Pauline, an eight-year-old girl brimming with energy, dreamed of becoming a nurse to help others like herself. However, a condition she had from birth called clubfoot made that dream seem impossible.
Clubfoot caused her right foot to turn inward, hindering her ability to walk, run, and play freely with other children. Left untreated, her condition would worsen, leading to a life of liamited mobility.
Hope Ignited
Despite initial attempts at casting by her local hospital, little progress was made in correcting Pauline’s clubfoot. Agnes, Pauline’s mother, worried about her daughter’s future and longed for her to be accepted and included among her peers.
During a routine checkup, a local doctor offered a glimmer of hope. He told Pauline and her mom about CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe (CURE), where Pauline could be treated at no cost to her family, thanks to generous donors. Agnes immediately brought Pauline to CURE, where doctors confirmed they could correct her clubfoot with serial casting and surgery.
At CURE, Pauline met other children with similar conditions, some walking on two straight feet after treatment. This sparked hope in Pauline. “I want to walk like them and run on the playground!” she declared. However, her healing journey wouldn’t be quick. Before Pauline’s clubfoot could be surgically corrected, she first had to undergo serial casting.
An Undeterred Spirit
Undeterred, Pauline practiced walking with her new crutches as her foot remained in a cast, her determination shining through. Even staying in the long-term ward couldn’t dampen her spirit. Here, she found a sense of community while playing with the other children.
Finally, the day arrived! First, Pauline underwent surgery to lengthen her Achilles tendon, allowing her foot to move more freely. Her recovery was swift, but the journey wasn’t over. Pauline had to return to the operating room for additional procedures to improve the alignment of her foot.
Homeward Bound with Renewed Hope
After recovering from surgery, the bittersweet day came for Pauline to return home. With a custom-made ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) supporting her steps, Pauline couldn’t wait to show off her physical transformation and share stories of her new friends and the amazing playroom at CURE with her peers and family back home.
Pauline diligently returned to CURE for physiotherapy sessions, where she learned to walk on her newly straightened foot. After dedicated work and consultations with CURE’s doctors, Pauline was given the okay to finally walk independently. Her dream of becoming a nurse and helping others like herself felt closer than ever.
Countless other children like Pauline, with dreams just as bright, live with life-limiting but treatable disabilities. Sadly, many lack the resources to receive proper treatment.
With your help, we can change that! Any donation, big or small, can make a world of difference. Click here to contribute to CURE and help other children walk freely toward their dreams.
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe
Established in April 2021, CURE Zimbabwe is the first and only hospital in the country of 14 million people to provide orthopedic care for disabilities such as clubfoot, bowed legs, and knock knees to children regardless of their economic status. The teaching hospital has 18 beds, three operating theaters, and an outpatient clinic. The hospital was refurbished by the Zimbabwe Orthopedic Trust in partnership with the Zimbabwean government and is located adjacent to United Bulawayo Hospital in Bulawayo.
