Alif, 14 months old, receives massage therapy from Hope Clinic's massage therapist Aigul.
One small step for Alif, one giant leap for children in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan.
It is hard to imagine that 14-month-old Alif could not move her legs a week ago before receiving massage therapy from our Hope Clinic in Tokmok. Today, she is making some impressive strides.
Like her 5 siblings and many children in Kyrgyzstan, Alif has Muscle Hypertonicity (Hypertonia). Hypertonia causes stiffness in muscle, making it difficult for children to move and learn to walk. When diagnosed early, the condition may be minimized or corrected with massage treatment. However, with fewer than a handful of licensed pediatric masseurs in Tokmok and hefty charges, most parents have no options but to endure the pain of watching their children suffer developmental setback. Seeing this critical need, Hope Clinic just launched an affordable pediatric massage therapy at only 1/10th the cost elsewhere in the area. Now children like Alif can get crucial treatment without the financial stress.
Alif’s mother, Elnara, is overwhelmed by joy. She is now on a mission to tell others about this newfound hope. All thanks to the generosity and prayers of our supporters.