ABDULHER’S STORY
Watch Abdulher’s Story!
Abdulher is a nineteen month old child who came to Asosa General Hospital to get cleft lip surgery after hearing about one of our programmes. He arrived at the hospital with his mother and his father who are both farmers. The family travelled together from Bambasi Woreda to Asossa Hospital. The journey took about 2 hours to travel the 42 kilometre distance by bus.
Abdulher is the fourth child of his parents and his mother speaks of her experience:
“When he was born they told me he had this problem, it was hard, I started crying, and I didn’t understand why. I was so excited to have a child, but he had trouble breast-feeding so they had to feed him with other milk.”
Abdulher drinking juice before his cleft lip surgery.
When Abdulher’s father’s family found out about the cleft condition they rejected Abdulher and his mother.
“My husband’s family members did not want me or the child back in their home because they thought it would be a burden to them and it would ruin their public image. They wondered how people would perceive the condition. They felt that the child would be a profound mark of shame and they did not want to be known in the community as that family with a disabled child.”
Abdulher’s mother also speaks of her experience and her husband’s reaction to the baby.
“My husband gave me hope to move on. He accepted the baby wholeheartedly and assured me of his support. He helps to feed him and buys eveything we need. Truly, he does everything for us and he has helped me cope with the baby’s cleft condition.”
The service that Project Harar provides is completely free for the child and their families and Abdulher’s mother goes on to say:
“We are very happy about our child’s treatment. We want to acknowledge Project Harar for facilitating this blessed treatment which we cannot afford due to our family’s current economic status. It is an incredible opportunity for us.”
Abdulher’s family sent us these photos two months after their son’s treatment.