Only a few days old, Baby Maria Elijah is very fragile.
Her little feet are the size of my palm.
Her nose, tiny. She has plenty of hair, too.
What an angel.
She’s such a beautiful sight.
Once in a while she would open her eyes and shut them again.
Baby Maria Elijah is least aware that she was on TV the past week.
I want to post her photos here, but words will suffice to describe her. Her photo cannot be publicized because her case is not of the ordinary.
Maria Elijah was abandoned — placed in a green reusable grocery bag and hung on a tree in Quezon City. It was drizzling that Sunday afternoon when the green bag caught the attention of a banana cue vendor. Ronalyn heard crying, and thought it was a cat. To her surprise, it was a baby, covered with blood with umbilical cord still attached to the poor little thing. Ronalyn panicked and screamed for help.
The local barangay brought the baby girl to the nearest hospital.
It has been a week since Baby Maria Elijah was rescued.
Since then, generous donors have sent help through Lingkod Kapamilya. The most important donation is breast milk. Breast milk is still best for babies, especially for Baby Maria Elijah who is recovering from sepsis. We are very grateful to the mothers of Medela Moms for their help. The entire week, we’ve delivered over 600 ounces of breast milk to Baby Maria Elijah.
When she recovers, (most likely) she will be transferred to the Rescue and Study Center for Children (RSCC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development where a roomful of playmates will be waiting for her.
All the cribs in the RSCC nursery were occupied when I visited. Some were quietly settled, mostly the girls, including Little Chloe. Her name suits her — Chloe. She was very pretty in her pink dress, with pink lips and curled lashes. Chloe was abandoned by her mother at their neighbor’s.
The boys were rascals. In the short time that our production team spent there, we managed to coin names for the children. Like “Jack.” Jack was abandoned by his mother in a JAC Liner Bus. We called another toddler, “King Pin” because he looked Chinese and sort of like the head of a mafia, bald and a serious face. Most of the children there were abandoned like Baby Maria. One was found in a kariton, while another baby was found in a trash can.
They were nothing like the shy and timid sort... they were all eager for attention.
It is the task of the DSWD to find families for abandoned children, once they are certified legally free for adoption. The children are matched with individuals or couples who want to have children. An adoptive or foster parent can choose the age and gender but the paramount consideration is best welfare and interest of a child.
Since Baby Maria Elijah’s story was aired, people have called our office expressing interest in adopting the baby, but she can’t be adopted yet, until she gets certified free for adoption. This process takes about three months.
In any case, there are 844 other abandoned children in the custody of the DSWD and NGOs that would love to be part of a family. Yes, 844! (as of 2011.)
Eight hundred forty-four does not even account for the real number of unwanted children. Some abandoned babies were not fortunate enough to survive like Baby Maria. There is no acceptable reason for parents to abandon their children.
Perhaps, the mothers think that they have no other options. But there are.
Troubled mothers can seek counseling from DSWD, or church groups. They may go to DSWD if they want to have their child adopted. Some NGOs even provide shelter for pregnant mothers, care for them until they give birth, ensuring the health of both mother and child.
If you know anyone who needs help, here are the numbers of the DSWD-NCR: 734-8635/488-2861 or 0905-3862448/0947-7270145.
A little girl stood by the door as I was about to leave the premises of DSWD. I was informed that she was set to join her adoptive parents in Spain.
I know that fate will also find a way of bringing Maria Elijah to a family that will truly treasure her.
(E-mail me at nagmamahalateb2@yahoo.com follow me at @Bernadette_ABS)