“Does anyone want them?”
Last week my pastor and his wife adopted a baby from my orphanage. They weren’t one of my children though and I asked one of the workers why noone comes to our room to adopt babies. She looked at the babies and said, “Would any one want them?” My heart sank…”I do.” My heart was sad because that is the attitude of doctors and workers here. Parents of handicapped children are told that it would be better to leave their children at the hospital and not try to take them home. Fortunately many parents do take their children home but many other parents don’t and just sign away their rights. On rare occassions the mother continues to come and visit her baby. She just feels helpless to take care of the child. I have such a child in my group now. She is a precious, sweet girl. So cute! I hear that her mother comes on Saturdays. I am considering to go on a Saturday in hopes she will be there and start showing her things that she could do with her. My desire is to see her mother change her mind and take her home.
I am always trying to find seminars for me to attend when I come to the States to help me work with my Down’s children. Unfortunately most of these seminars are in the summer and I come home in the spring or winter. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Last week one of the missionary doctors here called me and invited me to a medical conference being held this week for workers of handicapped children. What an answer to pray. Instead of my trying to find a way to get training in the States at a high cost, God has sent a team here to teach a whole spectrum of care and it is free. Last week a team of 22 medical professionals came to
Ukraine and taught this seminar in Western Ukraine and this week the conference will be here starting tomorrow. A physical therapist from the group, who specializes in treating children with Down’s sydrome, went with me to visit my babies. It was great to see her work with them so that I got more of an idea how to help them. Wish she could be around for more sessions. But God is good. I got more practical help today in 1 ½ hours than I ever have in an official course. God is good.
What a blessing! That you would have the opportunity to go to the seminar right there!! Sara is now working with a 9 year old boy who is autistic for several hours a week. She is passionate about helping Downs and autistic children. She was hired by the parents, but is actually PAID by the state. It has been very interesting for her because she works with him in the home and so observes a lot of the family dynamics. I love being able to read your Blog.