Sunday, May 10, 2015

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in North America.

I want to take a moment to wish all of you mother's a very happy and special day.

If you are a child or grown child and still have a mother I hope you will make a time to let her know how much you appreciate what she has done for you. Not everyone has that opportunity and not every one has a good mom but many are very blessed to have had a good and loving mother. 

I was fortunate to be blessed with a very loving mother.  One who took her responsibilities of love, care, concern and guidance for her family and other people very seriously. I was never unsure about mother's care and protection and she did her very best for all her children and for the children of others. For these blessings, I am very grateful.

She is now in the twilight years of her life and unable to do much.  Even so she still tries to think of others and show them she cares. Mostly though I now take care of her with the help of my youngest brother.  My nephew (my departed sister's son) also cherishes his grandmother as she helped to raise him.  Even though he is very busy he tries to make time to lift her spirits and give her the motivation to keep on living.

Mother's Day seems to be an appropriate time to let you know about Baby Fidelis and her mother who live in Kenya.

Mothers who live and toil in developing countries have it so hard.  This family is of very humble means and the mother finds it difficult to find work to care for her child but she does the best she can.

In Kenya when you have a disabled child, people become very suspicious of you.
Not only do you have to worry about how to take care of your child with limited means and no government support system but you have to contend with whispers, ridicule and accusations for people still think that you have been cursed or involved in witchcraft somehow and that is why your child is born with a disability.

Parents often hide their children and lock them away out of sight due to the stigma but also sometimes to protect them from others.

Baby Fidelis was born with a defect called large frontal growth (Encephalocele). This is a rare disorder that occurs in about 1 in 5000 births worldwide. If the child has surgery soonest, she has a better chance of recovery and normal development.

As you can see from her photos below this growth is very large and she needs surgery urgently.
She is expected to undergo reconstruction surgery in Canada but first the family advocate in Kenya is trying to raise the funds needed for several of them to travel to Canada and remain and live in Canada while the child undergoes surgery and recovers.

Can you help?

Just think if this was your baby or your grandchild, what would you do to help her?
Her mother is very poor and believe me if she could fly to Canada now on her own means she would gladly do it. 
But she needs our help.

They are SO CLOSE to having the needed funds to undertake the travel.







Baby Fidelis with her mother & family advocate, Joseph Wanjau, Hope Foundation


Time is of the essence and we need to do what we can now, not next week or the week after.
As the growth gets bigger it creates more pressure in the head for this young child.

Thank you for reading and responding.

14 comments:

jabbott said...

I agree that we all need to do our bit and help this child I have donated and will again. I really feel for the child she needs our help so much. She deserves a normal life!

Joyful said...

Thank you so much, Joy! As a mom, you really understand this child's plight. May you be blessed for your kindness. xx

My Garden Diaries said...

Such a beautiful post and how wonderful that you have such an amazing mother! And thank you for continuing to pass on this story of this sweet little one friend.......this is what matters and we should all step up and pay it forward. Wishing you a blessed week....and I pray that this sweetie gets the care that she needs to live a full and happy life....Nicole xo

Joyful said...

Thank you Nicole. You are a dear heart and you warm my heart by taking time to read and comment on this precious child's need. Blessings. xx

Joy said...

I called my mother yesterday, but sad to say that she didn't hear me on the phone. Good thing that my sister was there to explain to her what I said.
She too needs much help nowadays. Since we are miles apart, I just can pray for her and send her monthly support.
I join you in prayer for baby Fidelis. God can do a miracle!

psychelyn said...

A great post for mother's day. You are blessed for having such a great Mom. I'll continue praying for baby Fidelis and will do what I can to help a bit.

Joyful said...

Joy, I'm so glad you still have a mom and even though she could not hear you, it is wonderful that you have a sister who could let her know about your call. I thank you so much too for prayers and for the monthly support. Joseph, the family advocate has a heavy burden with so many children that he is trying to help. Many of the families have no help other than Joseph and what he can organize on their behalf. Many hands joining together can help so much. May God bless you!

Joyful said...

Hello dear Lynn, yes I am very blessed to have a great mom. I thank you too for your prayers and for whatever you can do to help. If we all did a little bit it will help baby Fidelis and others like her. God bless you and keep you and your husband. and take care of your every need. xx

John's Island said...

Hi Joyful, Surely you will be blessed for all your efforts to help Baby Fidelis. I just used your link and made my 3rd donation for her. I will continue to pray that the trip will be done and the surgery will be successful. You sure wrote a wonderful post for Mother's Day. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Joyful said...

John, surely you are one of the kindest people I know. I am honoured to know you :-) Thank you so much for helping Baby Fidelis and for praying for her and her family. You have a wonderful week too!

Pietro Brosio said...

Joyful, this is a great post for the Mother's Day. We are praying for the sweet Baby Fidelis and we'll go to the link of the donation page.
Have a nice Wednesday!

emilyclare said...

What a lovely tribute to your mum and thank you for sharing the plight of this special baby girl - praying her needs are met above and beyond. Thank you always for your encouraging comments on my blog xx Emily

Joyful said...

Pietro and Cynthia, grazie mille for your kind words, your prayers and your donation for Baby Fidelis!

Joyful said...

Dear Emily, thank you for taking time to visit and leave an encouraging word. I know how limited your time is at the moment and so your prayers are extra special. May you be blessed. xx

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