Thandi’s Story
Thandi was born just before Christmas 2004 at a poor government
hospital outside of Johannesburg.
In February, David was looking at an empty bed in Baby
Haven and thought, “there is a baby out there who
is supposed to be here with us.” He decided to go
to this hospital and remind the social workers that Baby
Haven had beds for babies. At the hospital, David was approached
by several employees who knew he was the Director of Baby
Haven, each saying the same thing: “there is a child
here who was born healthy, abandoned by the mother but now
is almost dead. Can’t you take her?” |
|
In a system overwhelmed with
orphans, Thandi, resident in a hospital ward, was not considered
to be “in crisis.” But she had given up hope
and had begun to refuse food. She was sick with respiratory
illness contracted from another child and had badly infected
bed sores. She had gained less then 1 kg (2.2 lbs) in 3
months.
When Thandi arrived at Baby Haven, her health improved
daily, and she grew to be a wonderful, easy-to-please little
girl. Eight months later, a childless Johannesburg couple
of the same cultural heritage as Thandi took her home with
them. |
