About Our Children

"But the child's sob in silence curses deeper than the strong man in his wrath."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Girl Holding Baby Our children come to us from all parts of the city. Whether babies or toddlers, almost all have been neglected. Some arrive with bruises on the outside. Others come with emotional wounds.

Our tiny babies, many born prematurely to drug-addicted mothers, are below normal birth weight, some weighing less than 5 pounds when they arrive. Because lung development is the last thing to occur prior to birth, premature babies suffer from numerous respiratory problems and are more susceptible to respiratory infections and other viruses. Colds and ear infections are easy to catch and hard for these babies to overcome. Often babies, whose mothers used drugs during pregnancy, suffer from numerous physical and emotional problems. Ringworm is common in neglected children because they aren't bathed regularly.

Their stories sound very much the same. They were left with people who would not or could not care for them. Neighbors called police or social workers with reports of domestic violence or neglect. In some cases children would be found left alone or living in filthy, abandoned buildings, surrounded by drug paraphernalia.

Kids They come in groups of two, three, and even four siblings all under 4 years of age - young children who have learned to rely solely on each other. They arrive hungry, dirty and scared, with few belongings and only the clothes on their backs. Some stay for only a short time, until a loving relative, an aunt or a grandmother, can be found to care for them. Many stay longer because there is no one else to meet their needs.

We love them, nurture them, care for them, play with them, and do all we can to meet their needs and assure them we will not abandon them.