A 10-year-old Randfontein girl has been through hell and back after being born with one leg shorter than the other.
At the age of one, Amorie Faulkner went for the first operation to fix her thigh bone (femur) which did not have much of a femoral head (ball) to fit into her hip’s socket. Doctors told the family that Amorie would never walk again.
Amorie’s mother, Alta, said they had all their family and friends pray for a successful operation. The operation was a success and Amorie walked thereafter but it was not the last time the family would have to see their daughter go under the knife.
Amorie underwent many more operations over the years. At one point, she was in a cast from the waist down. The most recent of her operations took place late last year, after a battle with the pins which were in the wrong position and shifted, causing the bones to splinter.
Her next operation will be on 25 July. Her short leg has already begun to catch up with the other one – the initial difference in length was 12cm, but this has decreased to just three centimetres.
Alta said her daughter is going through the process of fixing her leg now and the pins will soon be taken out. This will give her a few years without pain, but she will have to go through the same process at the age of 15.
“She’s a star. She’s been through so much but she’s always polite and pleasant with everyone around her. She truly is strong,” Alta said.
All the operations Amorie has undergone have drained the family’s medical aid, and certain aspects of the treatment she needs are no longer covered, leaving the family in financial straits.
Randfontein’s ‘wonder-woman‘ and Mrs Johannesburg contestant, Janine Ferreira got wind of Amorie’s situation and took it upon herself to start fundraising to help the family cover their medical costs. The fundraiser was held in partnership with the Adonia Angels Project, which is run by Janine’s step-mother.
A charity spitbraai was held early in June, just after Amorie’s 10th birthday, at the Randfontein Rugby Club to raise funds for her medical costs and celebrate her birthday.
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 413 8726.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Roodepoort Record, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
