Scovia in Rwanda
When Jeanne and Jean Paul welcomed their firstborn, Scovia, joy quickly gave way to worry. Born with clubfoot, she became a source of whispered questions in the community. “We felt we had no choice but to keep her hidden from everyone,” Jeanne recalls.
Hope arrived unexpectedly during a rice farmers’ cooperative meeting. A parent advisor from Masaka Clinic shared how clubfoot could be treated—and treated for free. Within days, Scovia was enrolled in the program.
Things did not get easier right away even after treatment had started. Even during the bracing stage, neighbors began to suspect something was wrong—but by then, her parents’ hearts were encouraged by the progress they could already see.
The casting stage was the hardest. Special clothes had to be bought to hide her feet, and each appointment brought fresh challenges. But at every step, the family’s parent advisor offered not only practical guidance, but also reassurance, prayer, and hope. “She guided us through every step… their encouragement gave us hope and strength,” Jeanne says.
Then came the day Scovia wore normal shoes for the first time. Soon, she was walking—then running. “Healing of Scovia means everything to our family,” Jeanne says. “It fills our hearts with hope and happiness… and reassures us she can have a future full of opportunities and independence.”
Today, Scovia’s bright steps are a daily reminder that behind every healed child is a circle of caring people—donors, clinicians, and parent advisors—who make hope walk.
Before
Casting
After