MiracleFeet

As some of you may know, I was born with clubfoot - a congenital birth defect that causes one or both feet to turn inward and upward. Initially my parents were told that it would be very unlikely that I could live an active lifestyle due to the deformity, but with the help of my family, doctors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers, my feet have enabled me to achieve many things including my dream of being a collegiate athlete. 

Unfortunately, this is not every child born with clubfoot’s reality. 175,000 infants are born with clubfoot every year; currently there are 9.75 million people alive today who were born with clubfoot and an estimated 8 million were unable to receive treatment. In middle and lower income countries, this completely curable birth defect turns into a lifelong disability and incredible hurdles that no child should ever have to face. 

Reflecting on the past 25 years of life, I am filled with gratitude and passion for something I once used to be so ashamed to claim as part of my story. I may have never been the fastest or the strongest, but my feet have taken me places that I thought I could only dream of and even on the most painful of days, they have given me the strength to conquer whatever I set my mind to. 

In an effort to help spread awareness of clubfoot, I would like to raise money for a nonprofit called MiracleFeet. This incredible organization partners with local healthcare providers and brings low-cost, nonsurgical standard of care, routinely provided in advanced health systems like the US, to low-income countries. The treatment used is called Ponseti Method. It requires a series of casts to gently manipulate the feet, a simple outpatient procedure to release the Achilles tendon, and afterwards, a brace worn while sleeping at night to prevent relapse (following an initial three-month period when it is used for 23 hours/day). The simplicity of this non-invasive treatment is ideal for low-resource settings.

 My one and only birthday wish is that you help me change the lives of children who deserve to have the same opportunities that I was fortunate to have. $500 helps provide a single child with lasting mobility and a new beginning to a wonderful life by covering the costs of treatment and braces needed for a successful outcome.  

Please join me in mobilizing children for life by donating and/or by sharing this page to your friends and family. Any amount will make a lasting impact. 

With the utmost love and gratitude, 

Brittany 


Learn more about MiracleFeet

Learn about the Ponseti

https://youtu.be/KwkiBY6pSP8