In October, 2002, we took a 4-year old girl into our home
so she could have the care she needs and deserves.

Vidalia was crippled from birth, left to crawl on the dirt

floor of the shack she shares with her parents and six

siblings.

She was many times locked in their tin shack home,
left alone on the dirt floor all day, crawling on her hands

in her own feces, with little food. She is so malnourished,

the specialist says she is dying a slow painful death; 

she might die within five months. We decided  to care for

her in our home, with the goal of not only making sure

she will survive, but that she will be able to walk some day.

 Vidalia, cleaned up & smiling

Background - "Can you help my children to walk?", the young mother pleaded.
 

We first found out about Vidalia in early 2001.  Her mother, 26-years
old with six other children, came to the clinic with Vidalia
and her 19 month-old brother, who is also disable with club feet. "Can you
help make my children walk?", she asked Anita. 

We have many times since then, visited their home, a small dirt-floor shack
with corn stalks for walls. They have no money for food, so we supplied food, 
fortified milk and medicines.

We have taken Vidalia and her brother to the hospital many times, as well, and

had a cast put on her brother's leg. Vidalia's situation, while always bad, had
recently taken a turn for the worst, and we could see she was wasting away.

We are sorry to say that the mother has not taken an interest in caring for her

or her handicapped brother. The mother has thrown away vitamins we gave

her, not given the nutrient supplements, hasn't kept her clean and hasn't

brought her to the clinic when she has been sick. We suspect that she would

just as soon allow Vidalia to die.  We were very concerned.

Vidalia's Condition Worsens  - "I just want to die..", the 4-year old sobs.

As the malnutrition caused further damage to her insides, and the fractured
bones caused so much pain, Vidalia began crying as much as eight hours a
day, interrupted by short, periods of fitful sleeping, worn out from the pain
and crying.

"Why can't I just die and go underground- I hurt so much." , Vidalia asked her

mother. Other times she would sob "You don't want me, why can't I go live
with Anita".

On October 27th, 2002, we got permission from her mother to pick her up

and bring her to live with us for awhile.  At four and a half years old, she

weighs about 19 lbs.  She is still living with us and has learned English!

One of the first things Anita did when we got her home was to give her a warm

bath - her first one ever! Vidalia was so filthy, and her hair was full of bugs

and lice. Anita shampooed her hair twice. Another shampoo the morning after
got rid of the bugs.

Vidalia was born with clubbed feet, and her upper thigh muscles are
severely contracted.  However, we believe that with several operations and
intensive therapy, she can walk normally; this might be a two-year process. She

will need to have her leg muscles cut to extend them, injections of botox,

orthopedic surgery on her feet, casts, braces and lots of physical therapy.

We found out on October 25th, that in early October, 2002, Vidalia's brother

fell on her and broke her leg. But her mother didn't tell us or bring her to the

clinic. The mother has been overwhelmed by caring for these two disabled

children and a new baby. The family lives in much poverty and the mother

works outside the home. The next day after taking her in our home, we

put a cast on her fractured leg.

We also discovered that she has some other bone fractures, and her one arm
has had a break and healed improperly, slightly crooked. She had broken ribs
sometime earlier this year which have also healed improperly causing her back
to be deformed.  Her wrists and elbow joints are severely twisted from using
her hands as "feet" to crawl around.

Her bones are so fragile that the slightest bump could cause a  fracture.  She
will need to have some bones re-broken and reset, as well as casts and braces. 
Poor little thing.

Vidalia hadn't smiled in three years, lived in the dirt and recently had been crying

for eight hours a day from the terrible pain. But after two weeks living at our home

she started to eat well and smile, and we have high hopes for her.

Later, when her body is well and her bones have grown stronger, she will need a

series of operations to straighten her legs. Then casts, braces and therapy for up

to two years will be required. Finally, we hope to report that she will be able to

walk and run!