Meet Amal

“Things were complicated with my pregnancy.”

Zohra recounts her daughter’s birth. She does her best to sound matter-of-fact about it, but the breathiness in her voice betrays her. “Amal’s heart rate dropped,” she continues.

Every mother worries about a safe birth for her child and herself.

Eight months into her pregnancy, Zohra’s baby went into distress. The baby couldn’t turn. Little Amal has a congenital defect commonly known as Clubfoot. Unilateral Congenital Clubfoot is prevalent if there are factors such as family history and congenital conditions like Spina Bifida. Other factors may also include smoking or insufficient amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

A life-saving Caesarian section was performed without hesitation, and both mom and baby were safely delivered. Recounting the threat to her and her unborn child’s life is part of Zohra’s birthing story now. And, with it comes memories of the care they received when they were referred to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

“They checked everything,” she recalls, “and everything was fine”.

These are the miracles we so casually refer to as medical interventions. But little Amal went home to yet another miracle.

This little baby, born with a left foot turned so far up against her shin that it looked like she was standing on her heel, was blessed with a neighbour whose hands and generosity was the conduit for a miracle of healing.

“When Amal was born, we waited a few months before visiting Red Cross to address treatment for her Clubfoot, and there was an elderly lady who lived across the road from us, who was a physiotherapist. She gave Amal physiotherapy each day. By the time we came to Red Cross, everything was not perfect, but there was a lot of progress.”

Zohra’s eyes brighten now. Mothers know about miracles. They give birth to them, after all. Zohra looks over at her little miracle; she knows things will get better.

Amal had an operation to lengthen her left leg. Clubfoot can be mild or severe, and the foot can be twisted downward and inward or so severely that it appears upside down. The affected leg and foot may be shorter than the unaffected limb, and the calf muscles are usually underdeveloped.

Amal’s team at Red Cross have been monitoring her development since birth. The discrepancy in leg length presented more visibly at around 3 years of age; by the time Amal turned six, the difference was a very pronounced 4cm.

It was beyond the point where heel-raisers could help. Zohra let Amal’s medical team at the Children’s Hospital know they were ready for the operation.

The orthopaedic surgery provided at Red Cross has lengthened and repositioned the ligaments and tendons where necessary. Amal would have had her leg in a cast for two months and then the brace for a year. This surgery corrects the Clubfoot to the point where it could prevent the defect from coming back.

The surgery was successful. But it also meant that Amal had to wear a massive metal brace with pins in her leg and foot for most of her first year of ‘big’ school.

There is a state beyond brave that only children seem to get to. Even with the pain, difficulties, and limitations of recovery, Amal has made friends with and memories to fill her life with joy.

You see, this little mermaid, who sits with one foot in the water and one foot out, has been dreaming of swimming all year long! Within the next few months, her brace will come off, and she’ll be able to swim again. She really can’t wait.

From her cousin’s home, she can see the sea. Amal gets excited talking about her future plans! She can hardly sit still. She’s up and down the waiting area of the updated X-ray department. You get the feeling that she’s chasing down a dream. You just have to hear her talk about the gymnastics she will do, the swimming, her cousin’s pool, and the sea to know that Amal is a mighty miracle, powered by joy.

Dreams don’t stop at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. In fact, more often than not, this is where they start. Help us give little ones like Amal a chance to live out their dreams by donating to the new Orthopaedic Unit at Red Cross. 100 % of your donations will go directly to the cause.