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VOVA APPEAL |
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Vova was born very
prematurely and with a serious digestive
problem and his mother, who is an
alcoholic, abandoned him at the
hospital. |
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Vova is now just
4 years old. I first met him in
the summer of 2004 at the
abandoned babies’ ward in
Borovliani Hospital. I was
particularly drawn to Vova
because, unlike the other babies
in the ward who were clamouring
for the attention of visitors,
he was quiet and expressionless
in his cot and ignored all the
noise around him. |
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He looked so isolated
and sad and seemed to have given up on
life. I picked him up and started
playing tickling games with him and
there was a miraculous transformation.
He became animated, giggly and
responsive. It was as though he had been
‘switched on’.
Spending 24 hours a day in a cot,
enclosed by bars like a cage, with no
stimulation, cuddles or loving physical
contact was slowly killing Vova
emotionally.
I felt I had to keep in
touch with him on my visits and let him
know that someone cared. In November
2004, after 22 months in a cot, Vova was
moved to an orphanage. Since that time
he has been moved a further 4 times
either within the orphanage to different
groups or between orphanages. This must
have just added to his insecurity and
confusion and affected his development.
Vova is undersized, has no speech,
immature mobility and we believe he is
also deaf. Whenever I go to Belarus I
visit Vova. The orphanage staff express
surprise that I want to see him when he
is “just a cabbage and there are many
more appealing children there”.
So, why do I want to continue my
involvement with Vova? Who can really
explain the chemistry in a relationship?
I love him. And I see such a change in
him when he sees me, such an
enthusiastic response to the attention
given to him. I see such potential which
I know will not be nurtured by those who
see him as a “cabbage”. I want Vova to
grow up knowing that someone loved and
cared for him and that he is valued. |
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We hope soon to find a
foster family for Vova who will give him
a future. |
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We hope soon to
find a foster family for Vova
who will give him a future. Then
some of his disabilities can be
assessed and helped. All this,
of course will cost money. In
the meantime Vova’s current
orphanage has asked for help in
supplying nappies for him as he
is still not clean or dry.
Responding to this appeal keeps
the door open for us to continue
to visit him at a time when
manyorphanages are becoming
“closed” to visitors. |
Photograph courtesy of Chris
Dade |
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Any help you are able to
give for both the current and future
needs of Vova will be greatly
appreciated and will be wisely used. |
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Thank you
Barbara Messenger |
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NB. £10 will buy
approximately 70 nappies in Belarus this
is infinitely cheaper than the cost of
transporting them from Britain. |
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Please go to:
http://www.justgiving.com/leavesofhopevova and
donate online |
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