By luck, we met Joey in 2005 when visiting a remote village some 30 miles North of Vientiane. Joey who was born with cleft feet deformity was then three years old. Having no resources, his parents had accepted his fate. After much discussion, our coordinator Sommanouane convinced them that perhaps a medical intervention could improve Joey’s mobility. With their agreement and our support, we brought him to the National Rehabilitation Center for a series of progressive casts which lasted several months. The biggest problem was transportation as the village is not easily accessible and Joey needed to visit the center on a regular basis. Thanks to Sommanouane’s love, care and dedication, Joey finally underwent his first surgery at Mohosoth Hospital in May 2006, followed by a second surgery two months later. We were ecstatic to witness Joey’s first unassisted steps in late September 2006.
<a href="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey1.jpg"><img src="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey1.jpg" alt="Picture of Joey" title="Joey when we first met him" width="263" height="197" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-106" /></a><a href="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey2.jpg"><img src="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey2.jpg" alt="Another picture of Joey" title="Joey when we first met him" width="263" height="197" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-107" /></a>
Joey when we first met him.
<a href="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey3.jpg"><img src="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/joey3.jpg" alt="Joey&#039;s feet in one of a series of casts" title="Joey&#039;s feet in one of a series of casts" width="263" height="204" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-108" /></a>
Joey's feet in one of a series of casts - Joey with his mom and grandparents.

Joey says "Thank you" on the day we witness his first unassisted steps.