Juned's Story - Help and hope for a young survivor

Once threatened with amputation, Juned is now able to play sports with his friends.

Juned Alam is only four years old, but his legs showed signs of clubfoot at birth. His mother Reshraf remembers the devastating diagnosis.

"The doctor told me that it would cost £15,600 for Juned's feet to be fixed." 

But that wasn't all. Juned's doctor said the only alternative was amputation.

'Why can't I?'

Juned is now able to walk and play thanks to the treatment he received. Photo: CBM.

Situations like these highlight the need for your support not only to provide essential surgery for people with disabilities free of charge, but to empower them with an alternative to inflated health care charges.

"Juned wouldn't walk round because he said it hurt," Reshraf remembers with emotion in her voice. "He was very sad, and only wanted to wear shoes. He would see other children wearing shoes and say, 'Why can't I?'"

The sad news is that regular shoes aren't made to fit a child with clubfoot.

Field worker Ema Kashfi, who works for CBM partner Mobility India, told us, "Many people still believe that children like Juned are cursed, and so mothers won't let their children play with them."

The amazing thing is that modern non-invasive techniques for correcting clubfoot don't require surgery. With a special brace fitted to Juned's leg, his flexible bones are now slowly recovering from clubfoot, causing him no pain and allowing him to play with other children for the first time in his life.

Self-help

And how did his mother Reshraf access the care her son needed? Through a self-help group started by mothers like her.

"I remember the day well," she recalls. "I was afraid, and didn't believe the group would be able to help us, but they all visited me in my home." 

More important, they ensured Juned got the cure and care he needed through their contacts with CBM partner Mobility India.

"God bless you for helping me," Reshraf beams today. "And for helping Juned to walk and smile again. I pray that you will continue giving so that more can be done."