Nicoleta is 18 years old and currently in care at the Rhema Foundation in Tirgu Mures, Romania. Rhema is a privately run residential centre, supported by the Department of Child Protection and as such must meet their standards and requirements. A recent project funded by Rotary International provided Rhema with the facilities to build a ‘workshop’ on the grounds to provide young people with skills in woodwork, machinery and craft skills.

Nicoleta’s family abandoned her at a young age. Early in her life she sustained an injury to her left leg to enable her to beg for her family. She was subsequently admitted to hospital and as Nicoleta was born only one year after the Romanian Revolution, conditions in hospitals and orphanages were fairly bleak. Once abandoned by her family Nicoleta would have been placed, often sedated, in a cot in a hospital ward.

Nicoleta currently complains that her left leg hurts her sometimes. She finds it difficult when she is standing for a long time on her left knee. Despite this she is able to play and run although she finds stairs are difficult. She rotates her hip out of alignment to be able to stand and sit. Two Consultants, Rachel Buckingham and Andy Wainwright from the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, visited Tirgu Mures and felt that Nicoleta’s movement could be easily improved by correcting the alignment of her left leg. Unfortunately she is ineligible for treatment in her own country. Although Nicoleta has been psychologically scarred by her traumatic history she does not show it and otherwise appears healthy. She is a very friendly and bright, smiling young girl who is very keen to learn new things, meet new people, and gain new experiences. She is currently a school student who hopes to be a musician.

After a huge effort to raise funds, Nicoleta arrived in the UK on the 9th August, the operation happened on the 19th August and Nicoleta went home – with a wonderful straight leg – on Friday 3rd September. F.R.O.D.O. is proud and delighted to have been able bring Rafi and the team from the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre together – and witness the amazing successful outcome.

“Helping Nicoleta has brought untold wealth to our life at the NOC. Making a positive difference to others is what should matter every day for us all, and we were very happy to do much more on this occasion to enable Rafi to live a better life. I hope she can now believe the enbelievable!”
Bev Edgar – Director or Workforce and OD at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (was the driving force behind the fundraising.