‘He’s got to go back. Our job is done,’ says Amy Northrup, holding Yvan Youan, 4, at her home in Sylvania Township, where she and husband, Reeves, have been caring for the boy.
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Yvan and Mrs. Northrup look through a photo album documenting his treatment. Surgeries and a series of leg casts from doctors in Iowa reshaped his legs and feet, and for the first time in his life he can now walk completely on the soles of his feet.
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Amy Northrup and her husband Reeves Northrup laugh together as Amy swings Yvan Youan, 4, upside down in their kitchen.
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Mrs. Northrup demonstrates how to buckle Yvan into his leg brace. Now with two healthy feet, he will return to his grandmother in Ivory Coast next month, though he’ll still need to wear his leg braces at night.
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Reeves Northrup, left, smiles as his wife, Amy, receives a kiss from Yvan in the kitchen of their Sylvania Township home. Yvan, 4, came to America from his native Ivory Coast in January, and the Northrups have been caring for him since April.
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Yvan, playing on the floor at the Northrups’ home at right, was brought here for treatment of his two clubbed feet, at left before his surgeries and subsequent medical treatment. He is to return with two healthy feet to his grandmother in the Ivory Coast on Jan. 6 but is to be back in the United States in June for a checkup by the specialist in Iowa who operated to correct his condition.
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Amy Northrup whispers to Yvan Youan, 4, as he looks over his leg brace.
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A picture of Yvan Youan, 4, drawn by Victoria Northrup hangs in the kitchen.
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Reeves Northrup, left, discusses the challenges of helping 4-year-old Yvan Youan with his treatment for two clubbed feet as Mr. Northrup's wife Amy, right, and Yvan thumb through a photo album of their family.
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Yvan Youan, 4, came to stay with Amy Northrup and her husband Reeves in April while he underwent treatment to correct two clubbed feet in 2016.
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Yvan Youan, 4, snuggles with Amy Northrup as the pair joke around together at home.
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Yvan Youan, 4, smiles as Amy Northrup clutches his foot, joking about him having 'stinky feet' at home.
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Yvan Youan, 4, came to stay with Amy Northrup and her husband Reeves in April while he underwent treatment to correct two clubbed feet in 2016.
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Yvan Youan, 4, smiles as Amy Northrup clutches his foot, joking about him having 'stinky feet' at home.
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Yvan Youan, 4, smiles as Amy Northrup clutches his foot, joking about him having stinky feet.
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Yvan Youan, 4, tugs at his sock after removing his leg braces.
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Yvan Youan, 4, gazes up at Amy Northrup as the pair joke around together at home.
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Amy Northrup, right, demonstrates how to buckle Yvan Youan, 4, into his leg brace.
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Amy Northrup demonstrates how to buckle Yvan Youan, 4, into his leg brace.
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Yvan Youan, 4, plays hide-and-seek with Reeves Northrup.
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Amy Northrup demonstrates how to buckle Yvan Youan, 4, left, into his leg brace.
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Amy Northrup smiles down at Yvan Youan, 4, as he asks to be picked up.
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Yvan Youan, 4, clutches one boot of his leg brace.
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Yvan Youan, 4, from left, has been living with Amy Northrup and her husband Reeves Northrup since April.
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