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Success! Pendo from Tanzania raised $890 to fund clubfoot treatment.

Pendo
100%
  • $890 raised, $0 to go
$890
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Pendo's treatment was fully funded on January 8, 2018.

Photo of Pendo post-operation

August 7, 2017

Pendo underwent clubfoot treatment.

Pendo’s treatment is going well, and she is continuing with regular casting. Pendo will be able to walk well without pain and be able to attend school regularly.

Pendo says, “I am very grateful for this treatment. I can’t wait to be able to walk without pain and play with my friends.”

Pendo’s treatment is going well, and she is continuing with regular casting. Pendo will be able to walk well without pain and be able to att...

Read more
July 10, 2017

Pendo is a curious 12-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys learning and going to school, and does so well in her studies that she often ranks at the top of her class.

Pendo was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which her feet and lower legs bend inwards so that the bottoms of her feet cannot rest flat on the ground. Due to her condition, Pendo experiences a lot of pain while walking and standing, making her commute to school painful and difficult.

Seeking treatment through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Pendo is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her clubfoot on July 11. Her family is requesting $890 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care.

“I will be so grateful when I will be able to walk well and participate fully in school for I really enjoy learning,” Pendo shares.

Pendo is a curious 12-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys learning and going to school, and does so well in her studies that she often r...

Read more

Pendo's Timeline

  • July 10, 2017
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Pendo was submitted by Robert Kariuki, Process Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • July 11, 2017
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Pendo 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.

  • August 3, 2017
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Pendo's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • August 7, 2017
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Pendo's treatment was successful. Read the update.

  • January 8, 2018
    FULLY FUNDED

    Pendo's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 17 donors

Funded by 17 donors

Treatment
Clubfoot
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $890 for Pendo's treatment
Hospital Fees
$693
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$8
Supplies
$175
Labs
$14
  • 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.