Help Fund Baby Amirah’s reconstructive surgery

In the capital city of Namibia, here in Windhoek, we have a beautiful baby girl Amirah who was born with a very rare condition called Tibia Hemimelia (also known as tibia deficiency). This simply means Amirah was born with a shorter tibia (shinbone) than normal. This creates a difference in the length of Amirah’s right leg. The condition is extremely rare, occurring in about 1 out of every 1 million births. 

Amirah was diagnosed with type 2A Tibia Hemimelia under Paley’s research treatment strategies. Fortunately, there is no need for amputation in Amirah’s case due to her tibia that can be reconstructed. Typically, an Osteotomy of the bones (tibia) needs to be done just above the ankle joint before a re-orientation of the foot out of its initial clubfoot position can take place.

Yet this is only the first of the four-phase reconstruction plan put in place for the next couple of years. Subsequently lengthening will then be done as soon as possible so as not to hinder the growth or development of Amirah’s leg. Reconstruction usually involves repairing the bones...