2 siblings, 1 life-changing journey

Two children from the same remote Vanuatu village family who are unable to walk will receive surgery at Canberra Hospital next month with our help.

Both suffer from the talipes, a congenital condition commonly known as club foot which twists the foot inwards and downwards, and can affect both feet.

Anis is 12 years old and his sister Melanie is aged three. They will arrive with their mother Lisa from Tanna Island, Vanuatu in April.

Treatment will change the lives of the children and their family. Until now Anis and Melanie have been unable to run and have fun with the other children in the village.

People in Lawital village on North Tanna Island speak an unusual dialect. ROMAC will be bringing a health worker from the village to translate so the family can understand and authorise treatment.

With both children in wheelchairs, a helper for mother Lisa will be important. As with most ROMAC patient families, this one has not travelled away from their village previously, let alone flown to Australia.

Canberra Hospital has accepted care of the children under a Memorandum of Understanding between Canberra Health Services and ROMAC. 

The family are expected to stay in Canberra around 12 weeks under the care of a multidisciplinary team including paediatric physiotherapists led by Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Blaise Wardle. 

The treatment requires pre-operative casting followed by surgery and then observation to ensure there are no complications before the children return to Vanuatu.