Brian Mullaney of First Step Writes

I recently got back from an exhilarating, yet exhausting trip to Rwanda.

It took four plane rides and 25 hours of non-stop travel, but it was worth it.

The average Rwandan lives on $1.78 a day, but the children and families we help are even poorer. Amidst the poverty and suffering, we
were inspired by many selfless surgeons, nurses, and hospital administrators. Our unique strategy of empowering local doctors through financial aid, free training, and equipment, enables us to cure children are born with clubfoot for as little as $250.

Of all the extraordinary moments on the trip, here is one story I will never forget.

One day, we traveled out to the countryside to visit the home of James, the first born son to a young man, Jean, and his wife, Nirere.

When James was born, his father thought he was cursed. He sent his son and wife away. It wasn’t until his brother-in-law came to him and told him, “your son is not cursed. He was born with clubfoot, a common birth defect that can easily be cured. Your son goes to the hospital every week for free treatment – his feet are almost straight.”

Jean was shocked and ashamed. He asked his brother-in-law to tell his wife to come home. At this point in the story, he put his arm around his wife, who was getting visibly upset listening to him tell their story.

“She did come home. And I apologized to my wife, again and again,” he said. “I want to thank you for helping us,” he said. “You didn’t just save one life, you saved all three of us.”

You see, the surgery that we help provide changes more than one life.

Every surgery makes a difference.
And every surgery starts with you.

For every child we help, there are many more who are waiting, hoping, and praying someone will come along and help them, too.

Please be that someone.

If you can help, please do!