In 2006 a friend called Joanne to come see a tiny new born in his neighborhood. Her mother had delivered prematurely at home and died soon after. An aunt took her baby and was doing her best to care for the newborn, breastfeeding her along with her own infant son. When Joanne reached the home she was handed an arm full of blankets which she unraveled slowly and carefully until she finally reached their precious center, a tiny pink baby. As she examined Tala she could easily hold her in one hand with only her little legs left dangling over her palm. She weighed no more than two pounds.
From that point with support from African Mothers Health Initiative Joanne started following Tala, helping her family, and supplying them with formula when Tala's aunt returned to work. Last November Joanne returned to see Tala. She is beautiful and healthy, now walking and talking. As she and her grandmother escorted Joanne to the curb my heart flooded with joy as Joanne realized that the little girl she once held in the palm of her hand was walking with her hand in hand.
