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Ghana- Baby Vicky is Seven Months Old Now [1]
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Date: 2023-08-22
Late one night last winter Haddi and his very pregnant wife Zenabu turned up at the door of my friend John at his home in the Buduburam Refugee Camp. They were in desperate need. Zenabu was in great pain and they feared the child in her womb was not ‘sleeping well.’ Because of their poverty they had been unable to receive any sort of prenatal care and things were not going well. They feared for the baby and for Zenabu’s life.
John managed to get Zenabu into the hospital, where she was held for several days while the doctors cared for her.
That was the beginning of a months-long struggle to get Zenabu safely through her very difficult pregnancy. A few weeks later they once more went to John for help when Zenabu was in great pain. That night I sent the funds to get her to the doctor but the money exchange service I was using at that time had problems and the money wasn’t delivered for about twelve hours. The poor woman had to go back home in her pain and suffering with no help. I still feel bad about that.
Zenabu was hospitalized several more times after that. Once she was lying in the hospital bed, afraid for her life, while John and Haddi stood helplessly in the hallway. Haddi was openly sobbing in fear. The doctors thought she was having a miscarriage but she made it through.
Well, I have told the story of this in earlier diaries. It was difficult and sometimes agonizing but finally in January Zenabu made it through and gave birth to a little girl. A month or so later in a traditional ceremony the parents named her Vicky.
Little Vicky had some problems after birth. Her navel didn’t heal properly and she needed medical treatment for that. And of course a baby has many needs that are very important at that age. And Haddi and Zenabu are very, very poor.
Unfortunately for the past several months John’s health problems have made it impossible for him to do anything for others. We have been reduced to the bare minimum for his own survival.
Earlier this month John has made plans to visit with the couple to see how they are doing but that night his own health collapsed and he wound up flat on his back in hospital. So there was no choice but for them to wait.
Finally last weekend John managed to make the trip back to Buduburam to see them. He brought the a small amount of money to help with their needs and took some photos. I thought everyone might like to see how Zenabu and baby Vicky are doing.
Things are hard and they are still struggling, but they are all alive and the baby is alive, growing and alert.
So that is a good thing.
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