“I wish I could go to school like my friends" said Leah. "I want to learn how to read and write.”
Say hello to Leah, a shy but friendly eight-year-old girl from Tanzania who loves to play hide and seek. Leah has varus of the left foot, also known as clubfoot. Because of the pain it causes, Leah has difficulty walking. If not treated, Leah will most likely develop early osteoarthritis with continued severe foot pain.
Leah is the second youngest in a family of six children. Her parents are small-scale farmers, growing potatoes, beans, and maize, using the produce for income and personal consumption. In addition to providing for their immediate family, Leah’s parents care for relatives’ children, stretching their income very thin.
For $715, Leah will receive a corrective surgery that will allow her to walk properly and keep her out of danger of developing early osteoarthritis. Let’s help Leah walk to school pain free and live a healthy life!