Happy Feet!

Happy New Year from all of us in the Special Needs Department!
During this Christmas season when most of the children at Kasana have gone to stay with relatives and many staff have gone on leave, Special Needs remains busy, busy, busy. One of the things keeping us busy has been our children preparing for club foot surgery.
Thanks to the Moriarty Foundation based at St Luke`s Hospital in Ireland, we were able to begin this journey back in September as we began exploring options for Brian, Deborah and Kakooza – all of whom have club feet.

Brian & Deborah with their casts on.

Brian & Deborah with their casts on.

Christmas cards and cookies being delivered.

Christmas cards and cookies being delivered.

Theatre nurses at Kiwoko Hospital removing Brian`s POP casts.

Theatre nurses at Kiwoko Hospital removing Brian`s POP casts.

We began at Mulago Hospital in Kampala as at that time we did not think we could afford to use the specialist hospital in Entebbe known as CORSU. Then began weekly trips to Kiwoko for changing of plaster of paris casts. Unfortunately at this point, Kakooza Brian dropped out as despite the fact that we were paying for his Mum to bring him on a motorbike taxi, the family could not manage to keep up the appointments.
Brian and Deborah kept up the weekly visits to see Dr Peter and his team. At Christmas Brian and his friends at Kasana made them some Christmas cookies to say ‘thank you!’ for their hard work.
In mid December, a man from CORSU hospital came to Kiwoko with good news: the club foot surgery would be free if we could manage the small charge for upkeep whilst they were on the ward. And so off we went with our two patients who both had their casts changed and were told to report back on January 2nd – Brian for surgery on the 3rd and Deborah for a review.
On the January 2nd, Brian was admitted to the ward and operated on the following day. At this point we learned that he would require a series of operations and he is currently still there with his Mum and baby sister Kilabo. They will remain there until next Friday when the Doctors will do the 2nd procedure. Deborah was told to report back on the 9th ready for her first surgery on the 10th and then she and Brian can keep each other company.
We ask for your prayers for both of them as understandably they are both a little fearful of hospitals. Brian particularly hates having canulas put in and will fight the nurses as they struggle to insert them and later on pull them out! Please pray that God will eventually enable Brian to walk. Although it is unlikely that he will ever be able to walk without support, even being able to do so with a walking frame or crutches would be such an exciting achievement for Brian and also a relief for his well- worn bottom!
Please pray for safe travels as we make the long journey to Entebbe for surgeries and reviews. It is a particular challenge at this time of year as it is hot and very dusty and unfortunately our vehicle does not have air conditioning!
Lastly we ask you to pray for Kakooza Brian and his family. Kakooza has Spina Bifida as well as his Club Feet. They live far out in the bush and although he is 9 or 10 he has never been to school. He frequently has pressure sores, infected wounds and urine infections. Unfortunately, his Father is not willing for his Mother to put in the effort required for her son to have the surgery which would enable him to walk. Please pray that God will change this man`s heart and also that in the future Kakooza will have the chance to both have this surgery but also to go to school.
Thank you and may God continue to bless each of you abundantly in 2014.
Kate Tolhurst (Special Needs Programme Coordinator)