A Nanny's Story

June 25, 2007

By Missy Hershberger, Chara caregiver

A Chara Ministries nanny shares her experience in providing care for a new-born baby awaiting adoption.

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – On the morning of February 19, I flew to Bangkok to pick up Boon. I was so excited! He was six weeks old and about five pounds; he seemed so tiny when he was handed to me. The paperwork was completed quickly and we were soon headed back to the airport. Boon did not seem to mind flying at all, but wasn’t very impressed with the landing in Chiang Mai.

Boon’s mom, Wanida, was abandoned by her parents and left with a friend at a very young age. She wasn’t sent to school because they believed that her IQ wasn’t high enough, so what little she can read and write she learned at home. Her “aunt” sent her to learn Thai massage. One of Wanida’s friends introduced her to Boon's father and she went out with him for several months, but when she told him that she was pregnant he denied involvement and cut off their relationship. When Wanida was about one month pregnant she tried to abort the baby, but did not succeed. When her “aunt” found out that Wanida was pregnant, she sent her away so that her neighbors wouldn’t find out.

Wanida’s baby was born seven weeks early with a cleft lip and palate, and only weighed 3 lbs. 5 oz. Boon spent the first five weeks of his life in the hospital. When he was released, his mother and her “aunt” said that they are too poor and not capable of taking care of him, so he was relinquished for adoption.

Now Boon is doing well, and seems to be adjusting to life with me. And I have fallen in love with him! He likes to party at night and sleep during the day, but I think he is trying to remedy that. He also enjoys sleeping in his swing and dislikes baths.

When Boon weighs 10 lbs. he will be able to have surgery on his lip and when he’s about a year old he can have surgery on his palate. Pray with me that Boon will be healthy and gain weight quickly.