Azael in Burkina Faso
When baby Azael was born in Burkina Faso, his mother, Adele, couldn’t stop worrying. Her first child had come into the world with a clubfoot, and all the dreams she had for her baby’s future suddenly seemed uncertain. “I thought my son would remain disabled for life,” she said quietly.
While her husband, Amadou, worked in another city, Adele searched for help alone—moving from one health center to another. At first, no one could tell her where to go, but midwives encouraged her not to lose hope. Finally, she heard about a place called Schiphra Hospital, a Hope Walks partner clinic where children like Azael could receive treatment.
From the moment Adele walked through those doors, she felt something different. The staff greeted her with kindness, prayed with her, and explained that clubfoot could be completely corrected. That day, fear began to fade.
Azael began casting when he was just a few weeks old, followed by a small procedure called a tenotomy. Now, at six months old, he wears his brace only at night. Each evening as Adele fastens the tiny leather straps, she whispers prayers of thanks—for healing, for courage, and for the people who made this care possible.
Her favorite part of the journey? Discovering that she wasn’t alone. “When I saw so many children being treated, I knew God had not forgotten us,” she said.
Adele now volunteers to raise awareness about clubfoot so other mothers can find help sooner. She dreams of the day her little boy will run freely—and perhaps one day become a doctor himself, helping other children in Burkina Faso walk tall and strong.
