The Little Mo Effect

High in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the chance encounter of an orthopedic surgeon and an impish boy clad in bright pink rubber boots changes both their lives…

Dr. Pier Boutin responded to the call for orthopedic surgeons after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Leading the first surgical team to arrive in Port-au-Prince, she witnessed devastating trauma and unimaginable suffering. To distract from the haunting memories she traveled to Morocco. In the Atlas Mountains, she came upon a three-year-old boy stumbling around on deformed feet.
Walking is vital for survival in these remote mountains. With untreated clubfeet, this child faced a dismal future. Yet despite his struggles to walk, he giggled and smiled. His magnetic charm captivated her. She could not walk away.
His needs eclipsed her own despondence after the trauma of Haiti.
She thought, "If he can smile despite his disability, why can't I?"
This chance encounter would affect many lives for years to come.
Dr. Boutin's compassion and determination overcame all obstacles to bring this child, Little Mo, to the United States to treat his disability.
In the process, she changed his life–but he also changed hers.