Dennis from Kenya
Grace and David are no strangers to clubfoot. Over the past couple of decades, the family has had two cases of clubfoot, both of which were successfully treated, albeit not using the gold-standard casting and bracing process known as the Ponseti method. Despite these previous encounters, the couple was no less worried when they discovered that Dennis, their fifth and last child, had clubfoot.
Needless to say, it certainly did not help that five clinicians from the hospital where Dennis was delivered spoke discouraging words to his parents, describing how it would be impossible to correct his feet, when in fact, they can be corrected rather easily with the Ponseti method. Fortunately, a doctor who was aware of services offered by Hope Walks referred the family to a partner clinic in Kijabe, a town situated on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.
Unlike the other clinicians, Dennis’ extended family members were helpful and supportive since they knew that clubfoot, under the right conditions, can be corrected. Grace and David were also grateful for the support they received from the clinic staff, particularly their parent advisor, who was crucial in educating the couple about clubfoot and guiding their spiritual walk with the Lord throughout the treatment process.?
To the family?s surprise, Dennis progressed much quicker under the Ponseti method than his other family members who used a different procedure. In just three months, Dennis completed the correction phase of casting and tenotomy and moved on to the bracing phase. He now wears braces to maintain the correction.?
Encouraged by the results he has seen, David has decided to bring a Hope Walks poster providing details about clubfoot and available treatment options to his church. “The only way I can give back is to take care of my child and spread awareness so that others going through the same thing would have a chance to benefit from this service,” he said.
