Adhemar in Burundi
Nyandwi didn’t hear about her newborn son’s clubfoot from a doctor. Instead, the news came from a close friend, her former maid of honor, in a room filled with her husband, mother and mother-in-law. The sudden shock and disbelief hung heavy in the air.
In the days that followed, Nyandwi was haunted by fear for Adhemar’s future. Would he grow up isolated, like the adults she had seen living with untreated clubfoot? Her heartache was compounded by painful public encounters. Strangers would point, stare, and even call others over to gawk at her baby’s feet.
Those difficult moments fueled Nyandwi’s fierce determination to find help. Her search led her to a Hope Walks partner at Saint Kizito Clinic, where she discovered a life-changing truth: treatment was entirely free, thanks to generous donors.
Today, those painful early days feel like a distant memory. Adhemar is running and playing on straight feet, excelling in school, and confidently passing his exams to advance to the next grade.
“My heart is filled with so much joy that I can hardly put it into words,” Nyandwi shared. While she feels she has nothing material to give back to the donors who restored her son’s future, her gratitude is profound: “I pray that God rewards them with even greater blessings.”
Adhemar loves playing with his older sibling, especially when it comes to playing football.
A Hope Walks parent advisor makes a home visit to Adhemar’s family.
Nyandwi holds Adhemar as a clinician examines the progress of his foot during a clinic appointment.
Adhemar is extremely bright, excelling at his school work.