Our story starts with a little boy named Sisoroth*, he was born a little over a year ago. His mother is a very young orphan. His dad left when he was still in her womb. When he was born, Sisoroth* had a very small cranium. It instantly looked suspicious to our staff, and we sent him to see doctors to check that his development was going well.
The specialists we sent his mother to were not very helpful. She came back saying that one of them even told her that he had no brain. Another one said that he was “fine”.
But we never gave up.
We finally called a young Canadian doctor who was practicing in Phnom Penh for a year, and she was able to give us the contact of a doctor who had access to an MRI machine.
We finally got to get a full diagnosis, so we could support him and his mum. It was a microcephaly: signs and symptoms of microcephaly may include a smaller than normal head circumference that usually remains smaller than normal as the child grows, delayed motor and speech functions, mental retardation, balance and coordination problems, and other brain-related or neurological problems. There is no treatment to change the head size. Even though there is no cure, we researched his disability and knew that Sisoroth* needed regular physiotherapy and special care in order to develop his motor skills.
While at the hospital, the chief doctor came to us, and asked for our support. He had been trying to find families and placements for 20 children that were abandoned on the premises. All of them presented disabilities ranging from mental impairment to severe physical handicaps. Some had been living there for eight years, with no possibility of going outside. Years restricted to one small room without proper stimulation. It was heartbreaking.
We didn’t know how we could help at first. Our primary mission is to support women during a crisis pregnancy, and even though we partner with organisations that find permanent foster families, finding placement for 20 children seemed like an impossible task.
But when we visited the room the children were in, we knew we couldn’t just go home and forget their little faces. With no one to call “mama," with little love, and certainly not the care they needed.
Our team started talking to all of our partners. We spent hours on the phone, we met other NGOs, we spread the word.
Once again, we persisted.
The little ones were filling up our dreams, our nights and we believed that we were sent to help.
Thanks to our partners at Save The Children, at Mlup Russey, Sisters Of Mercy, CIF, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and many more, 15 children have been placed in permanent foster care, or relevant institutions.
We are proud to be part of a movement to make Cambodia a better place.
We know our work is not finished.
None of this would have been possible without your support.
You provide us with the necessary means to keep our operations running. You donate money, clothes, food, and moral support. It’s not easy to be where we are needed, but thanks to you, we provide assistance to more than 100 women and children every year.
Today, we need you more than ever.
You can change the lives of Sisoroth* who still needs weekly physiotherapy, of Panha* who we support in finding a great job (read the story on our blog), and ensure the future of many women and children that will need our services before the end of the year.
With as little as $20, you will provide a scan and antenatal checkup to a single mother. We know times are hard and we thank you for donating as much as you can to our cause.
To donate follow these links:
UK and US
http://bit.ly/2qAjlM8
AUSTRALIA
http://bit.ly/2QiY6N1
CAMBODIA
You can transfer money through Wing to our phone number, 012602384, and text us the password.
*Names have been modified to respect our users' anonymity
“While women with disabilities face similar levels of violence from partners to women without disabilities, they experience much higher levels of emotional, physical and sexual violence by other family members. Women with disabilities [are] much more likely to be insulted, made to feel bad about themselves, belittled, intimidated, and [are] five times more likely to sexual violence at the hands of a family member. They [are] also less likely to disclose and seek help following violence.”
IWDA (International Women's Development Agency), January 2017.
Sovann is a 13 year old teenager who lives in a poor family in the Battambang province. Her family faces hardship as her mother is very sick, and can’t afford treatment. Because of medical bills, they had to borrow money, and ended up losing their own land. Along with her 10 siblings, she had to move around a lot, ending up in a shack, where they all live together.
Sovann has a mental delay that prevented her from going to school. So, at a very young age, she accompanied her mother in her duties, selling rice cakes at the market. Sovann enjoys going to the market with her mother. She likes to watch the ballet of motos, and pedestrians.
Last year, as she turned 13, her mother needed her to work late. Sovann took a motodop to bring back the rest of the rice cakes. On the way home, he stopped. He abused and raped her, and threatened to kill her should she talk. She didn’t understand what had happened and kept quiet.
Months later, her mother realised her bleeding had stopped, and her belly was getting rounder. She took her to health clinic. They referred Sovann to us. Our midwife and social worker in Battambang visited her at home, in her village.
She was already in her second trimester. They counselled the mother, and referred her to a partner organization that helped them convict the perpetrator. He is currently in jail.
Sovann and her family are given ongoing support by MHO, making sure they receive food stipend, counselling, and everything our pregnancy program has to offer.
MHO is still the only pregnancy center offering support for single women in Cambodia.
In recent years, the number of teenage girls experiencing pregnancies has risen by 50%. Amongst rape victimes, almost 40% are between the age of 12-18. One of these girls was referred to us from a partner NGO, her name is Daevy.
Daevy is a 14 years old girl. One day, coming home from school, one of her neighbour assaulted her, and threatened to hurt or kill her if she said anything. She went home, and kept silent.
7 months later, she went a health clinic for a checkup and they discovered her pregnancy. When she first found out she was pregnant she was scared and confused. She felt pain as she didn't understand why this was happening to her. She didn't understand women's health, or bodies.
She was scared the baby wouldn't come out: “Babies are so big and I am so small”.
When we first met her she was frightened and shy. She depended on others, afraid to go anywhere alone. MHO provided counselling, support, medical care, and explained what was happening to her, and what would happen. She was not alone.
Daevy told us: “Mother’s Heart gave me a place to live while I was pregnant, they helped me with food, clothes, and medical appointments. They support me, when I am sad, I can call my counsellor. I feel secure and safe with them. It is fun to live in the women’s home with other moms. I feel happier.”
After our staff mediated with the family, she was able to go back home with her daughter. She has returned to school, studying in grade 11, and she studies extra classes after hours. She helps and spends time with her baby in the morning and at night and has kept up breastfeeding. Her mother helps watch the baby while she's at school.
She is a proud mother despite her young age, and will be able to finish school. She is no longer the shy girl we met but is confident, independent, and a wonderful mother. She said she feels supported by her family and MHO and feels secure. She loves to ride to school alone and not need someone constantly with her. In the future she wants to become a primary school teacher to help and support other girls in similar situations.
Young girls like Daevy benefit from our pregnancy support program, and this week, as we celebrate women, you can make sure they don’t experience an unintended pregnancy alone. Donate to Mother’s Heart and give them the chance to become empowered mothers.
