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A 6-year-old boy has a new lease on life now that he is finally able to walk on his own.
Hadi Alkhadra, described by doctors as a sunny outgoing boy, was born with severe deformities of his feet and legs. But after a life-changing surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford little Hadi is standing on his own two feet.
“He should be able to be a good walker, and be able to play, he likes to play and sing and dance, and he'll continue to do so,” Physical Therapist, Richard Gee said.
For the first six years of Hadi’s life he could only crawl, or be carried where he wanted to go.
Due to his severe Anthro-Gryposis, a genetic condition also known as “stuck-joints” Hadi couldn’t even wear shoes.
“They did a series of surgeries, basically rearranged the bones on his feet and also lengthened the muscles down by his ankles,” Gee said.
The treatment took six months in total and Hadi will have to wear lower leg braces for a few years but besides that he’s a normal, healthy and happy little boy.
Hadi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank. He and his mother were able to come to the U.S. thanks to the nonprofit, “Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.”
Later this month Hadi and his mom will return home where he’ll be able to go to school for the first time.
Hadi says his dream is to become a surgeon just like the Stanford doctors who changed his life.
