For seventeen-year-old Cricel Dramayo, walking upright was a lifelong dream. Born with a clubfoot, every step brought not just pain but also the sting of cruel words from those around her.
“I couldn’t take it anymore. It hurt when people laughed at my feet and called me names. Sometimes I would go home crying. I felt helpless,” Cricel recalled. Yet despite the bullying, she refused to give up. She pushed through the hurt and finished high school, holding on to her dream with quiet determination.
Cricel’s mother, Edwina, tried everything to get her daughter the care she needed. She approached hospitals and organizations on their island of Siargao, but the facilities were not equipped to correct Cricel’s condition. “The doctor said she needed to be brought to Manila, but we couldn’t afford the fare,” Edwina explained.
Through a partnership with their local government and Tebow Cure, Operation Blessing learned about Cricel’s situation. She was immediately endorsed in the Life-Changing Surgery Project. After casting and surgery, Cricel finally achieved what she had always dreamed of—walking upright.
Her transformation didn’t stop there. Recently, Cricel even participated in a marathon, taking confident strides she once thought impossible.
Now, she is ready to chase new dreams in college. “I am so happy. I can’t believe the Lord gave me this opportunity to walk properly. I am truly thankful to everyone who made my surgery possible, especially Operation Blessing. I am forever grateful,” Cricel said, her eyes shining with hope.