Liya

Ethiopia
Clubfoot

Liya is a little girl from a town in Southern Ethiopia, who was born with clubfoot. Clubfoot is a congenital deformity which pushes the feet downwards and inwards, making it very painful and even impossible to walk.

Because of her condition, Liya was not able to learn to walk until she was two years old. Each day, Liya had to live with the stigma of disability; at school, she had to deal with children in her community making fun of the way she walks and calling her names like “cripple”.

However, Liya heard about CURE through her local church. When arriving at CURE Ethiopia’s Children’s hospital, she was granted the wish that she had always hoped for, to be free from disability.

After receiving a life changing operation, Liya is now back at school and loves it! She is able to run around and play with her friends, like any other child.
Overjoyed, Liya said, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor so I can help other children with my condition.”