Faces

If you are familiar with the stages of grief, you will see some of these stages written all over the faces of these kids.  You have to remember these kids have lost big time in the game of life.  They would not be in this orphanage if they had family to take care of them. Some All of their stories are heartbreaking.

Notice the kids who have the beautiful dark ebony skin.  Most of them just recently arrived at this orphanage from the border of Sudan.  They look different.  They speak/understand a different language. They are used to different foods.  Their trip was 2 days in a bus!  In fact, the orphanage is trying to get another bus load of kids in from the same region before the rainy season starts because once the season starts there will be no way.  The roads (such that they are) will be washed away.

One of the little girls in the latest bunch is particularly heartbreaking.  She is 5 but the size of a 3 year old.  She has a brother who is the size of an 18 month old but is in fact closer to 3.  Her mother is dead.  Her father abandoned them because he is a nomad and had no way to take care of 2 small children.  This girl carries her brother on her back where ever she goes.  You'd take the boy off her back and turn around, she'd have him back on.  Even when the nannies would try to get her involved in the games, she'd be searching the crowd looking for her little brother.  As soon as the game/dance was over, you'd see her run back to stand beside her brother. That's a lot of responsibility for a 5 year old.

There are kids who are HIV+.  Some appeared healthier than others.  One little one had the karposi sarcoma scars on her face.  Apparently when she came in, she was probably closing in on full blown AIDS. However, with the administration of ARVs, she seemed to be doing better.  Not sure how often they monitor the CD4 counts or what kind of ARVs are administered. 

So, on the faces you'll see pure shock.  That PTSD look where they can no longer process what they see.  Their eyes are open but they see nothing.  They cannot.  It's too painful so they shutdown.

 You'll see sadness.  They are processing but all is sadness.  All they have lost.  All that is new.

 You'll see some distrust especially at first.  Maybe even fear.  But they are processing, so that is good. 



Pink shirt. Arms crossed. She was not sure she wanted to like anything or anyone.  She studied everything and everyone.  It took time but she decided I was okay.


Then you will see happiness in some.  They have come through the whole process and are on the other side of grief.  They have decided to make the best of their situation and are beginning to enjoy life.  You will see some go between these stages.  They are not fully over the grief but they are getting there.  In point of fact, does anyone ever fully get over grief/loss?  Or do they just learn to live with it. 

Love these 2.  They are natural born leaders.  Very caring for the little ones too.

I say all that to make the point that when you look at the pictures, be sure the take in all the picture has to say.  It's saying a lot more than you think.