Born to Live and Love – II

(PID:17587513) Source
posted by CHILDREN AT RISK FOUNDATION - Brazil alias carf on Sunday 5th of June 2005 05:35:58 PM

Like most brothers and sisters, 8-year old Barbara and Vando have a very special affection for each other. But they are not really brother and sister. Born only 30 days between them; they shared the same breast milk, kindly provided for by Barbara’s mother during their first year. Growing up together and sharing something so intimate and priceless as this special source of love, has created a strong relationship between the two of them. Vando came to me from a situation of total abandonment, only a few weeks old. His mother was a street dweller and alcoholic, his father too. Both have since died from their tragic lifestyle. I had already rescued his abandoned brother and two sisters from the streets of the city centre during the preceding years, who have all since grown up together with Vando. Barbara, on the other hand, was born to the safety of a loving and caring home, where there were many to love and care for her from the very beginning. She is the granddaughter of our dearest co-worker, artist and volunteer for many years, Dona Ordalina. Two lives and two destinies, both with a good start in life, but unfortunately, Vando is paying a high price for his mother’s alcoholism, which is interfering with his natural development due to an alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the effects of FAS – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Barbara feels there is already something different between them now as she quickly develops at school and realizes how difficult it is for Vando to keep up with her and others of the same age. As with all human beings, they were both born to live and love and hopefully they will never cease doing so because life and love are the strongest powers in our universe. NB! I have added this to our FORSAKEN BY SOCIETY POOL because I feel there are so many kids like Vando in the world who are abandoned by societies that lack the knowledge and willpower to do something to prevent this kind of thing from happening. These same societies also lack the supporting facilities to help the lives of those who are suffering from such problems. These children will be the real losers of society if nothing is done. FAS can be prevented 100%. Pregnant mothers should simply never touch alcohol during pregnancy, not even on a small social level. That is the only way to prevent this from happening to other innocent children.

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