Duncan’s boots were made for walking

Duncan Theunissen is walking on his own.

The little Illovo Beach boy, who was diagnosed with tight tendons in his groin, at the back of his knee and his feet and was unable to walk, underwent an operation at King Edward Vlll Hospital in mid-February.

Three cuts were made on each of his legs, at the groin, hamstring and Achilles, to release the tendons.

After the operation, Duncan was put into plaster until March. Once it came off, he was sponsored a walker to learn the basics and build up his leg muscles.

In April he was fitted with calipers that came to just below his knees and he was encouraged to slowly stop using the walker.

“About two or three weeks ago, he threw his walker to one side and said he’s not using it anymore,” said his mother Charlene. “He is doing so well.

At the end of July he went for a check-up at Albert Luthuli Hospital and the doctors were amazed by his progress and took him off medication.”

Duncan also recently started school. He participated in his first sports day at the end of June. “Wow, it was so magical to see him run with the other children. It was such an achievement for him.”

Initially Duncan was mis-diagnosed with a mild form of cerebral palsy and his parents were faced with the daunting task of raising R180,000 for the operation. A Warner Beach GP who specialises in orthopaedics at King Edward VIII saw an article on Duncan in the Sun and arranged for an orthopaedic surgeon to assess him. Following the assessment and several tests, the correct operation was done free of charge in February.

Duncan celebrated his sixth birthday on 23 July with a party at school. “He loves school and already has two best friends,” said Charlene. “Thank you to everyone for their support and prayers since Duncan’s story first appeared in the paper,” said Charlene and Duncan’s father Corrie.