Wednesday, August 26, 2009

STILL no doctor available to talk to me for more than a passing moment. if truth must be told, the Indian medical system often leaves a lot to be desired. i have been assured by many that Adia's hospiatal is a good one, though, and the nurses who care for her all very kind - it is indeed reassuring to know she is in a comfortable, clean place under the watchful eye of such caring ladies.

a bit of good news - Adia's first month of hospital care has been paid for! Mr.Nutmeg and i have been doing our best to match donations where we can, and with the help of our wonderful etsy friends we've raised enough to ensure her care for the entire month. now we'll keep praying for a wonderful recovery to match the outpouring of generosity!

i'm often indulging in flights of fancy where little Adia is completely recovered, mirthful and pattering about as a child of her age should. it will yet be some time, but i have a strong intuitive sense that such an image will one day be a reality.

i am very appreciateive of all the suggestions for the long-term. that is still my greatest worry; i feel so frightened lest i cannot measure up to the great responsibility with which i've been entrusted, to secure Adia a safe future. i think that contacting the media is perhaps the way to go, to surround her life with as much awareness and concern of as many people as possible. i am actually really nervous about this, being quite shy in 'Real Life', and it would entail a lot of direct communication which makes me skittish - but that is something i will overcome for her sake. it will be a very small thing compared to what she has overcome already!

i had another chance to meet the father today; he, the old grandmother, and the young boy were in their usual spots. again my suspicions are reaffirmed that i Do Not like the man - Mr.Nutmeg is quite intuitive of character, and he immediately read a great deal of negative energy coming from him. he is not overtly hostile, but has an air of being both aloof from his family and despotic; he was taking the day's earnings from the grandmother, and there was a great tension surrounding them both.

following the good advice of many, i have stopped giving any amount of cash to the women but rather take the children for a meal and bring them clothing and other essentials. it even seems a bit futile to bring clothing, for each day they arrive clothed in the same tattered rags as the day before - new outfits would prove ineffective for begging. i wish there was a way to connect them with some sort of gainful work, to help nudge them toward a higher standard of self-sufficiency - i'e an appointment later this week with a local NGO who may have some solutions. still, the man of the family is a great problem - i do not know what he will allow, or what repercussions my help could unwittingly bring. it is a thin strand to balance upon....

despite the obstacles, though, i still think we are making wonderful progress each time i see Adia's happy eyes. i do not think she has significantly gained weight yet, but she does look better as she is no longer severely dehydrated, and no longer has that terrible, harried look of a child who has endured too much in so few years. that alone is worth everything, and is enough to give me strength for whatever battles may come.

please keep praying/sending good energies for me, ladies and gents, that i may be granted clarity of vision to see what must be done, and strength to make it happen. i am, as always, ever grateful....

....and on that note! i have started writing Adia's story in the form of a child's book. i mentioned this briefly before, but my dream is to write down this tale so Adia can see it when she is older, to know the love which so many people showed - and perhaps so other children can read it to raise their awareness and compassion. i would really like to include a contribution from or mention of all who have helped and cared, and will give more details when the time ripens :)

ah, one more thing - it is not so easy to bring her case before a judge as we had hoped. the legal system here is a labyrinthine one, and even with the advice of an advocate we are finding it difficult to navigate. so far we have encountered no need for legal intervention. the women of the family sincerely want Adia's recovery, and i suppose the father is at least shrewd enough to allow us to keep her in the hopital if it might benefit him somehow - hopefully that situation does not escalate. we're holding off on pursuing legal action until we can get sound advice from an NGO (this week, we hope!) about how it would be best to approach the idea of adoption or removal of custody.

4 comments:

  1. I think you absolutely must get media attention on this. Public opinion can sway mountains and without it you and Adia will be lost in the tangle of India's social care system.

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  2. I second the vote for media attention. People in India may just accept this;people outside of India mostly don't know about it. And even in a culture, there's a difference between a problem that's "just the way it is" and one that's being challenged on the daily newsfeeds. If you can bring more attention to this situation, it might make a difference to more than just Aida. I will puton my thinking-cap, and try to come up with something to do for you and her. Oh! The charity thing-- are you starting a paypal donation account, or such?

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  3. Oh my goodness! I just came across your thread on Etsy that was sadly closed! I have tears in my eyes after reading this. I will do anything I can to help. These children are truly blessed to have you in their lives and you too in turn will be blessed!

    Thank you for looking after the innocent children!

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  4. This story touches me personally, and breaks my heart! I thank you for little Adia ! The more attention the better. Bless you. She, her family and you are in my prayers!

    Namaste!
    Kymsart

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