January News

The Kangaroo Room at Christmas

Christmas-time is always bittersweet for us at Bosom Buddies. We receive a pile of gorgeous gifts from the amazing Operation Shoebox and it is a real treat to deliver these on Christmas morning as well as on New Year’s Day. I also love the optimism and excitement that surround the start of a new year; people just tend to be a little bit more hopeful for the future, specifically the year ahead. That, coupled with the miracle we witness daily, BIRTH, makes for a season of new beginnings, a happy summertime enthusiasm that we encounter in the passages of the maternity and labour ward at the hospital. It is plainly happy.

The bitter part is for the mothers who have to spend this time with their sick or premature babies at the hospital. It is especially hard for anyone to worry about a sick baby when everyone else is happy, and overindulging in festivities. The kangaroo room was full to bursting at Christmas time. I loved to see how these mothers made the best of being where they are, supporting and loving each other. I loved how happy they were to get their presents, spoiling their tiny little babies.

Unfortunately we continue to have babies born sleeping, even at these times, and sadly encountered one on Christmas day as well as 31 December. It is small solace to be able to provide a shoulder to cry on and a prayer for the mother at this time, but it is a shoulder she would not have had, had we not been there, a prayer nobody would have prayed was it not for Bosom Buddies. We have exciting plans for 2013 in offering counseling for these mothers from our premises. Please continue to pray for this project, Babies Born Sleeping has always been close to our hearts.

We are also extending our breastfeeding support group services and will be offering a group from Ikwezi shortly. Breastfeeding education is particularly important at this time, as it is gastro season. I am aware of 4 babies dying in our area from complications of diarrhea. The frustration is that these are preventable with the right education and support.

Thanks again to Operation Shoebox for the gorgeous gifts. We love Shoeboxers!

Finally, we are excited to receive 50 cases of sanitary towels for Kimberly Clark this week! It is wonderful when our biggest problem is where to store our stuff! The year is off to a great start.