In Memory of Dr. Ponseti
Ignacio Ponseti, M.D. died Sunday afternoon, Oct. 18, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, following a sudden illness. He was 95.
Just days before his death, Dr. Ponseti was at work in his university office. His gentle methods and soft-spoken compassion were a hallmark of a six-decade commitment to helping children. Read the full obituary.
Please take this opportunity to leave your memories and condolences. You may also make a gift to the Ponseti International Association for the Advancement of Clubfoot Treatment in Dr. Ponseti’s honor.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
It was a great honor to raise funds for the Ponseti International Association, Ponseti Pediatric Research, and to spend time with families who were touched by Dr. Ponseti and his Method. I remember many conversations and enjoyed them all, but I will never forget when Dr. Ponseti told me about a dream he had. He said he was working in Michelangelo’s workshop doing sculpture and he has working a on a foot and learning from the great artist. He, of course, was a great artist in his own right. He knew the art of caring for his babies, assuring parents, and teaching the Ponseti Method. He will be missed, but his legacy will go on.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
We have never met Dr. Ponseti but he has changed the life of our son forever! 6 years ago our son, Alex, was born with bilateral clubfoot. First, he was treated by a doctor who did not use the Ponseti Method. This caused my son a tremendous amount of physical pain and us, his parents, a great deal of mental anguish. We did not know what to do or who to turn to for help. After crying for a long time because no one was able to help Alex. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands. I spent a whole day searching for information on the internet and that’s when I found Dr. Ponseti and his treatment. I found his email address and emailed him immediately explaining what my 2 week old son had gone through. To my suprise I received an email from Dr. Ponseti within a few hours! This was a turning point for my son. He explained exactly who we needed to see and what we needed to do to help our son. He directed us to Dr. Herzenberg, a Ponseti trained doctor, in Baltimore, Md.(A WONDERFUL DOCTOR AS WELL) Dr. Ponseti showed concern and compassion for Alex when no one else did. Even though Dr. Ponseti never physically touched my sons feet what he did in his behalf will be remembered forever. Every time I see Alex run and play I will reflect on the life of Dr. Ponseti. We are forever grateful to him for caring enough about our dear children with clubfoot to devise this non surgical method of treatment and also that he took the time to spread the word and teach other doctors. His efforts to help babies with clubfoot will never be forgotten! John 5:28,29 Talks about God remembering those who did “Good things” and how they will receive a resurrection of life! Dr. Ponseti definetly did “Good things”. We look forward to seeing Dr. Ponseti in that resurrection!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Dr. Ponseti thank you for everything you did to our daughter, we will never forget you. We will continue helping babies with clubfoot in Mexico, with yout method that you teached Armando.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:22 am
We were so honored to have our twin girls being treated by Dr. Ponseti while Dr. Morcuende was out on a clinic mission. We owe a great deal to him and are reminded everyday when we see our girls happy, healthy and able to walk, run and jump.
We are saddened by this sudden loss but know that the clinic is in good hands. He was a great man.
October 24th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
What a tremendoug loss. Dr Ponseti has helped thousands of children learn to walk in many countries around the world, including my little guy indirectly through his methods, and as a parent I am eternally grateful. His legacy and treatment of club feet will continue to make a difference for many years to come. May he rest in peace.
Joelle Clark, Mommy
Toronto, Ontario
p.s. My son Nicholas is 10 months old and nothing is better than seeing my sweet boy “cruising” around our living room with two perfect little feet….getting into lots of mischief!
October 24th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
What a difference Dr. Ponseti made in the life of our daughter. His quiet voice and perfect, gentle touch was exactly what she needed. He gave us hope after almost a year of incorrect treatment. Everything that we heard was doom and gloom. Then, enter this amazing doctor. We feel so lucky that at 91+ years of age, we were given such a rare and wonderful opportunity. Now, four years later, she is perfect and surgery-free. Our thoughts are with Dr. Ponseti’s family and fellow U of I staff members.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I remember the feeling when I was told my baby was going to be born with bi-lateral club feet and how scared I was. I did not have any idea what to expect. I immediately went online to do research. I was instantly put at ease when I came across the Ponseti Website. I felt like finally a friendly face who knew what I was going thru. I never got a chance to meet Dr. Ponseti or have him treat my child, but I did find a qualified doctor who follows his protecol. I am deeply saddened by his passing and although never having a personal relationship with him, I am still feeling the shock. He will be missed and in my heart forever.
October 26th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
[...] The College has set up a condolences page here. [...]
October 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
As a child I was a regular visitor to the office of Dr. Ponseti. My Mother loved him and that’s no easy feat as my Mother distrusted doctors as a rule. Mom and I made the journey to Iowa City from Vinton monthly, then bi-annually, then annually. Dr. Ponseti was always so nurturing and made you feel like you were his only and most important patient. He had a tender and loving way with children that eliminated any of the normal childhood fears of going to see the doctor. How did he do that? Although my congenital condition was not the famed club foot for which Dr. Ponseti became so famous, his treatment of my condition was no less extraordinary. To this day and from across the miles Dr. Ponseti and his staff and colleagues maintain current records and contact with me to meticulously evaluate my progress at now 52 years of age. How lucky are we that we knew him and who’s lives he touched. Thought I have not seen him in years, I will miss him still, and in my heart I will always love him. Karol Heppe, Vallejo, California
October 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Words cannot express how thankful to Dr. Ponseti for curing my son. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Thank you and may you rest in peace.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Words cannot express how thankful I am to Dr. Ponseti for curing my son. My son can walk, run and jump around thanks to Dr. Ponseti’s wonderful work.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Thank you and may you rest in peace.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Dr. Ponseti was the answer to our prayers in 2005 after bringing our daughter home from China with untreated bilateral clubfeet. Prior to finding Dr. Ponseti the other doctors we had consulted said she was a surgical case due to her age and one doctor we traveled to told us she could possibly be an amputation case. Dr. Ponseti is a modern day miracle worker who believed he could correct her at the age of 3 1/2 years old, and that he did with 17 castings. He understood our daughter’s fears after just coming home from China and was always so loving and gentle with her. I’ll never forget him talking on the Elmo phone to her as she talked to him on her Minnie Mouse phone in clinic. He really understood and loved each child. Allison would often ask when we could go back to see our dear friend from “I-dawa” -Dr. Ponseti. Even though Iowa is 1500 miles from home, we always look forward to our time back there with our clubfoot family. We will miss him dearly. To us, Dr. Ponseti was a molder of dreams as I would watch him mold our daughter’s feet in his hands with each cast change so now she can do anything she dreams with her beautiful, straight, pain free feet. He has given Allison a gift of a lifetime and we will always hold him near and dear to our hearts. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on as our children enjoy a life without physical limitations. My heart goes out to Mrs. Ponseti, his family, and his dear friends at U of I and around the world. The world is a better place because of Dr. Ponseti and we are so blessed to have known him!
October 28th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Dr. Ponseti changed the life of our son Daniel Pickett. Daniel was born with bilateral clubfoot. Orange County Children’s Hospital – CA – wanted to operate in 2002 – “one of Daniel’s feet was impossible to correct without surgery”. I read about Dr. Ponseti and his non-surgical method on the web. We took Daniel to Iowa when he was 2 weeks old. He was corrected with 6 casts (one extra to simply hold the correction since Dr. Ponseti and Dr. Morcuende were going to a conference). Dr. Ponseti devoted his life to the little patients. He would see the little guys even in his hotel room while on the road… He would pick up his home phone at any time. I have never seen such a devotion, such sacrifice, and such a magnificent support by his wife Helena. If there are any angels on earth, Dr. Ponseti and Helena must be ones! We love them dearly and feel they are part of our family. As 5 and 6 year old, Daniel was ranked number 2, 3 and 4 nationally in Snowboarding USASA – Halfpipe, Slope Style, and Slalom. Each time he would finish a competition, he would say” thank you Dr. Ponseti for fixing my feet and helping me get that gold!” Daniel is a very fast runner and a great soccer player too. Last week he asked: “how did Dr. Ponseti make my feet so fast?” We are all so very greatful! Dr. Ponseti will be in our hearts for ever! We will continue to convince surgeons and make sure Dr. Ponseti’s method is the only one used for the treatment of club feet!
October 29th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Dr. Ponseti has meant the world to our family. Our youngest daughter was born in 2008 with bilateral clubfoot. We found out during a routine ultrasound and felt so devastated at the time. We began to do our research about what treatment was available. It all looked so scary and overwhelming. But when we learned about Dr. Ponseti and couldn’t believe he was only 2 hours away and still seeing patients! We began to email him to get more information and our minds were set at ease. We saw Dr. Ponseti for Abby’s first cast when she was about a week old. He was so quiet and gentle with her. He took his time and would stop when she got uncomfortable, always telling us how he would watch the babies face to see if they were in any sort of discomfort. He like to play Mozart for her because ‘babies love Mozart!’ It was so obvious these were his kids and he loved to see them progress and see us happy parents! He loved to see the babies begin to crawl, cruise and walk like any normal child. There was just something to gentle and soothing about his nature, Abby would just watch him. She was never scared. This journey could have been been so difficult for us but it all seemed okay because we knew we were in expert hands. We feel so incredibly blessed to have been able to meet him and to have had our daughter treated by him. He truly was a remarkable man who through is work has touch children all over the world! He will always be in our hearts! Thank you Dr. Ponseti and to your family for allowing you to help so many families for so many years! May you rest in peace.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Meine Familie bedauert den Tod von Dr. Ponseti. Vor 18 Monaten wussten wir nicht wer er war, doch kann unser Sohn heute, im Alter von 15 Monaten, laufen und das nur dank der von Dr. Ponsti entwickelten Methode, womit der beidseitige Klumpfuss sehr gut behandelt wird.
Dank an Dr. Ponseti
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Thank you Dr, Ponseti! Our Daughter was an 8 of 10 bilateral clubfeet, the worst case our docs at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital had ever seen! If not for your method, who knows what our little girl would be doing. She is 4 now and told me today that she “can run a hundred miles in an hour”, she is fast and she can run, walk, stand, all things that she might never have been able to do if not for Dr Ponseti. Words can not express, but Thank you and Rest in Peace.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Vielen, vielen Dank Dr. Ponseti.
Ohne Ihre Idee der Klumpfußtherapie könnte unser 3,5 jähriger Sohn nicht so toll laufen.
Ich bin jeden Tag dankbar dafür!!!
In tiefer Betroffenheit – Familie Martin aus Deutschland
November 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Dr. Ponseti’s Hands
Our baby’s foot he takes in hand,
And our hearts he holds there, too…
With the crooked little clubfoot, that couldn’t go into a shoe.
With patience and love unmatched,
And hands skilled by the years,
He stretches ligaments, moves bones, and wipes away the tears.
His hands gently mold the plaster, and
A miracle — the baby sleeps!
The changes he makes now are for a lifetime, for keeps.
Finished, sending us home with the bar,
“Don’t worry. It will be fine.”
His hands have worked their magic; the rest is up to time.
And in the end, we’ll see
Beautiful footprints in the sand,
And our children will walk painlessly
Because of Dr. Ponseti’s hands.
— Pamela Karydas, Sept. 2000
November 18th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
This space is being used to write about the beneficial medical treatments received from Dr. Ignacio Ponseti.
I had the privilege to met him during my training in Anesthesiology and work whith him in the O.R.
Then showed me not only a soft spoken voice, but also a soft pair of hands performing surgery.
I am proud of that.
My sincere condolences to his family and the SUI community