“I am interested in two things; being a teacher or a doctor,” Patrick tells us.
Patrick is eight years old, and lives with his family of four in Tanzania. He is in second grade and his favorite subject is mathematics. Patrick lives with bilateral clubfoot – he uses the lateral aspects of his feet to walk. This has impacted both his physical health and self-confidence.
“He remembers how other children used to laugh at him, but now he says it is not so much and he feels more comfortable going to school now than before,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “He is eager to have straight feet because no one will laugh at him anymore.”
Patrick’s parents are farmers who grow primarily maize and beans. They cannot afford the $1,160 cost of treatment for Patrick’s clubfoot.
Treatment will involve a three-to-four month process of manipulation, casting, and re-positioning of the feet. After the treatment is complete, Patrick will have full mobility and a normal gait. He will no longer be at risk of other complications, such as the development of early osteoarthritis.
With your help, we can allow Patrick to attend school with confidence, and study to become a teacher or doctor.