fitted crib mattress, took off his shoes, and pulled a light blanket over his legs.