abduction shoes to donate

March 19, 2004

Hi. I am new to this site. My name is . I am a mom to 2

boys. is 3, 171/2 mos. has clubfoot only to the

right fot. When he was 1 day old he was casted in the hospital. He

received subsquent castings via the Ponsetti method with excellent

results. He has been in the abduction shoes since he was 2 months

old, wearing them 24hrs a day until he was 1.He also had 2 achille's

tendon lenthenings done as well. Now he has been wearing the shoes

to bed for the past 2 years. We're hoping next week he'll be done

with them. I now have 3 pairs(possible 4), of the abduction shoes

that I am looking to donate them to whomever may need them. I was

fortunate to have insurance that paid for them and would like to give

them to someone who can use them. They are attached to the bars.

The smaller pair is a size00 with a six inch bar. the second pair is

on an 8in bar, size0 on the right and left is a size1. the 3rd pair

is on a nine inch bar with the right shoe size2, left size3. If

anyone knows where I may donate them or if someone can use them

please let me know. They are gently worn. His original pair looks as

if he actually walked in them , he was a hard kicker in them. Those

are our keepsakes.

March 19, 2004

Hi ,

I'm glad to hear your son's treatment has gone so well, it's so

encouraging every time for us parents still going through the process

(we are a year into it now!).

I would be very grateful to take up your generous offer of donated FAB

shoes and bars. We live in South Africa and are currently setting up a

register of donated shoes that can be used by underprivileged South

African babies. Although the treatment is not expensive, the price of

shoes is prohibitive for most parents not on private medical care and

the hospitals can't afford to supply them. As the treatment popularity,

this will become even more of a problem.

Our goal is to get a 'pool' of at least 100 pairs of shoes that can be

re-used by babies. The shoes will be kept a central place, the babies

will be treated and fitted for free by the surgeon and the orthotist.

But as we don't have many people being treated by the Ponseti Method

here yet, we are hoping for donated shoes from other countries too. The

orthotics company here has offered to donate one free pair of shoes for

every six sold to paying patients.

A little background about us to fill you in:

My son was treated by Dr Ponseti last year in Iowa. We are so

grateful for avoiding surgery, that since September last year, I have

been involved in helping to inform and support parents in our country

about the Ponseti Method. It's a very new method in South Africa, with

only two qualified Ponseti doctors. Things are going well so far, I'm

happy to say that there at least 60 children who have already been or

are being treated. We have been on the radio twice so far, and I have a

website, www.clubfoot.co.za which is used by parents for information.

There will be some coverage in magazines in June and July. Also, we are

about to start a support and information group for Ponseti parents next

month. This group will meet every 4-6 weeks so that 'older' Ponseti

parents and inform and encourage 'new' ones and we can compare notes and

experiences.

If you email me privately at karen@..., I'll give you my sister's

address in Fort Lauderdale, FL. If you can mail the shoes and bars

there, we would be happy to reimburse your costs. Please also email me

a picture of and we will put him on the Hall of Fame that will be

set up on my website in the section about donated shoes.

You can be assured that they will be put to very good use and we will

all be very grateful.

If anyone else would like to donate shoes or bars to South African

babies, please email me for the address details!

Thank you again!

and

(24th Jan 2003, bilateral cf, treated by Dr Ponseti in April 2003)

www.clubfoot.co.za