Derrick, age 18, is a young boy from the Gisoro district region of Uganda. He lives with both of his parents and siblings and is the second born child among seven children. Derrick had dreams of becoming a university professor, but his dreams became unrealistic when Derrick turned 12 years old and started noticing and experiencing unusual signs. In the beginning, Derrick only experienced itching from left leg. However, soon his feetwere burning and swollen to the point where his legs became too heavy. He was not able to walk to school anymore. He was in the fourth gradeof primary education in Uganda, but Derrick stopped walking to school to avoid both the pain in his legs and the laughter of his classmates.

Derrick has attended many hospitals in Uganda but has found no help. This past summer, Derrick was admitted to the Heart and Sole Africa clinic located in Kinoni in the Burera district of Rwanda, where he was clinically diagnosed as a podoconiosis patient. Podoconiosis, also known as endemic non-filarial elephantiasis, is a non-communicable disease that is acquired through prolonged exposure to volcanic red clay soils. This condition is commonly seen among subsistence farmer who walk and work in field while barefoot.

Derrick was also determined to be a good candidate for bandaging. His parents were unfortunately unable to afford the costs of transporting him to the Heart and Sole Africa clinic in the Musanze district for daily bandaging. However, Cindy Robinett, an American certified lymphedema therapist and friend of Tonya Huston, Heart and Sole Africa’s founder and Executive Director, kindly donated the money needed for the treatment period. Derrick has now begun treatment and is responding well, already showing decreases in swelling. He reports that his leg has become easier to lift while walking than before.