I am currently a Miss Scotland 2019 finalist and while I have already been fundraising for my childhood hospital, the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, I have also now been inundated with messages of support from those who have had experience with club-feet. It has really encouraged me to attempt to use this platform bring more awareness to the condition as I see now how important this is for so many families!
I would love to help inspire children, and the parents of children who are going through similar situations so that children with similar conditions see that they can live a normal and active life whilst their parents can see that there is a bright future at the end of a long programme of treatment.
I was born with clubfoot (Congenital Talipes Equinovarus) and a substantial leg length discrepancy, the initial prognosis was that I would not walk normally. However, after initial surgery at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, I began treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh where their excellent consultants Mr Malcolm Macnicol (now retired) and Mr Alastair Murray (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon) began a programme of operations and post-operative care that has resulted in me being able to live life to the full.
Between my first surgery at just 4 months of age and turning 20, I underwent a range of treatments, including:
– Tendon release operations
– Repeatedly setting the foot into a corrected position
– Having a full-leg cast as a baby and toddler (I learnt to walk wearing a full-leg plaster)
– Wearing splints and orthotic appliances
– Physiotherapy and strapping to stretch tendons and the joint
– Removal of growth plates to slow the growth in left leg so that the shorter leg would ‘catch up’
– Reconstructive surgery to re-shape lower right leg
The culmination of all this treatment will be on Saturday the 25th of May when I will run in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 10k event; I have already raised more than £700 through sponsorship to support the Children’s Hospital Charity, but would like to focus now on raising more awareness!
I am also hosting a charity event on the evening of 30th May at The Corinthian Club in Glasgow with live music, a raffle, drinks and canapés. Proceeds are going to the Glasgow and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charities.
I was recently contacted by a family of a baby boy who has clubfoot and my Mum and I were able to visit them to discuss our experiences and talk about the positive outcomes that can be achieved, I’d love to help more people understand the condition.