Unloved Children

Hope (not his real name) was neglected as a baby by his parents. To-date, he still doesn’t know who his biological father is and his mother, who is HIV positive, transmitted the virus to Hope, when he was in her womb. When he was a toddler, his mother’s kind neighbors supported their living out of sympathy. As he grew up to his primary age, Hope’s mother started having a complicated relationship with men where she brought several men into the house and told Hope to address them as “father”. Hope was brutally abused by his mother’s partners and bruises were found on his forehead when I found him. I brought him and his mom followed me to my home. Hope has an elder brother who is way older than him but unfortunately he has fallen into a dark path.

Hope’s mom was not complying to the home practices and was constantly putting Hope in a hard situation by distracting him from studying and not letting him to rest. One day, Hope’s mom fought with the caretaker and left the home. She was found by the street a few weeks later by some mutuals. She was involved in drugs and was injured after falling in a drain which caused terrible wounds, she fell sick and lost one of her eyesights. She was taken back to the home and the necessary medical aid was given to her.

When she was back to the home, Hope was frightened by her presence as he was traumatized by the past abuse. She passed away 2 weeks later due to her illness.

Hope was having behavior and attitude problems as he was not brought up in a proper way and didn’t have a healthy family environment. I’m very loving and caring towards him, that little boy didn’t know how unhealthy his family was and was just merely living. When I found him, he found hope in life. I have tuition teachers for Hope to provide him proper education. He is going to school as an ordinary student and progressing well in his studies. Hope’s health is under control and I follow up with his medical check up, his school authority is aware of his health condition yet no single discrimination, indeed Hope’s teachers contribute funds for his well being. Hope is now living a life that he deserves with dignity.

Neglection starts in the family where it causes brokenness in everyone in the family. We shall believe that what is broken in us can be rebuilt by God’s grace through our faith in Him.

We can give hope to someone who is broken to rebuild their faith in God and to look forward to a better future. I find the Catholic church is still judgemental and stereotypical towards people with medical conditions, especially HIV positive, in this case even with adequate health literacy people are being unfair towards those who are diagnosed with the condition. We as a church have to be more adaptable, understanding and have the mentality and heart of acceptance towards people with HIV positive conditions. Just like how the caregiver in the story provided a place for Hope to rebuild his brokenness, we have the responsibility to rebuild lives of the hopeless by allowing God to work through us. I would say “Let God do the judging, we be compassionate and loving”.