One woman came to us with a story holding such brokenness that we sat in silence trying to hold the pieces of it all. We’ve only known one Hope for those darkest moments, and once again, the Lord showed up with the Light. Here is baby Kyauta’s story.
Mama Alika recounted her struggles while she held tiny baby Kyauta in her arms. Her first infant was born healthy, but wouldn’t grow. The baby cried constantly, and at around 3 weeks of age, the baby passed away. The second infant she gave birth to was similar. The baby was losing weight and despite all the family’s efforts, her second infant passed away as well. When her third was born, she wasted no time heading to the local “village doctor”. These “doctors” are well known for doing rituals and traditional herbal treatments to bring healing. The man told the family that their babies were all the same baby, reincarnating as a curse, and that this third baby was a cursed reincarnated infant as well. The man took the baby from the family, and the baby was never seen again. When this woman gave birth to her fourth baby, a neighbor pleaded with her to come to a clinic she heard about in the city. The family could not afford a hospital, but they were fearful of returning to the village doctor. Mama Alika walked into our free clinic the next week. As we assessed her baby, we began to ask her questions about her previous births and the story unfolded.
Mama Alika had flat and inverted nipples. It just took a lactation consultation to realize that her newborn baby girl, Kyauta, was struggling to latch on her nipple. The nipple pain coupled with the low milk transfer was leading to short inefficient nursing sessions. Baby Kyauta was weak and had been receiving plenty of water. She was critically malnourished.
But, God! Mama Alika had found our clinic, thanks to the neighbor who had led her to us! By the grace of God, we were able to come alongside Alika and Kyauta, providing a hand pump to increase her supply and evert her nipple as well as temporary formula support and a low flow bottle. We helped with latch, provided counseling, and educated the family and neighbor on proper infant nutrition. We eagerly watched each week at her weight checks as Kyauta not only survived, but grew to a healthy weight. She is a beautiful gift (as the Hausa word kyauta means)—the first of her siblings to survive!
God has allowed us to be in a unique position as we offer lifesaving lactation and nutritional support alongside the Hope of the Gospel to a population in crisis. We are getting more than ten new severely malnourished infants brought to us EACH WEEK.
We need your help.
