Some of the sister missionaries had made the blankets and another had received a suitcase full when her son visited earlier that month that had been donated by her home ward. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.
Sister Jan Taylor and Sister Denise Heap (Medical doctor's wife) opening one of the boxes.
Sister Jan Taylor (husband is Auditor) with some of the women getting checked in.
We don't know if this is a couple or father and daughter, but they were checking her in. She is wearing a hospital issue sack sort of gown and holding her blanket.
Sister Ann Koelliker (husband is counselor in Area Presidency) and Sister Wells
Sister Jolene Watson (Elder Watson is a counselor in Area Presidency) with some of the new moms.
After blankets were given to these mothers they held them up for a picture. The women are admitted to the hospital and are delivered by a midwife or by a doctor if a C-section is needed.
Sister Parmley, Sister Wells, and Sister Sutterfield (standing in the back center) with beautiful newborns.
These mothers are getting their babies dressed and will be released soon. Sadly we were told that sometimes a woman who has no other choice will simply leave her baby on the lawn as she leaves the hospital.
Some of the sweet little ones. The little hat on the one below is part of her new gift of blanket and hat.
This baby was well dressed; maybe the outfit was a gift or maybe the mom was a little better off than the others.The mothers were sweet and appreciative and we gave 150 blankets that day. I left moved and grateful for the blessing of care and attention my own daughters receive as they are able to give birth in our lovely hospitals at home. And yet I felt grateful that these women at least have medical attention and someplace to go when they have so little resources. Another powerful insight into the place we live -- TIA (this is Africa)
8 comments:
Wow. There are so many women in those pictures. Do they just border the sides of the rooms until they check out? They aren't able to lay down? I cannot imagine.
Oh Manna. It just breaks my heart to see that. What kind of lawsuits and crankiness would be seen in our hospitals if we sent mothers home hours after they just delivered? Instead we see smiling faces and gratitude for simple blankets given to these women. Is there more that we could do to help? Can I get my Young Women involved?
There were beds and there were a few women laying down in one ward we went in who had just delivered but otherwise the beds were empty and the women were in chairs as the picture shows. I was also surprised to see the empty beds and wondered how long they are allowed to use them. One gal was on the floor between the beds wrapped snugly in a blanket. I wondered if she was more comfortable there - more used to laying on the ground. She chose a baby blanket and asked me to put it up on the bed.
Yes, young women and others can help. Sister Heap's blankets were donated by the young women in her ward. Her son brought them when he came to visit. Getting them here is the challenge. Sister Wright has set up a fund at home where people donate $ and she buys the material here and makes the blankets and HATS. (People here wear head coverings! Babies almost always have hats on their heads and men and women too.) Sister Wright even bought a serger here in order to work faster. She has probably made a hundred blankets by now. Sister Taylor comes home every after noon and sews blankets. When there is no blanket for the babies the women will sometimes take the babies home wrapped in the clean green plastic backed squares that are used under patients after delivery.
I thought, like you, that at home not only do we not always appreciate the care as we should, but we complain if we don't receive all that we think we deserve. These women didn't expect more and really were grateful for the care and especially the surprise gifts we brought.
I asked some of them what they were naming their babies. I couldn't understand the African names, but the meanings they told me were Honor, Gift, Wisdom, and Blessing. I was humbled.
We would love to help too. Such abundance here in comparison! Wow. I bet you could do a little sewing yourself if you had time! Thanks for documenting and sharing these wonderful experiences with those of us at home.
I've said it before, but this was a poignant reminder for me. What do we really have to complain about? I'm wearing my bracelet again. It's time to get grateful.
Amazing, amazing. It doesn't feel right to say anything else.
What will happen to the babies left on the grass?
Oh, what amazing experiences you are having and it is such a privilege to read about it. Thanks for sharing.
it's hard to know what to add to the sentiments already expressed, so i won't. but i wanted you to know i love you and i was here.
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