Straightening tiny feet

Mausam's first steps towards a brighter future

When Mausam was born in rural Nepal, his parents were filled with joy. But that joy quickly turned to fear when they realised their precious baby had bilateral clubfoot.

His tiny feet were turned sharply inwards, and they worried about what his future might hold.

"We felt terrible," his parents recall.

Without treatment, even the simple act of learning to walk could have been painful or impossible. They feared Mausam would struggle to attend school, miss out on friendships, and face a lifetime of exclusion. As an adult, he may have remained dependent on his family, limiting his opportunities, and deepening the cycle of poverty.

Everything changed when the family discovered the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC), a cbm-supported specialist rehabilitation hospital.

Best of all, the care was available close to home.

Because clubfoot treatment is most successful when it begins in the first weeks of life, Mausam started treatment at just six weeks old using the internationally recognised Ponseti method. Through a series of gentle manipulations and plaster casts, doctors carefully began correcting the position of his feet.

Although the treatment was difficult at times, Mausam's parents never gave up.

His clubfoot was particularly severe, so he also required surgery. Afterward, he wore braces to help keep his feet correctly aligned, and now wears specially designed shoes during the day while continuing to use braces at night.

Today, Mausam is doing wonderfully.

He is walking, playing and exploring the world around him with the same excitement as any other little boy. If his progress continues, by the time he turns five there should be little sign that he was ever born with clubfoot.

His parents remain deeply grateful.

"I am hugely grateful," says his father, Khagendra.

His mother, Tulasa, adds, "I want to thank the supporters such a lot!"

Through cbm's partnership with HRDC, children born with clubfoot across Nepal have access to specialist care that transforms lives. HRDC has expanded beyond Kathmandu, establishing regional centres and outreach services that bring expert treatment closer to families living in remote mountain communities.

By providing early diagnosis, specialist treatment, surgery when needed, rehabilitation and ongoing support, children like Mausam can grow up with the freedom to walk, learn, play, and reach their full potential.

For Mausam and his family, what once felt like an uncertain future has become one filled with hope – one confident step at a time.