MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA- To watch Durga happily striding towards her school through her village in Central India, Madhya Pradesh, you might never guess that the joyful teenager had suffered through more than a decade of clubfoot and being ostracised from society. But her life has now taken a very different turn. At only 16, Durga has already endured more hardship than anyone should have to experience in a lifetime.
Born with Feet that Walked Backwards
Durga was born with a clubfoot. Clubfoot is one of the world’s most common birth defects, affecting around 175,000 new babies every year. Though it’s very treatable, many parents in impoverished areas lack the knowledge and resources to access the care their children need. In some cultures, clubfoot even carries a stigma that can cause affected children and their families.
Durga was bullied and teased in school because of her clubfoot. The children called her lame like it was her name. They mercilessly mimicked her gait. Durga lost confidence with this constant rejection and she eventually stopped going to school completely. Her parents are poor villagers and though they took her to many hospitals they could not afford the surgery she needed. As she walked through the fields of her home, her feet hurt so much and her heart sank thinking that she might walk this way forever with feet that were turned backwards. Every step was painful for Durga.
YOU Made Club Foot Surgery Possible
Durga’s parents heard about Operation Blessing and took her to a hospital in Betul, Madhya Pradesh where her club foot surgery was successfully done. All expenses were borne by faithful Operation Blessing partners like YOU who stepped in to change Durga’s life forever with a clubfoot surgery. Since then, Durga has had her operation and is making a remarkable recovery—all thanks to the generosity of partners like YOU. She enjoys skipping and playing with her sister and most of all she is happy to be back at school working towards her dreams instead of hiding at home for the shame of being called “lame”.
