Alex runs on Plett main beach 2009

In April 2003 my husband Steve and I, and our 10-week-old baby son Alex, were the first South Africans to visit Dr Ponseti at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. With Alex facing clubfoot surgery on both feet, we had made the life-changing decision to travel 10,000 miles for treatment.

I’ve never known a doctor like Dr Ponseti. Intelligent with a sense of humour, he was wise, compassionate and humble, but very determined. Most of all, he listened to patients and was passionate about his work.

I called Dr Ponseti ‘the baby whisperer’. If Alex cried with frustration (never pain) during casting, Dr Ponseti picked him up, waved us away and walked down the passage with our baby, talking softly to comfort him.

Ponseti was excited to have his first visitors from South Africa and spent a lot of time with us. He told us that Africa was close to his heart, particularly South Africa, as studies showed the incidence of clubfoot in our black population was higher than world average; 2 to 3 babies per 1000 live births born in South Africa would have clubfoot.

Dr Ponseti told us that his method usually reached other countries not through doctors, but through the mothers of clubfoot babies. As we were the first there, we felt obliged to carry this mission out and promised we would do what we could to get his method to South Africa. He asked his secretary Joyce Roller to give us papers, his book and training videos to take home. He inscribed the book “To Alex, for a wonderful life, I.V. Ponseti”.

I was happy to see Dr Ponseti again in 2007 at the International Clubfoot Symposium in Iowa. Much had changed in four years. Delegates from many countries brought their reports on successful clubfoot treatment. It was very satisfying to Dr Ponseti that his method had been acknowledged by so many organisations and surgeons, even if it took over 50 years to happen.

Alex took part in the annual Ponseti kids race and afterwards there was a party. Dr Ponseti invited us to sit with him so we could catch up on news. He said he was extremely grateful that his method was being used by South African doctors. He asked me to keep giving him updates. He said if he were younger and able to travel long-distance, he would have loved come to Africa.

I’ll always remember Dr Ponseti as he was that day in September 2007, surrounded by happy children, his wife Helena at his side. He had a twinkle in his eye and a constant smile on his face.

Karen Moss, Dr Ignacio Ponseti and Jennifer Trevilian (Iowa 2007)

Dr Ponseti's impact on Alex’s life is priceless; he healed his twisted feet and gave him the gift of straight and painless feet. His dedication well into his 90's to achieve his vision inspired me to start STEPS and make an impact on other babies' lives.

I can no longer call on Dr Ponseti for advice and encouragement, but he lives in on my heart and in the footsteps of the many children successfully treated by his method. I continue to be inspired by friends I have made around the world through our shared clubfoot experience.

Dr Ponseti has left us a precious legacy. I will keep my promise to him and continue working for as long as it takes for every baby born in South Africa with clubfoot to have the best treatment.

Rest in peace, Papa Ponseti.

Karen Moss,
Johannesburg, South Africa