Joshua is a happy and active 11-year-old boy who lives in Tanzania. He loves to run around with other children, even though a condition in his right foot, a severe equinus deformity, causes Achilles tendon tightness and makes it difficult for him to walk or run without falling. “If not treated, Joshua will develop early osteoarthritis of the foot,” our hospital partner writes.
Joshua’s parents are small scale farmers and he is the youngest of seven children. This year, Joshua began to live with his uncle, who wanted to help take care of his nephew. “Joshua can very easily fall and hurt himself when trying to catch up with other children out in the field, his uncle says. “I will be happy to see him able to walk like my children.”
But the cost of the necessary treatment for Joshua, one which will lengthen his Achilles tendon, is probihibitive even for Joshua’s uncle, who has four children of his own. By banding together, we can raise $715 to pay for Joshua’s treatment.
