Help 40 Liberian Children Walk

Last week, miraclefeet program director Lauren returned to Liberia, where we first partnered with a clinic in August.  Now, four and a half months later, miraclefeet’s partnering clinics in Liberia have seen and supported over 80 new patients.  Children that had no chance for treatment are now on their way to walking thanks to miraclefeet’s supporters and partnering nurses and practitioners.

Two of those patients are Maima and Youkoi, twelve-year-old twins from rural Liberia.  Maima and Youkoi had never been to school.  Their growth has been stunted from lack of nutrition.  Their parents weren’t able to have more children because taking care of two twins with clubfoot is a full-time job…and one that would last the rest of their lives.

We first met Maima and Youkoi when their father brought them six hours from Lofa County to Bong County where miraclefeet was holding a training. Maimai, Youkoi, and their father sat in the back seat of a car while we drove through the rain eight hours back to Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, so that they could stay at the main clinic with more seasoned practitioners.  “I saw them every day for five consecutive days.  I never saw them smile,” said Lauren.  

Below is a photo of Maima and Youkoi before treatment—beautiful kids with painfully twisted feet.   

And here is a photo of what Lauren saw on her return trip—Maima and Youkoi now.  

The first smiles we had ever seen on their faces.  

Says Lauren:  “I am embarrassed to admit that I buried my face in my hands and cried. Sometimes in the day to day we forget what’s important… budget numbers… increasing supply costs…. does it really matter?”

Together—miraclefeet, donors, supporters, nurses, practitioners—we are changing lives.  Maima and Youkoi are just one reminder of what it really means to give a child the gift of walking.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Links:

• miraclefeet website