This is seven-year old, Jean David from Haiti. Jean David has Arthrogryposis, a rare genetic disorder which is characterized by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness, scoliosis and/or growth retardation, among other things.
Before Jean David saw Dr. Nelson, his legs were severely contractured with both hips in flexion, abduction and external rotation. His hips may have even been dislocated, which occurs frequently with this type of deformity. Additionally, his knees were in flexion and he had bilateral clubfoot deformities. Therefore, walking was clearly not an option for Jean David.
Jean David underwent four surgeries to correct the bony deformities and was then casted from hips to toes. Now, Jean David wears braces to keep the re-alignment going and in check. The braces have to be custom-made and are super-expensive. Since his family couldn’t afford them, these braces were donated to Jean David.
We began weight-bearing activities at the end of August, and on September 1, Jean David took his first-ever steps in the parallel bars! Due to Jean David’s amazing upper body strength and determination, Jean David we have already progressed him to walking with a walker. He is a such a hard-worker!!
On Sept 4, Dr. Nelson and our Drector of Clinics, Robbie Jackson, donated the money to buy Jean David his own walker. They will be returning to Haiti this coming week, and Jean David will be able to walk at home now with assistance from his mom and with the walker. (Just an FYI: the walker we got him cost $100 US dollars and doesn’t include wheels. I’m thinking Jean David may really benefit from wheels, but who knows how much wheels will cost! Anyone want to donate some walker wheels for a pediatric walker???)
Neither Jean David nor his mother speak English or Spanish. Luckily, Jackie’s mom, who is also Hatian, speaks English, so when she is also at therapy, she provides translation assistance for us. But, if she’s not there, we just use a lot of gestures and demos. Jean David and his mother are so sharp, they usually understand what it is we’re asking. And, I am actually learning a teeny tiny bit of Creole along the way!
I’m so happy to have been able to take part in Jean David’s therapy. He is such a strong, motivated and intelligent child. What an experience!