Ridhyan’s mobility keeps improving — and his story is only getting started
When Ridhyan was born, his parents Anita and Mayal were concerned about the way his feet had formed. He was diagnosed with club feet, which means that the muscles and bones in his feet point down and turn inward instead of pointing straight. This twisting causes his toes to point toward the opposite leg, resulting in pain and difficulty walking.
“Initially it was very stressful because I haven’t seen a child born with club feet in my family,” says Mayal. “So in the beginning it was very hectic, very painful. When he was born, we didn’t have any idea, we didn’t have any clue where to go. Then we took him to a couple of doctors in my hometown, but they did not get the proper treatment for him.”
Meanwhile, Ridhyan grew into a social boy who loved playing with his friends. He was into all things cars—from watching Formula 1 and NASCAR races to playing car video games or racing his own toy cars. And of course, he knew the names of almost any car he saw on the street. Ridhyan also liked soccer and dreamt of playing on a team.
His parents kept searching for treatment for his club feet. Eventually, they found a child orthopedic surgeon in New Delhi who performed surgery; it helped but didn’t fully correct the problem. Anita and Mayal were left to worry if their son would ever get the care he needed.
In 2022, the family left India and moved to Canada. After finding a home in Surrey, they took Ridhyan to another specialist who said Ridhyan needed to wear ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) as part of treatment. But the orthotics cost nearly $5,000, so Anita and Mayal applied to Variety to help fund the equipment, following their doctor’s suggestion.
Mayal says he’s overwhelmed by the support. “Variety plays a key role in Ridhyan’s treatment, for his betterment of life,” he says. “All those special treatments are very expensive. Variety has funded my son’s AFOs twice. So I’m really thankful. There’s a big financial relief for families like mine, who could not afford that expensive treatment.”
“There’s a big financial relief for families like mine, who could not afford that expensive treatment.”
AFOs are braces worn on the lower leg and foot to provide support, improve balance, and make walking easier. They help by keeping the foot in the right position, preventing falls, and assisting with movement for people with weak leg muscles or difficulty walking. They’re often made from moulded plastic that can be adjusted as needed, especially for growing children.
At six years old, Ridhyan wears his orthotics for at least 16 hours every day. And they’re beginning to pay off. He can now walk normally, and his feet are pointing in the right direction.
“He’s still wearing the AFOs,” says Mayal. “So we haven’t put him in soccer yet because of his condition. But one day, hopefully. I’m trying pretty much whatever I can do for him. He’s all I have. He is going to have a bright future.”