Nine-year-old E.Aligerma, a girl from Mongolia, has undergone unique surgery followed by therapy to treat arthrogryposis, a condition that leads to stiff joints.

E.Aligerma, or “Ali,” is like any other 9-year-old girl. Her favorite thing to do is play with Barbies and her friends.Her favorite Barbie is the one who bends her arms and legs. It’s all Ali wants to be able to do. “To get surgery for my legs to be straight and my arms to be straight and working more,” Ali said.

Dr. David Feldman, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach in Florida operated on her. It is the only place in the world to offer the operation to make her joints less stiff and straighten her knees. It’s also a pro-bono operation.

“Before New Year’s, she’ll be walking,” Feldman said. “She’s strong. Not every kid is as strong as Ali is, mentally and physically.”

The ultimate goal is to get her back to Mongolia within six months.