Today I tried out my new walking cane in public for the first time. It wasn't nearly as awkward or nerve wracking as I thought it would be. I think this is because I needed it. I still lost my balance a bunch of times of course, but with the cane it was less of a strain.
I bought the cane last week. During my annual check-up with my neurosurgeon, he told me to consider that the worsened symptoms of my Dandy Walker Syndrome may never improve. I wasn't devastated. I had suspected this for over two years.