News New hope at last for Oskar and his family thanks to our Patient Assistance Fund
Seven-year-old Oskar from Germany had bilateral club foot, a birth defect of the feet. A long and complicated medical journey led him to Schulthess Klinik, where he was able to get the help he needed. The Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund helped the family to fund the specialist treatment that Oskar required to be able to live an active life without pain.
Oskar, a happy little seven-year-old boy from Germany, was born with a serious deformity affecting both his feet called bilateral club foot. Despite undergoing treatment that was initially successful, his condition deteriorated noticeably over time. The severe foot deformity gradually returned, progressively impairing Oskar’s ability to walk. He developed a painful load imbalance and restricted movement in his feet. During the coronavirus pandemic, his situation worsened as physiotherapy interventions and follow-up appointments were missed.
Oskar’s mum searched in vain for a medical centre in Germany that would offer her son conservative treatment for his feet using plaster casts and without major surgical interventions. “I lost count of how many clinics I called. Not one of them were able to treat Oskar with plaster casts,” she said. But the situation grew ever more urgent. It got to the point that Oskar could only walk on the outside of his feet. He was in so much pain and avoided moving whenever he could. It became clear that family life was revolving around Oskar’s condition.
Schulthess Klinik gives new hope
In February 2024, the family knew they had found the right practitioners in the paediatric orthopaedics team at Schulthess Klinik in Zurich, who have particular expertise in conservative treatment of recurrent club feet. By March, Oskar had already been seen by Dr. Matthias Tedeus, who decided that predominantly conservative treatment with plaster casts would be the best option for Oskar despite his age. “My hope was restored from that moment on,” said Oskar’s mum. The complex treatment, which involved applying a series of plaster casts to both feet over the course of several weeks, followed by minor surgery on his severely deformed right foot, was Oskar’s long-awaited opportunity to walk without pain once again. There are very few clinics that have the expertise to perform this treatment and Schulthess Klinik is one of them.
The Patient Assistance Fund saves the day
The prospect of the treatment gave Oskar’s family hope but it also brought financial concerns. The family knew that their health insurance would hardly put a dent in the total treatment costs. But the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund was there to help. The Foundation helped to cover the high treatment costs, which took the pressure off the family both financially and emotionally. “The Patient Assistance Fund bought us more time together as a family. It took a heavy weight off our shoulders,” said Oskar’s mum.
Oskar’s bike awaits after treatment success
Oskar made his 20th visit to Schulthess Klinik in late October 2024. And the progress was remarkable. His left foot was already fully corrected weeks prior and even his severely affected right foot could now be taken out of its plaster cast and is now also completely straight again. “Oskar dreams of running around in the garden and learning how to ride a bike,” said his mum. Oskar’s bike is ready and waiting for him in the garage. His first time out on it will be an important milestone and a symbol of hope for the future.
Oskar’s story is a reminder of just how important specialist medical treatments are and of just how much humanity the dedicated team at Schulthess Klinik put into their work. “We have been so impressed by Dr. Tedeus, Dr. Velasco and the whole team – as medical professionals and as people. I’ll never forget how much they have cared about Oskar,” said Oskar’s mum. The Patient Assistance Fund has given Oskar the chance to live a normal life and restored hope for his whole family.
Donations to the Patient Assistance Fund
The Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund gives patients like Oskar access to highly specialised medical treatments so they have a chance to get their life back regardless of their financial situation. Children from crisis areas who need help urgently are prioritised.
We partner with Friedensdorf International to help these children. It is our contribution to ensuring that even the poorest people can benefit from highly specialised, high-end medicine. You can help patients in Switzerland and from abroad who require complex operations or treatments by making a donation to our Patient Assistance Fund. 100% of the money you donate goes into the Patient Assistance Fund.
