Bella was born with Bilateral Clubfoot. It is the most common congenital deformity. She does not experience pain or true physical limitations, but is walking on her forefoot without her heels touching. I recently learned there is scant research being conducted. It seems like just an obvious fix by casting and surgery, but it is often more than that; down to a cellular level.

Bella was casted at 2 weeks old and then dozens of times after. She had a minor Achilles tenotomy surgery at 3 months old. She wore boots and a brace for the rest of her first year. After all of that, the doctor said he wanted to perform major surgery to correct her. I spent three days researching on the internet and found a “no surgery for clubfoot” page and learned about the Ponseti Method, and that surgery leads to pain/stiffness as an adult. We went to Fort Worth, Texas to the only Ponseti-trained doctor in our state. He recasted Bella for a month and corrected her. She continued to wear the boots and bar at night for 6 years. At age 7, she had a big growth spurt and the foot/legs relapsed and began to turn back in. The doctor casted her for a month and corrected it. At age 9.5, another big growth spurt and relapse. The doctor in Fort Worth referred Bella to another physician, as he had little experience with relapse at her age. I took her to a doctor in Baltimore, Maryland and then to a doctor at Shriners Hospital in Houston, Texas. I kept reading about the most highly recommended doctor in St. Louis, Missouri who started a research fund for genetics and Clubfoot, and he treats up to 68 clubfoot patients in one day! He responds to Facebook messages within a few hours. He gave me his opinion by looking at x-rays without having ever seen Bella or receiving a penny. People travel from all over the world to see him.

I drove Bella to see him on in mid-October of this year. He will do serial casting for 6 weeks, which means we must make several trips for him to slightly stretch her foot out further, and then cast. Bella will undergo surgery in November. It is the least invasive, conservative, minor corrective surgery for clubfoot. The doctor’s motto is “less is more”. Bella will then be in a cast for 6 weeks after surgery. After that side heals for a few months, he will start the process over on the left foot/leg.

Miracle Flights has provided financial assistance for Isabella to fly to Missouri for surgery and treatment 2 times so far.

Isabella will still need many more flights for her medical care.Please Help Isabella…. Donate Today!

Isabella's mother
Texas

Photo and story provided by Miracle Flights