It’s crack of dawn in Phnom Penh as we pull into the hospital car park. A representative from the child welfare department is already waiting for us in the lobby, files in hand. Shoes off we quickly gown up, sanitize and enter the neonatal unit. It’s unusually busy but calm and quiet as we glimpse row upon row of incubators, lines of tubes, somewhere a monitor bleeps comfortingly. The mood is more sombre than usual as we discover the child we have come to take under our wing had experienced an unexpected crisis overnight and didn’t make it. The doctors ask politely about our children and swap stories with our Cambodian director .
It’s so busy we are almost in the corridor but we make way as two doctors and a nurse appear, angels in white, wheeling 2 cribs. “From Vietnam” one doctor says proudly and he smiles, mistaking my gasp as he demonstrates a new crib. I am more intrigued by the tiny bundles inside. Two sets of pre organised paperwork appear, and we realise too late what’s happening…we are already involved. Two babies, both clearly premature, have been abandoned. There is no more space…could we ….would we….can we think of names… perhaps just two more ? Child Welfare officials move in to reinforce the utter gravity of the situation.
Much later on back in the car I wonder at the tiny miracles. Both babies together weigh just 3kg. Tevy and Arun welcome to Kais Village, your new home.
KaisKids turn no child away on account of illness or disability regardless of level of need. Over a third of our children have significant special needs, many requiring ongoing medical assistance and 24 hour care. Kais Village Community provides these special children with a loving, nurturing environment and helps them to live with and beyond their disability.
“Special Needs” is a term used to embody a wide array of diagnoses. Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or far-reaching mental retardation; missing limbs or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain embedded; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems.
On the surface two children with special needs may seem to have little in common. However the mutual concerns we address include providing appropriate care and accommodations; adjusting routines and expectations; promoting acceptance in the wider community; and planning for an uncertain future.
Recognising our work in this field, the hospitals ask our assistance in helping many children. We would like to accept into our community 5 more little children who have been left behind and are still waiting in their hospital beds – but first we need your help.
- Today at Kais Village Community we have 23 children needing special assistance .
- It costs US$90 per child per month to provide care for these children. That’s US$2,070 every month!
- We currently have US$560 per month pledged. We urgently need your support to help fund the balance enabling us provide the quality care the children deserve and to welcome the 5 waiting children into their new home with us.
Please visit www.kaiskids.org to become a regular sponsor or to make a donation to our special child’s fund. For more information please contact us at sponsorship@kaiskids.org
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” (Albert Einstein)
