By Olga Sergeeva | Project Communications Officer
The Indian summer is upon us here in Ukraine and we hope you enjoy the warm autumn days as well. As this most exciting part of the autumn approaches, we are super-eager to tell you about all of the latest success stories of the Emergency Fostering project. And here comes one of the most amazing ones! It is about a case when foster care did not just help to save a family for a child, but reunited it emotionally and strengthened it.
As Nadia gave birth at the age of 13, she and even her own mother were not prepared to accept a baby-girl into the family. First of all, there was no physical possibility for them to take care of a newborn, since the grandmother of the latter would have to work days, in order to support children and Nadia had school classes to attend. What is more, neither the young mother, nor the young granny were emotionally ready to comprehend and realize their new responsibilities and challenges they had to face.
Being desperate, Nadia and her mom had even considered giving up the baby, but, luckily, medical staff of the maternity clinic told them about the possibility of placing both girls in a foster family.
“She was sure very young and could not immediately accept her new social role, the role of a mother. However, in the foster family Nadia was away from all the factors that constantly stressed her back home: anxiousness about not being ready to take care of a little baby, fear of going back to school and having her colleagues find out about her early motherhood and so on. Now Nadia was in a friendly, safe and comfortable environment, where she started to learn what it is like to be a mom and became connected to her child”, – the project manager Larysa, commented on the case.
When Nadia and the baby returned home, everything came together. It was decided that Nadia’s grandparents would take care of their grand-granddaughter for the first years giving the 13-year-old the ability to go back to school and receive proper education. The couple lives in another town, which provides Nadia with an opportunity to avoid unnecessary talks and prejudices about her. However, they still live close enough, so Nadia is also able to visit her child.
The good of the outcome truly concerns everyone in Nadia’s family.
Firstly, Nadia’s grandparents are thrilled about having a baby in their house. “She is a little angel, our sunshine! I do not know what we would do without having her around”, – shared Nadia’s grandmother while talking about her grand-granddaughter.
Secondly, Nadia became a real parent to her small daughter, while being able to continue studying and getting full use of her potential.
Finally, Nadia’s mother had time to figure out her life as well. In the end, she found a job where she could work fewer hours, in order to pay more attention to her child and grandchild. But most importantly, the beautiful baby-girl did not become an orphan. Instead, even before being able to walk and talk, she has revitalized emotional connections and love relations in her family. Once Nadia and her mother had some time without their regular problems oppressing them, both realized what a bless it is to have a little baby in their lives.
And this miracle of birth – the rebirth of a caring and truly united family – was possible thanks to your constant support to the project.
We thank you for your generosity on behalf of Nadia, her little daughter and every child in need.
* The names have been changed to protect a child's confidentiality.
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