There are so many stories of children in Malawi, who start with one strange and serious defect and end up with another, equally as strange and serious but totally different from the original infection or disorder. You see things here in large quantities that you would never see in any developed country. Seven-year-old Aaron Moffati’s case is no different; it is just as mysterious and disturbing as so many other cases CURE sees.

Aaron is the second youngest in a family of seven. When he was two years old, his right leg swelled with a bone infection. He was taken to the local hospital where he was operated on to clean up the infection and relieve the swelling. After the operation, for an unknown reason, his right foot became locked in a tip-toe or equinus position. Now, Aaron walks with a limp because of his pointed foot. He no longer goes to school because of the troubles he’s having with his foot. Last time he was there, he came home crying because his classmates were laughing at his condition.

Despite his equinus foot, however, Aaron still enjoys playing and being as active as he can possibly stand to be. After a while, he is forced to slow down, as the pain of his condition sets in and he can no longer play with his friends. After his time at CURE, however, he will be able to run and play until he drops from exhaustion, and not because his leg is in pain. That’s what we love to see, kids being kids, completely unhindered.