The blessing of a poor family (written by Joanne). I first met Pamela when she came for a prenatal ultrasound. Her skin was stretched tightly over a shockingly large pregnant belly and through the window of the ultrasound, I saw four babies snuggled in close.
Pamela delivered the following morning and returned home within two weeks, bringing the quadruplets to meet their siblings: two-year old twins, a four year-old, a six year-old, and an eight-year old. Pamela lives with her husband and children in a two room mud brick home. She cares for the children and he supports them to the best of his ability with his meager income as a house-painter.
Unfortunately Hassan, one of the quadruplets, died at 6 weeks of age due to an infected belly button, despite hospitalization and treatment. But, in spite of their poverty the other children are growing well. On my recent visit with Mrs. Namaleu we found Pamela outside visiting with a neighbor with one baby on her back, another in her arms, a couple snuggling in her lap and the older ones playing in front of their home. Pamela beamed as soon as she saw us approach and her beautiful white smile never faded as we chatted. The love this woman has for her children is expressed in gentle quiet gestures and evident in their clean threadbare clothes.
Now 13 months old the babies are no longer receiving formula and Pamela worries how her husband will manage to feed the family of ten, particularly through the next few months when the price of maize will rise. After seeing the pictures of Pamela and her children, a friend commented ironically, “This is the blessing of a poor family.” A wealthy family with resource to care for many children struggles to have a few children. While the poor seem to more frequently receive the blessing of fertility. As we left Pamela said she will never forget me and how I helped her during the delivery. Certainly I will never forget this amazing woman, her love and strength, and I will do all I can to offer assistance.
