Eszher*, a Tajik mother, took her son to see a doctor soon after giving birth to him. The baby boy’s head was abnormally large. He was diagnosed with hydrocephaly, a condition in which fluid builds up in the brain. Baby Jasper* stayed in the hospital for three days, but as nothing seemed to help his situation, he was sent home. “He will never get better,” Eszher was told.
Eszher did not give up and went to see other doctors, but they all said the same thing. Jasper would not get better. Hopelessness filled Eszher’s heart.
“Then I heard about Operation Mercy, and when I went there, hope returned. The staff treated me with kindness and empathy, and I was told that there are things that can be done to help my son,” said Eszher.
When Jasper first came to Operation Mercy, he could not sit up by himself. The staff worked with him patiently twice a week for two hours at a time, and as a result, Jasper started learning how to sit. Then he started learning how to stand, using a standing frame.
For every major holiday in Tajikistan, Operation Mercy organises events for the children. When Eszher was told her son could participate in the festivities, she doubted it would be possible. During the event, Jasper took part in an activity where traditional bread baking was demonstrated, taking the bread out of the oven with the help of the staff. When Eszher saw her son participating with the other children, she started crying out of happiness.
“This community has helped my son to improve not only physically, but also mentally. He is able to understand many things better, and also be socially involved with other children. I am so grateful that I received new hope for my son after doctors had told me there was none.”
*Name changed.
