Vanuatu
March 27, 2026

Tom recovers after surgery

Tom’s resilience has been nothing short of remarkable. Today, his future is no longer defined by physical limitations, but by the same opportunities every child deserves: the chance to walk, run, and play.

Two-year-old Tom from Vanuatu is recovering after surgery in Sydney to correct his club feet.

Without intervention Tom’s future mobility would have been severely limited. Thanks to ROMAC his future is now filled with hope.

Tom has already shown remarkable courage and resilience. Born with bilateral talipes (club feet) Tom has learned to move around on his tiptoes, adapting as best he can to a condition which makes walking difficult and painful.

Tom arrived in Sydney last month from Aneityum Island Vanuatu with his mum Marie to meet orthopaedic surgeon Dr Jeff Ling.

He then started pre-surgery plaster casting, a gentle, step-by-step process to gradually correct the position of his feet in preparation for surgery.

His surgery was an important milestone that gives Tom the chance to walk, run and play like other children his age.

During their stay Tom and Marie are being cared for at RMH Randwick surrounded by the kindness and generosity of the ROMAC Eastern Region team and local Rotarians, supported through visits from Vanuatu Consul Donald Pelam.

This is the difference ROMAC makes, transforming lives one child at a time.

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