What is Clubfoot? Damon Wayans opens up on living with debilitating health condition

Well-known actor Damon Wayans recently appeared on CBS Sunday Morning on October 20, 2024, addressing his experience of living with the complications resulting from clubfoot. For the unversed, clubfoot refers to a condition where a baby's foot is pointed in and down at birth.

The comedian addressed his condition by saying:

"I had operations, but still, it's like, I'm in pain. I just walk around with, like, a toothache in my foot. It's a constant."

Damon Wayans' interview was a part of promoting his upcoming sitcom, Poppa's House, which would premiere through CBS on October 21, 2024.

According to the show's official website, Wayans plays a talk show host and divorced father ("Poppa") whose views are challenged by a new female co-host at work. Damon also cares for his adult son while trying to pursue his passions and be a responsible father and husband.

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Damon Wayans and his health condition explained in detail

According to Mayo Clinic, clubfoot is a rare condition among babies and a child might have to walk with the help of the side or top of the foot if they don't get proper treatment for the same. This can lead to more complications, including where a child could face trouble to wear shoes.

Symptoms of clubfoot include the foot appearing upside down and the big toe or foot on one side looking shorter than the other. The calf muscles on the affected leg may also appear shorter. Clubfoot can be caused by genetic and environmental factors, often running in families with a history of the condition. Other risk factors include smoking during pregnancy and low levels of amniotic fluid.

Furthermore, a child's feet might get bent due to clubfoot, and in case the treatment is delayed, leading to the requirement of surgery. There could also be swelling and tenderness in the joints and the foot would also look different during the child's teenage years.

Compared to other diseases, clubfoot does not have a treatment. However, the complications can be reduced by avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug usage.

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Damon Wayans recalls his childhood and career in the interview

The Saturday Night Live star revealed in his latest interview with CBS Sunday Morning that he spent his childhood in New York City with nine more siblings, adding that all of them were living in the same apartment. He said that four siblings shared a room at the time.

He stated that despite living with a lot of problems, the siblings decided to "turn a difficult childhood into fuel for comic fire." Damon Wayans referred to the problems faced by his family in his stand-up performances and he addressed the same by saying:

"In my stand-up I talk about how my mother would tell us, 'There's no food; you can each have a little bit of toothpaste, so you have something in your stomach.' That's real."

He shared that his brother Keenan inspired him to pursue a career in Hollywood and was switching between two different jobs, including a standup comedian at the night and delivering mail at Paramount Studios. He said that although he left the delivery job, he later had to "beg" to get it back again.

Damon Wayans also spoke up on the time he shared the screen with Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop. The former also began appearing on Saturday Night Live and he said that Murphy also gave him a piece of advice after joining the sketch comedy show.

"He said, 'Write your own sketches. Otherwise you gonna be doing white people stuff, and you gonna hate it.' And he was right."

As mentioned, Damon Wayans will play the lead in Poppa's House. While the first episode will be released on October 21, the remaining four will premiere every week.