By: Norton Healthcare May 5, 2026
By: Norton Healthcare
May 5, 2026
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
When DeLanna and Ryne Williams of Bowling Green, Kentucky, were expecting their second child and went for a 20-week anatomy scan, concerns from the scan led to additional imaging. Soon after, they learned that their baby, Cory, had a medical condition that could be identified before birth.
They were referred to Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Bowling Green for a 4D ultrasound (a 3D ultrasound in real time). Cory was diagnosed with clubfoot, also called talipes equinovarus. With this condition, the foot is severely curved inward and will not allow the child to walk normally unless it is treated and corrected.
“I was overwhelmed and wanted to understand what this meant for our son,” DeLanna said. “My husband is a physical therapist, so he had more knowledge and a good grasp on the reality of the diagnosis.”
Clubfoot is a relatively common birth defect, happening in about 1 in 1,000 babies. It is more common in boys than girls.
After Cory’s delivery, the family was referred to Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville. At just 3 weeks old, Cory had his first appointment with James E. Moyer, M.D., pediatric orthopedic medicine physician.
“That first introduction and appointment with Dr. Moyer healed my ‘momma heart’ worries with his compassion and expertise,” DeLanna said. “He explained every detail and step of Cory’s individualized care plan that would follow the Ponseti method.”
Clubfoot treatment, including the Ponseti method, begins soon after birth.
The method involves two main phases, correction and bracing. The first phase uses a series of casts to reshape and move the foot into the correct position along with a minor heel cord lengthening procedure prior to the final cast.
“Every Tuesday, we would head to the clinic for Cory’s correction casting,” DeLanna said. “Our little guy had a new color cast each week as his foot gradually moved outward. After six weeks, his foot was in the correct position for a heel cord tenotomy.”
Heel cord tenotomy is a minor procedure, during which the Achilles tendon is cut to help lengthen the tendon. This helps release the foot from a stuck-down position.
“Surgery day, my husband and I felt heard and valued,” DeLanna said. “Dr. Moyer was intentional, explaining and drawing each step of the surgery once more to ease our minds. Dr. Moyer was in the surgery room with the surgical team that conducted the tenotomy. Within 10 minutes, our little guy was in recovery.”
After the tenotomy procedure, Cory received his final cast. Three weeks later, the cast was removed and the second-phase bracing began.
Bracing helps maintain the corrected foot position after casting. Cory wore his brace full time (23 hours a day) for the first three months.
“The whole family got into a rhythm,” DeLanna said. “Cory learned to roll over, crawl and sit up with his boots and bar [brace] in place. Each phase required patience and trust, but Dr. Moyer walked alongside us through it all. I could easily send him messages and videos via [Norton] MyChart if I had questions, and he always responded quickly.”
Weekly clinic visits eventually became monthly, then every three months, then every six months. Now, Cory has graduated to yearly appointments and wears his boots and bar brace only at night.
It’s been 3 1/2 years, and now Cory is playing soccer. He is known to his teachers for having one speed: fast.
“It is always rewarding to see your patients doing well, and the reason Cory is doing so well is because his parents have done such a great job,” Dr. Moyer said. “I always say that correcting a club foot should have an extremely high success rate, but keeping the correction is a challenge. Bracing is hard, and we ask a lot of these families, but it is critical to a successful outcome. Cory’s success is a testament to the great job and vigilance of his parents with bracing.”
The combination means Cory gets to ride his balance bike and enjoy playing outside with his big brother.
“Now, we are about eight months away from graduating from treatment completely, a milestone that once felt so far away,” DeLanna said. “If it were not for Norton Children’s, Cory would not be walking today, much less running and playing soccer. We are beyond grateful for Dr. Moyer, who not only treated our son but supported our entire family every step of the way. Because of the exceptional care he’s received, you can’t even tell he was born with a clubfoot.”