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Success! Debora from Kenya raised $935 to fund clubfoot surgery.

Debora
100%
  • $935 raised, $0 to go
$935
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Debora's treatment was fully funded on July 11, 2022.

Photo of Debora post-operation

July 21, 2022

Debora underwent clubfoot surgery.

Debora is doing fantastic with her clubfoot treatment of manipulation and casting to help correct her right foot which had been making walking difficult for her. She will continue with weekly cast changes until her foot is fully in a straight position, then she’ll have one final surgery. Through this treatment, Debora will leave our medical partner’s care with the ability to walk like other children and go after all her dreams.

Debora’s mother says, “God bless you so much for your help and support.”

Debora is doing fantastic with her clubfoot treatment of manipulation and casting to help correct her right foot which had been making walki...

Read more
April 21, 2022

Debora is a young student and the last-born child to a single mother of two. She is charming and friendly. Her father left her family when Debora was very young. Debora’s mother has worked hard to raise her two children by herself ever since. She practices small-scale farming and grows bananas, maize, beans, and other vegetables as food for her children and to sell to others for money.

Debora has clubfoot on her right leg. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes.

Fortunately, Debora and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner’s care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC). There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Debora’s clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily when she heads back to school.

Debora’s mother shared, “I have watched my daughter turn from a normal child to a disabled child and all because I cannot afford her treatment cost. Please help.”

Debora is a young student and the last-born child to a single mother of two. She is charming and friendly. Her father left her family when D...

Read more

Debora's Timeline

  • April 21, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Debora was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, Curative Medical Support Program-Partner Representative at African Mission Healthcare.

  • April 22, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Debora received treatment at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) in Tanzania. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • April 29, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Debora's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • July 11, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Debora's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 21, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Debora's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 24 donors

Funded by 24 donors

Treatment
Clubfoot
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $935 for Debora's treatment
Hospital Fees
$693
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$8
Supplies
$175
Labs
$14
Other
$45
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The foot is turned inward, often severely, at the ankle, and the arch of the foot is very high. Patients experience discomfort, and the affected leg may be shorter and smaller than the other.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

These children have a difficult time walking and running. Years of trying to walk on a clubfoot will cause wounds and other skeletal problems, such as arthritis. Patients will have difficulty fitting in shoes and participating in normal play, school, and daily activities. Many Africans make their livings through manual labor, which can be difficult with an untreated clubfoot.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Incidence is 1/1,000 live births, or about 1,600 cases in Tanzania annually. This is roughly similar to rates in Western countries, though many cases may be missed. There is no known reason for its occurrence in this region.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Patients will undergo a series of small operations, casting, and manipulations during their course of treatment. Patients will stay in the Plaster House, a rehabilitation center for children in Tanzania, for as long as their recovery takes.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The bones and joint will become aligned, and long-term disability will be prevented.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Clubfoot is very treatable. The surgery is minor and not risky.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Care is not easily accessible. Most patients live in remote, rural areas and are identified through mobile outreach. The pediatric surgical program at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre was started to meet the large burden of pediatric disability in the region.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If not treated, the condition will persist and will result in disability.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.