Tucked away from the golden beaches off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka  is the quiet village of Kattankudy. It’s a place full of hardworking people with strong hearts living simple lives. Among them is Rizwana, a mother of four, whose strength has carried her family through more than she ever imagined.

“In the last seven years, I’ve been through things I never thought I’d face,” Rizwana says softly, sitting on the worn front steps of her home. There’s no trace of bitterness in her voice, only quiet relief. Relief that they made it through and that her children are smiling today.

When Rizwana gave birth to her first child everything was normal. Life had its challenges, but it moved forward at a steady pace. Years later, when she became pregnant again, she learned she was having twin girls. She was overjoyed and nervous at the same time. But during delivery, the doctors grew concerned. For a moment, they thought it might be triplets, but confirmed it was indeed twins. And while the delivery went smoothly, something didn’t feel quite right.

“They told me there was something wrong with their feet,” Rizwana recalls. “I didn’t even understand what they meant. I had never heard of anything like this before.”

The twins, Sara and Sahla, were both born with clubfoot. At first, Rizwana had no idea what it was. She didn’t ask many questions as there was so much happening at once and all she could do was trust the doctors. She stayed at the hospital for more than two weeks and when she was finally discharged, her tiny daughters had bandages wrapped around their legs and feet. She was scared, unsure of what was happening or what lay ahead. But even in her confusion, Rizwana knew she had to find a solution.

“No matter how hard it was, I took them to the clinic every month,” she says. There were days they didn’t have enough money for travel, and so she had to carry both girls for miles. But she never missed a visit.

One Step at a Time

The girls were given special braces they had to wear every day. It was hard, especially at first. But slowly, something miraculous began to happen. The girls started healing. Their feet straightened. Their steps became steadier.

“Those shoes gave them their future,” Rizwana says with a deep smile.

Just when things seemed to be settling, life threw another curveball. Rizwana gave birth to her fourth child, another baby girl. At first, she thought the baby looked perfectly healthy, but soon after birth, the doctors told her this child too had clubfoot.

“I just froze,” Rizwana says. “I couldn’t believe we had to go through all of this again.”

She and her husband didn’t waste time. They began the same process all over again—clinic visits, casts, bracing, and hope. By this point they had perfected the routine. With every step Sana took through treatment, the family moved closer to a future they now knew was possible. “Once the little one is completely cured, I’ll feel like we can finally breathe,” Rizwana says.

Despite everything they’ve gone through—hospital stays, clinic visits, financial strain—Rizwana’s daughters are thriving. All three girls are bright, kind, and determined. They love going to school and come home with high marks.

“They usually get around 98,” Rizwana says, clearly proud. “Even though I can’t afford tuition or extra classes, they study hard at home.” Their school suggested extra lessons, especially with the twins preparing for their Grade 5 scholarship exams, but Rizwana simply can’t manage the cost right now. Still, she’s confident in their abilities.

“They’ll get through, I know they will. They’re smart. They never give up.” And neither does their mother.

Today, these three little girls have big dreams. Sara wants to be a teacher and Sahla dreams of being a nurse. The youngest wants to work as a government officer and help others. Each dream is rooted in the strength of their journey and the love that held them through it.

In Kattankudy, people talk about them now—not out of pity, but admiration. Their story has touched many hearts in the community. It’s not just about overcoming clubfoot. It’s about resilience, about a mother’s fierce love, and about how hope—no matter how small—can grow into something powerful.

“They’ve been through so much already,” Rizwana says, her eyes gleaming. “But they’re strong. And they’re going to go far.” And as the sun sets over the rooftops of Kattankudy, three young girls sit quietly with their school books, unaware that they are already an inspiration.