A Mother’s Story of Perseverance: Completifing Care Despite COVID Lockdowns

At the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Uganda, when the country was in complete lockdown, Joan refused to give up hope. She was determined to find care for her 5-month-old son.

Joan was immediately concerned when her baby boy, Elijah, was born with bilateral clubfoot, despite the doctor’s assurance that his condition could be corrected.

“I would do anything for my baby,” she remembers telling the doctor, although secretly she worried about what treatment would entail and if it would hurt her little one.

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infants born with clubfoot in countries where MiracleFeet works since January 2020. Most are still waiting for care.

Joan heeded the doctors’ advice and started on a journey to correct Elijah’s feet. She first went to Bombo military hospital near her home. They sent her to the orthopedic clinic at Mulago National Referral Hospital, which is supported by MiracleFeet.

Despite the long journey to and from the clinic and the expenses associated with the trip, Joan was pleased with the progress Elijah was making. In late March, they were scheduled to visit the Mulago clinic for his last round of casts before beginning the next stage of treatment.

Then everything changed.

Uganda, like many other countries, went into total lockdown in early April to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“I had never experienced anything like it in my life,” said Joan, still perplexed by the weight of the pandemic on her and her community.

When the pandemic hit, it brought fear, confusion, and uncertainty, especially for those in the middle of treatment. Joan couldn’t imagine starting the process over again. So, she set out, determined to overcome the mounting obstacles. Public transportation, which Joan relied on to take her and Elijah the 20 km each way to and from the clinic, was frozen. Grocery stores and shops were closed, and it was unclear if the Mulago clinic was even seeing patients.  

Without a car, a bicycle, or any other means of transportation, Joan decided to make the 40 km round trip journey on foot with Elijah on her back.