Three-month-old Bella Jean doesn’t understand the magnitude of her journey just yet, but her family will remember this moment forever.

In the small village of Naga City in the Philippines Bella, MiracleFeet’s patient 100,000, and her family embark on a voyage of resilience and hope as she begins her clubfoot treatment journey. This milestone is a testament to how far the fight for accessible healthcare has come for children born with clubfoot worldwide.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

Jezel and Bernie, Bella’s parents, first learned about clubfoot shortly after Bella’s birth at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu. What should have been a moment of pure joy was marred by fear and uncertainty. “When I saw my baby’s feet, I was scared,” Jezel remembers, tears in her eyes. Bernie echoes her sentiments: “Who doesn’t feel sorry when your child has a foot deformity?”

Thankfully, the health workers at VSMMC, trained to recognize clubfoot, immediately referred them to a clinic. While hearing that clubfoot was treatable should have been a comfort, Jezel and Bernie worried about the financial burden of weekly casting appointments, bracing, and check-ups. “We were nervous because we don’t have money,” Jezel confides. Bernie, a construction worker and the family’s sole provider, earns a modest income that barely covers their daily needs. Their home, a two-room structure made of traditional amakan bamboo, offers little room to spare – yet Bernie dreams of expanding it for his growing family. While the prospect of financing Bella’s care seemed daunting, they were determined.

Access to Clubfoot Care

Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is among the first public hospitals in the Philippines to forge a partnership with MiracleFeet. The support provided to the hospital’s clubfoot clinic brought immense relief to Bella’s parents. “We were so happy when we learned that someone would help us,” Jezel said, emotion showing in her face with the memory.

The journey to heal Bella’s clubfoot is not just physical; it also tests the family’s fortitude. Beyond the cost, they must invest both time and energy to travel to the clinic weekly navigating the considerable distance from their home in the mountains to the congested city of Cebu. Each hospital visit requires a 15-minute walk to the bus stop, a 2.5-hour bus ride, and finally a 30-minute taxi drive to the hospital. The family manages as best they can, sometimes leaving their older daughter, two-year-old Bea, with Jezel’s mother, but often bringing her along on the journey. Bernie even sells the occasional family chicken to help finance the trips. Despite the challenges, Jezel and Bernie remain determined. “We will continue going to the hospital,” Jezel emphasizes. “This is for Bella.”

The Power of Timely Treatment

On August 8, 2024, Bella received her first casts. Her parents watched anxiously cooing to her softly as doctors wrapped her tiny feet. The process took only an hour, but it marked the beginning of a profound transformation. “We were so happy to see her feet wrapped in casting,” Jezel recalls. “Now we know she will walk normally.”

Diagnosed early and treated as a newborn, Bella’s feet responded quickly. After five weeks of diligently returning to the clinic for new casts, Bella’s feet were as straight as her sister’s. Now, she begins wearing a foot abduction brace for 23 hours a day for three months to maintain her progress. “Without the brace, her feet would go back,” Jezel explains, a message the doctors have stressed repeatedly.

Building Hope, One Step at a Time

Despite the challenges, Bella’s family draws strength from the kindness and dedication of the clinic staff. “The doctors and nurses were so kind. They took care of my child, even though she has a disability,” Jezel said, expressing her deep gratitude for MiracleFeet and the local partner, the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health, and Welfare, Inc. (PNGOC).

As Bella’s journey continues, her family remains hopeful. “I hope she grows up happy,” Jezel says, her voice heavy with emotion. “I hope she knows how much we loved her from birth. We did all of this for her.”

For now, the family cherishes each milestone, knowing that every phase in the treatment process is a triumph in Bella’s journey toward a brighter future. With MiracleFeet’s support and the family’s unwavering determination, Bella is moving confidently toward a life free from the fear of limitations and any stigma associated with clubfoot. Soon, she’ll be racing through the lush jungle with her big sister and cousins as she explores the paths of her beautiful village nestled in the palm-covered mountains, and also the vast horizon and possibilities that lie ahead.