From Mother's Heart, with love

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