Our story starts with a little boy named Sisoroth*, he was born a little over a year ago. His mother is an orphan, very young. 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. He has 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* needs 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.
We need to raise $50,000 before the end of the year.
Without your donations, we will have to turn down 25 women, and their babies. We won’t have the staff required to complete our mission.
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.
You can order our shoes, donate online, and we even made a fundraising kit so you can raise awareness in your community. 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.
*Names have been modified to respect our users' anonymity
Panha (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) says it’s easy to identify the most difficult moment of her life. This is her story, as told to Mother’s Heart social workers, who have been supporting her for the last year.
" I am twenty-four years old, the youngest of seven children.
In 2013, I completed 12th grade and my cousin told me about an organisation that offered scholarships for agriculture degree in Phnom Penh. So, I came to PP from Siem Reap to apply for the scholarship and was accepted. I was very proud.
I studied agriculture for two years and was in a student dorm which I met my boyfriend, who is now my husband. He is an orphan and was part of the same organisation that I got the scholarship from.
I became pregnant. As soon as I found out, I went home to tell my family and find support.
When I told them, I saw they were ashamed of me. They couldn't accept my baby. My older brother and my parents took me to a hospital to terminate my pregnancy. I was lucky. The hospital realised my family was forcing me to go along with the procedure. They refused to perform the abortion and I ran back to my school dorm in Phnom Penh.
I was so alone and sad that my family was unsupportive and embarrassed. My husband was very supportive but we were both just students. I was very lonely and depressed. The organisation that was supporting me through university told me to go to Mother’s Heart for counselling. My partner and I love each other and he was willing to marry me but I had no other support. We had no money, and my family had disowned me.
When I came to MH, they told me that they would accept me although I didn't fit their criteria of being single and pregnant. They said they saw my desire to become a great mother, to continue my studies, and have a good relationship with my partner. I was so grateful for the financial and emotional support.
One day the staff went to visit my family to do family mediation, but they said that the shame was still too strong for them. They gave me an ultimatum: if I wanted to go back to visit with my baby, I had to be married. When I heard this, I became very depressed and felt unworthy and lonely. They cared more about their reputation than they did about me or my baby.
My baby was born. He was beautiful. My husband and I were so happy. It helped heal my wounds and I vowed to be a good mother, and never to abandon him.
A few months later, our church helped us arrange a small wedding. I felt happy and content that day. I was starting my own family. My father and my older brother even came to our wedding. We are mending fences. I know it will take time to forgive each other, but we can do it.
I had my diploma. I know I can overcome the challenges that life gives me. My baby has been recently diagnosed with Down Syndrome. But Mother’s Heart is supporting me and I know that I will love him, he might be a little slow, but he is my heart. I enjoy his beautiful smile, and take him to the physiotherapist every week.
I am grateful for all the help that I was given by the organisations that God put on my path."
Dara* is a little boy who just left our care to be placed in a permanent foster family.
Phnom Penh
August 2017
Dear Dara*,
We write this story to let you know how you came to this world. You were born during the dry season in 2017 close to Phnom Penh.
Your mother’s name is Touch*. She came to us early in her pregnancy. She was 18 when she got pregnant with you.
She has a cognitive delay and her understanding of the world is very limited. Just like you, when you were 5 or 6 years old. She smiles a lot and is very gentle. She is thin, always wearing a beanie.
When she was small, she went to a school where she was well taken care of, with other children with disabilities. But once she turned 18, her mother, your grandmother, couldn’t find another establishment for her to go to. It wasn’t easy back then to find placements for adults with disabilities.
Your grandmother had to work full-time to make sure everyone was provided for. She had to leave your mother alone while she was at the factory.
A construction worker took advantage of your mother’s kindness and innocence. He regretted his actions and was convicted for his crime.
You stayed with Touch and your grandma for three days after you were born. After that, a lady named Bora (Mother’s Heart midwife) came to take you to us. She checked your weight and your height. She made sure you were healthy.
Touch came to see you often during the 4 months you were placed in our emergency foster care family. We were told that she often looked for you, but she could barely look after herself, and she knew you had to find a loving family.
You were growing up so fast. You drank an extra can of formula a month compared to the other children. Your cheeks were full and when you came to visit, your laugh and your smile filled our office with joy. You were a beautiful little boy.
You have to know that your mother loved you very much and she made sure you were going to a good family. She trusted us after the 4 months passed. We contacted CIF (Children In Families) and they found a forever family for you.Everything about your family, your history, your birth is in our files.
Know that you were loved.
We wish you a bright and beautiful future.
Mother’s Heart
*All names have been modified to respect our users’ anonymity
