Rescued ?
Alick was one of my favorites. A loving, sweet baby he had an easy smile and endless enthusiasm for life. He made us laugh.
Alick (at 21 months old) was discharged to his home village into the care of his grandparents. They said they would care for him well.
Six weeks later, at his first follow-up visit he had lost 7 ounces. LOST 7 ounces. Alick was filthy and unhappy. His smile had disappeared. We suggested moving him to an aunt's house where it was reported that she had adequate food. Grandpa said OK. He was moved a short time after that.
At our next visit, 3 months later, Alick had lost another 2 ounces. This is a serious pattern in a healthy toddler. The aunt said he was a “picky eater” and refused food at times. He had suffered from malaria. They said he was sleeping under the net we had provided but, when we asked to see it, they admitted they didn't have it. We had given him a mattress (4” foam) upon discharge as well but that was nowhere to be found. We instructed the aunt on proper feeding and emphasized its vital importance. She nodded, saying she would do it.
Two months later (5 months after discharge) we made another follow-up visit. Alick had gained 1 ounce but was still 6 ounces under discharge weight. We found him malnourished and unhappy. He wouldn't play or interact and cried easily. We discussed another move but Grandpa would not hear of it.
Yesterday (five months later) we returned to visit Alick again. He was back with his grandparents but not doing well. Both he and his clothes were filthy. His hair was brittle and his abdomen bulging. His puffy hands and feet were another sign of malnutrition. He had suffered from a second case of malaria but there was still no net. The family water bucket was sitting next to a brooding hen in the bedroom where Alick and granny slept. The family's food was in the other room surrounded by the rest of the chickens and ducks. Everything was kept inside “to protect from thieves”. The house was a 2 room mud structure with no windows. There was no electricity in the entire village and the bore hole where they got water was a 15 minute walk. None of this is unusual. However, the extreme poverty of this family allowed for no food for this child. Alick was slowly starving to death.
It's hard not to feel totally hopeless in this situation. It's hard to keep going. What can we possibly do to keep this from happening again, and again, and again? I don't cry any more. I have built a fence around my heart so that these feelings can't get in. I can function better that way. I cry at night when I think about it. I try not to think about it.
(Next: Another God Surprise!)
Alick (at 21 months old) was discharged to his home village into the care of his grandparents. They said they would care for him well.
Six weeks later, at his first follow-up visit he had lost 7 ounces. LOST 7 ounces. Alick was filthy and unhappy. His smile had disappeared. We suggested moving him to an aunt's house where it was reported that she had adequate food. Grandpa said OK. He was moved a short time after that.
At our next visit, 3 months later, Alick had lost another 2 ounces. This is a serious pattern in a healthy toddler. The aunt said he was a “picky eater” and refused food at times. He had suffered from malaria. They said he was sleeping under the net we had provided but, when we asked to see it, they admitted they didn't have it. We had given him a mattress (4” foam) upon discharge as well but that was nowhere to be found. We instructed the aunt on proper feeding and emphasized its vital importance. She nodded, saying she would do it.
Two months later (5 months after discharge) we made another follow-up visit. Alick had gained 1 ounce but was still 6 ounces under discharge weight. We found him malnourished and unhappy. He wouldn't play or interact and cried easily. We discussed another move but Grandpa would not hear of it.
Yesterday (five months later) we returned to visit Alick again. He was back with his grandparents but not doing well. Both he and his clothes were filthy. His hair was brittle and his abdomen bulging. His puffy hands and feet were another sign of malnutrition. He had suffered from a second case of malaria but there was still no net. The family water bucket was sitting next to a brooding hen in the bedroom where Alick and granny slept. The family's food was in the other room surrounded by the rest of the chickens and ducks. Everything was kept inside “to protect from thieves”. The house was a 2 room mud structure with no windows. There was no electricity in the entire village and the bore hole where they got water was a 15 minute walk. None of this is unusual. However, the extreme poverty of this family allowed for no food for this child. Alick was slowly starving to death.
It's hard not to feel totally hopeless in this situation. It's hard to keep going. What can we possibly do to keep this from happening again, and again, and again? I don't cry any more. I have built a fence around my heart so that these feelings can't get in. I can function better that way. I cry at night when I think about it. I try not to think about it.
(Next: Another God Surprise!)
posted by Paul and Darlene Heller at 1:04 PM
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