Nurak Charley, 8, has stepped off a plane onto Australian soil unassisted 12 months after East Maitland Rotary funded a life-changing operation for him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Only months ago “Charlie” could only crawl, the result of being born with complex congenital talipes equino varus – commonly known as club feet.
“Everyone is overwhelmed with the progress Charlie has made,” club president Brian Coffey said.
“The operation has been a huge success.”
Thanks to “Charlie’s angels” – which also includes Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, John Hunter Children’s Hospital paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists – he now lives a life like any boy.
The process started last April with two major operations to correct his feet, which were rotated inward and under at the ankle. This was followed by intensive physiotherapy, thigh-high plaster casts and splints.
The ability to walk, run and play with the other children has lifted the stigma he and his family suffered living on the Tanna coffee plantation in Vanuatu.
Once shunned and a victim of cruel taunts, he’s now started kindergarten.
His mother Veronic Iak said the operation had changed their lives.
“He was sad [before] that he could not go play with the other children,” she said.
“Now he just gets up and runs along with them.”
As the parent of a child with a disability, the village had also shunned her.
Now, she speaks every Sunday at church having been appointed a leader.
“I couldn’t talk in public, but I can talk now.”
It was only by chance that Charlie received this help.
Mr Coffey was on holiday with wife Carol when they saw Charlie trying to crawl his way into a football game.
“We were just fortunate that he was outside when we were there,” he said.
“Now he can walk, run and play soccer. He’s even learnt to swim.”
Rotary flew mother and son back to Australia late last month so they could share their incredible story at the District 9670 conference at Hunter Stadium.
“They just wanted to show people what can be achieved if you have a go,” Mr Coffey said.
Charlie came back without the splints which broke from rugged village life.
John Hunter will replace the splints before he returns home later this month.
“Even if he walks with his left foot turned in for the rest of his life at least he can walk,” Mr Coffey said.
