Watsi

Success! Denis from Tanzania raised $890 to fund clubfoot repair.

100%

$890 raised, $0 to go

$890

raised

to go

Fully funded

Denis's treatment was fully funded on October 18, 2019.

Denis's story
Denis's update

Photo of Denis post-operation

September 16, 2019

Denis underwent clubfoot repair.

Denis’s treatment is going on well and both of his feet are placed in casts. This treatment will help correct his feet and help him walk normally without pain and difficult. He will be able to learn to walk with ease and lead a normal life without discrimination due to disability.

Denis’s mother says, “I will always be grateful for what you have done. I was not able to afford my son’s treatment cost but you came to our rescue, thank you very much and God bless you.”

Denis’s treatment is going on well and both of his feet are placed in casts. This treatment will help correct his feet and help him walk nor...

August 12, 2019

Denis is a baby from Tanzania. He has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes.

Fortunately, Denis traveled to visit our medical partner’s care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 13. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Denis’s clubfoot repair.

His mother says, ““I wouldn’t want my son to feel different due to his condition please help my son I want him to grow up just like his older brother.”

Denis is a baby from Tanzania. He has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes ...

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Learn more

Denis's case was submitted by Robert Kariuki at African Mission Healthcare in Tanzania.

Denis's Timeline

August 12, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Denis was submitted by Robert Kariuki, Process Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare, our medical partner in Tanzania.
August 15, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Denis's profile was published to start raising funds.
August 23, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Denis received treatment at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC). 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.
September 16, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Denis's treatment was successful. Read the update.
October 18, 2019
FULLY FUNDED
Denis's treatment was fully funded.

Share Denis's story

Funded by 20 donors

Treatment

Clubfoot

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $890 for Denis's treatment

Hospital Fees

$693

Medical Staff

Medication

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.

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