comfort dolls
Mom with Malaria is visited by baby son
Children in rural Malawi don't have toys. They are expected to toil alongside family members from a very early age, or occupy themselves with hand made balls, sticks and old bicycle hoops or discarded items.
Such is the reality of life in Malawi.
They often have to wait for long periods of time in hospital, at clinics, and are often in pain, and I marvel at their stamina. I have witnessed mothers carrying convulsing children into the triage area of the paeds ward and listened to constant crying as children undergo IV starts.
A sick and frightened child is a fretful child and I have been very happy to have been able to place a Comfort Doll into the hands of many small patients at St. Gabriel's while here.
Along with medical supplies, I brought over 80 Comfort Dolls to Malawi, thanks to the generosity of western Canadian knitters - Wanita, Cindy and friend (& U.S. - Aura Lee), plus Donna's beautiful hand painted cloth dolls. Many children have benefitted but I have had to be judicious in handing out the dolls. The paediatrics ward has well over 100 patients at times. I identified the ones who are isolated for long periods, or the obvious sickest or sad. From the segregated tb children whom I have visited regularly, to the frightened children outside the treatment room, to the babies visiting their sick Moms on the Female medical ward, to several children at the AIDS clinic, or random kids on paediatrics, the amazement, joy and soothing quality of the dolls has been remarkable. I am leaving some dolls behind with Chaplain Father Willem and Paediatrics doctor Caroline to hand out after I leave and know the children will never forget the specialness of the gift. Thank-you to all the Comfort Doll creators. Your loving touch resides in Malawi.
Such is the reality of life in Malawi.
They often have to wait for long periods of time in hospital, at clinics, and are often in pain, and I marvel at their stamina. I have witnessed mothers carrying convulsing children into the triage area of the paeds ward and listened to constant crying as children undergo IV starts.
A sick and frightened child is a fretful child and I have been very happy to have been able to place a Comfort Doll into the hands of many small patients at St. Gabriel's while here.
Along with medical supplies, I brought over 80 Comfort Dolls to Malawi, thanks to the generosity of western Canadian knitters - Wanita, Cindy and friend (& U.S. - Aura Lee), plus Donna's beautiful hand painted cloth dolls. Many children have benefitted but I have had to be judicious in handing out the dolls. The paediatrics ward has well over 100 patients at times. I identified the ones who are isolated for long periods, or the obvious sickest or sad. From the segregated tb children whom I have visited regularly, to the frightened children outside the treatment room, to the babies visiting their sick Moms on the Female medical ward, to several children at the AIDS clinic, or random kids on paediatrics, the amazement, joy and soothing quality of the dolls has been remarkable. I am leaving some dolls behind with Chaplain Father Willem and Paediatrics doctor Caroline to hand out after I leave and know the children will never forget the specialness of the gift. Thank-you to all the Comfort Doll creators. Your loving touch resides in Malawi.