The holiday season is a time for thinking of others and of giving. Yes - it's hard to think about giving as much in these hard economic times. We all feel the pinch these days... but let me ask you a question...
What do you really want for Christmas this year? What are you giving your child this year?
Do you think you'll get it? Have you already purchased that special present for your child(ren)?
I'm happy if at least a few of your Christmas wishes will be coming true this year :o)
Now... it's uncomfortable to think of others who are not as lucky. After all, who wants to have a taste of "harsh reality" during "the most wonderful time of the year?" Maybe you're already doing your part to help out with Toys for Tots or a local Angel Tree. If you are, that's fantastic! But... we are very lucky in the United States! Our government does its best (sure - sometimes they fall short... but they try) to provide for children who are without parents for one reason or another. The children can get Medicaid, enough to eat, an education and even therapies for those with disabilities. Can I just say - I feel VERY lucky to live in a country that does its best to care for children in need!
But there are many countries which, for what ever reason, don't or can't. Outdated misconceptions prevail and orphans are considered second-class citizens. Orphans with disabilities... worthless.
Let me tell you a Christmas story...
This is Elizabeth.
Is she adorable or what? Just like The Skink, Elizabeth has Down syndrome, but in Russia where Elizabeth was born, doctors tell the parents of babies with Down syndrome that their child will never be worth anything, and that they will be ostracized if they choose to keep such a child... and therefore most children with any kind of disability is given up at birth.
Elizabeth was abandoned at birth and put into an orphanage. With her sparkling personality and generous nature, she made friends with the other children. She loved to feed and rock the dolls in the play room. Elizabeth was potty trained and knew how to dress herself. But then Elisabeth became to old to stay at the baby house.
One day someone came and took sweet, innocent Elizabeth to a new place. A mental institution. They shaved her head so nobody would have to care for her beautiful hair, placed her in a crib with no toys, and walked away. Because of budget shortages, it is common for one caretaker to be assigned to about 3 rooms of 20 people. If Elizabeth tried to climb out to explore her new surroundings, somebody would have come and tethered her to the bars of her crib to prevent her from climbing out. Nobody would have time to watch the children... only to provide the very bare essentials.
You can only imagine how frightened Elizabeth was! No more friends to play with... only rows of cribs... and the only sound? The screams of psychotic adults housed in the same building, and the weak, frightened cries of other lonely, confused children. Nobody holds the children. Nobody speaks to the children. A huge percentage of the children who are transferred die within only 16 months!
If you feel VERY brave, check out this video from inside a Serbian mental institution. Be warned, it is not easy to watch. The video was produced a number of years ago (almost 10 years ago, I believe) and the hope was that by raising awareness, the Eastern European countries including Russia and Serbia would make improvements. Unfortunately, the economy world-wide has only gotten worse, and the conditions remain the same. There is even a rumor that the government may not be able to pay for heat for these institutions this winter, making the situation even more dire.
This Christmas Elizabeth will not get a DS game system. She won't get a rocking horse, new clothes or a doll. She won't get anything at all. The only thing in the world this little girl wants is for someone to love her... to mean something to someone.
If this child and so many other children just like her don't mean something to you and to me, their existence on this earth could flicker by virtually unnoticed. The hardest thing of all is that there are so many families here in the US who would love nothing more than to hold this little girl, and to love her. They just can't afford the up-front fees to adopt.
So I ask you... please help a child. Please let one of these children mean something to you. To sweeten the deal, Patti of A Perfect Lily is offering an iPad for someone who donates to one of two children she is helping raise funds for. Every last dollar helps! Please remember that!
Please visit Patti's Blog for the rules and a chance to win. Someone's life depends on it!
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beautifully written- thank you SO much. oxPatti
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