When little Kendall Lee Hartnick was born with bilateral clubfoot, her parents were shocked and deeply saddened. “We were devastated to see our newborn’s feet turning inwards,” recalls her father, Lorenzo Hartnick. “We didn’t know what it meant or what to do next.”
The family was referred to the Tygerberg Hospital Clubfoot Clinic, where they were met with empathy, expertise, and a clear treatment plan. Kendall began the Ponseti Method, the gold standard in clubfoot treatment. Over a series of seven gentle corrective casts performed weekly, followed by a tenotomy, her feet were gradually guided into the correct position.
“Each appointment brought new hope,” says Lorenzo. “We watched our daughter’s feet change before our eyes. Today, she walks and plays just like any other child.”
Now two and a half years old, Kendall is in the final maintenance phase of her treatment, wearing a clubfoot brace while she sleeps to ensure her feet stay corrected.
The Hartnick family is full of praise for the dedicated clinic team. “We are so grateful to the compassionate staff at Tygerberg for walking this journey with us. They made a difficult time feel manageable.”
Their message to other parents is simple but powerful: “Seek treatment straight away. It’s overwhelming at first, but it’s 100% worth it.”
Kendall’s story is one of hundreds of success stories made possible through the 12-year partnership between Tygerberg Hospital and our Steps Clubfoot Care programme. Since January, 84 new patients have been enrolled for clubfoot treatment at the clinic.
Kendall’s future is no longer limited by disability thanks to early care and support.
