Although they miss home, all their loved ones – and South African food – Resegofetse Molale from Kuruman is grateful that she and her son, Phetogo (5), can be in America for his life-changing surgery.
Phetogo was born with a rare orthopedic condition called congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT). This condition is a break in the bone that fails to heal.
As he grows, his fibula is being pushed out by his broken tibia, almost cutting through his skin which is very painful. While South African surgeons suggested amputation as the best option for this condition, Molale learnt after intensive research about the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute in Florida where Dr Dror Paley has been treating children with this condition for over 28 years. He has been able to achieve a 100% success rate.
This type of surgery is usually performed when children are a year old, and Phetogo was almost two when Molale consulted Paley.
Time was running out as the deformity worsens with age.
After thorough communication with the institute, Phetogo’s surgery was quoted at approximately R1,5 million. Determined to afford Phetogo an opportunity to walk on both legs, and to raise the R1,5 million, the non-profit organisation Phetogo Molale Foundation: Help A Child Walk 218-084 was registered, with a presence on several social media platforms.
Finally, after more than three years of fundraising, Molale and Phetogo arrived in Florida on 19 April.
However, Phetogo’s treatment plan was changed during the preoperative consultation with Paley and he will now have three different surgeries. During the first surgery on 5 May, the deformity was corrected and an external fixator fitted on his leg. Soon after that he started receiving physical therapy.
On 22 June Phetogo had his second surgery during which the fibula bone was cut and aligned with his straightened tibia bone in order to begin with the leg lengthening process, Molale says during a WhatsApp conversation.
“The third surgery will be performed at a later stage whereby they will remove the external fixator and apply an internal rod to his tibia bone. “The entire treatment will take roughly six months instead of the three months we had anticipated,” she says.
Phetogo currently goes for physical therapy five times a week and he is making good progress although his muscles have tightened and this makes physical therapy painful for him.
“He is excited to see his leg getting straight,” Molale says.
They are currently staying at the Quantum House on hospital premises where families from all over the world who brought their children for surgery at the Paley’s Institute are hosted. For nearly five weeks however, they will have to find alternative accommodation as the house was already fully booked for that period.
“We have made a reservation at a nearby hotel where we will have complimentary shuttle service as we would need to come to the hospital five times a week for physical therapy. It is however very expensive, and over double what we have been paying at Quantum House, but we will have to make it work,” Molale says.
On their trip to America, Molale says that although tiring and very long, it was pleasant.
“I am really grateful that we are finally here and Phetogo is getting the life changing surgery we have been working tirelessly for.
”To follow Phetogo’s recovery, visit the Facebook page Help Phetogo Walk.
