Samey came to us late in her pregnancy. She is a young woman, with beautiful dark eyes, that reflected a life that was not always kind to her. Her baby bump was barely showing, but she was already in her last trimester when we met her. She had the usual aches and pains but the check-up and ultrasound showed nothing uncommon.
When she started going into labour, her sister took her to the hospital and stayed with her. Mother's Heart social worker, Somphors, and our midwife, Sreytouch, checked on her regularly. They made sure both nurses and doctors looked after her well. Hospitals are overcrowded and sometimes, their staff can be overwhelmed and forget to check on their patients.
Her delivery was long and she struggled through it. Our staff kept regular contact with her sister as she was getting weaker, losing the strength to keep pushing. Her eyes looked tired, the sweat on her forehead was making her hair wet. Her pillow was damp. Her eyes were starting to look hazy. Monitors showed that both mother and baby were in distress.
The doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section. Samey lost a lot of blood and needed multiple blood transfusions. After surgery, she lost consciousness. We didn't know if her baby was going to meet his mother.
Will he know the warmth of his mum's arms? Will he grow up in his own family? What would happen to that newborn child?
She finally regained consciousness after three painfully long days.
Then, she was in and out of hospital still not recovering. After multiple blood tests, doctors discovered that she contracted a rare heart condition that could only be diagnosed during or after delivery. She spent the next few weeks recovering.
Mother's Heart helped with all her medical expenses and assisted her with food during her hospital stay, hospitals don't cater for their patients in Cambodia. She will probably never fully recover her strength, her heart functioning at 30%, but she knows that our doors remain open should she need advice, support and love.
Jary is a mum in her mid-twenties. She came to us wearing her pyjamas. If you ever come to Cambodia, you will see these colourful pyjamas on many women. Some with Hello Kitty designs, others with hearts and shapes.
Hers were purple. We could see she just bought them, trying to make the best impression. She was smiling, but her eyes were scared and little wrinkles of fear were showing on her forehead. Jary has physical and mental disabilities. She puts on a brave smile, but when our social workers speak too fast, she sometimes looks lost and sad. Jary found herself all alone. She became pregnant with a man she thought loved her. He had told her that he would never leave her, that they would spend their lives together. She told us how she felt whole and content when with him. Everything seemed fine, despite her disabilities, she thought she had found her soulmate.
In Cambodia, there are no laws that provide women with alimony, and the justice system doesn't have the manpower to case every father that desert their families.
Jary is pregnant. Her heart is broken. When the father found out she was expecting, he left her. Not understanding how or why this man had left without a word, without a note, without even a goodbye... she resorted to crying. He left her with a child, but also a void inside. Her mother talked to the village chief, and they both came to us with the hope that we could provide support, comfort and non-judgement. Jary works in a factory and her boss is happy with her work, but because of her mental delays, she need help to oversee her finances and making plans. While she wants to keep and raise her child, she can't do it alone. Her family will help her and our team will support them to do this. We provided counselling, family mediation and love. Jary will continue to work and her mum will care for the child. We will provide food allowance, medical and financial aid. A few weeks ago, we found out that she was expecting a baby girl. The scans showed her fingers and we were able to see a smile on the little face. That smile suddenly was able to spread on Jary's lips. It was amazing to see her smile again. Jary will have communication with her daughter and be able to see how she grows and prospers. Her daughter will have a relationship with her and be able to be held in her mother's arms and feel her unfailing love.
The grandma will provide the child needs as Jary isn't able to do: what do it with sickness, create a living space with hygiene, plan for her to go to school, etc. We are proud to have made it possible for this family to stay together and prevent that little girl from growing up in an institution. We are proud to know that we can count on your encouragement and assistance to make this a reality.
We are proud to count you as a supporter, and we want you to know that your donation is making a difference. You are making a difference. We are doing it together. Thank you.
Mother's Heart want to let you know what a difference you've made in the lives of so many women and children. You have helped 246 beneficiaries through family reconciliation, counselling and our pregnancy support program. No children born in our care has been institutionalised. Thanks to your generosity, baby Chanti* and her mom Mina* have been able to have a safe delivery and bond together as a family. This has changed their future and allowed this little baby to be raised and loved by her mother. Not only that, you have given Mina the chance to provide for her child, so she can later go to school, and enjoy a real childhood. Your thoughtfulness has made a real difference in their lives in addition to making Cambodia a better place by giving a future for children, free of trafficking and extreme poverty. We are proud to count you as our donor and supporter and look forward to continue this great relationship for years to come. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, With all our Love. MH Staff
