Support Clubfoot Treatment for 270 Children

Last week we held the first meeting for our new parent text messaging program, Step by Step – Paso a Paso - at Hospital Velez Paiz in Managua, Nicaragua. Thirteen families are participating in the test of the system and we held a focus group in order to get their input on its initial design. The families are very excited about testing the program. Many have expressed feeling isolated and alone during parts of their child’s clubfoot treatment and they are pleased that they and other parents are now receiving support and information to help them navigate their child’s long-term treatment. Our miraclefeet program manager, Lauren Wall, is working with Mackensie Yore of Stanford University, who designed the project, and NC State University student Taylor Craig, the miraclefeet intern who has been managing the project. Here are a few quotes about the project from the parents who participated and some photos of the focus group:

• “When I [first] saw her feet, I never thought this would be possible. Now they are so straight."
• “Thank you for doing this. Before, there was no information about clubfoot."
• “When can we do this again?"
• “The text messages were a great motivation for me, to give me encouragement to keep going."
• “I would tell [other] new moms with children with clubfoot, be strong!"

We are thrilled to measure the success of this new component of the parent support program and to help bring it to our partner clinics across the world.

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