When Maternal Instinct Kicks In
PROJECT 143 host mom, Daron Northrup, rushes to her host child’s side half way around the world, when she receives the news of his accident. A fall from a thirty foot tree left him with a severely broken leg, three surgeries and despair and desperation in his voice. Dropping everything, her motherly instincts kick in and she is soon on the way to Ukraine. Broken and lost, she finds him in a little room no larger than a closet. He can hardly move due to his injuries. She is devastated at the conditions of the hospital, the tiny room and plywood bed… the ancient contraption used to stabilize his leg… the whole situation seems surreal. No one to care for him, not even a nurse. No one to ask questions on his behalf, not even a mother. Daron is overwhelmed with compassion for this orphan, this child, her host son who was only to arrive in America in a few weeks for his visit with their family for the holidays.
The standard of healthcare in Ukraine is in an extremely poor state. The severe lack of medical facilities and medicines are only half the problem. The standards are incomparable to that of the United States with some of the medical staff having completed only half of the training required. The neglected equipment and facilities are in short supply compared to the high demand. The dirty hospital and the low level of care due to staff shortages is incomprehensible. The war in Ukraine is taking it’s toll; and undeniably the sick, injured and orphaned are affected the most.
A P143 Host Family Rushes to orphan’s side in Ukrainian Hospital.
Daron stays with her host son for over a week. Nursing him, hugging him, reassuring him everything will be okay. The dark circles disappear from under his eyes. She helps him eat, sit up, walk and bathe. His strength returns slowly, little by little. She seeks out a set of old wooden crutches and teaches him how to use them. Stiff from the time spent lying flat on his back – she begins some minor physical therapy exercises to help him improve. The smile returns to his face. He is not lost or forgotten. Someone cares. He is loved!
This story resonates deep within each one of us. We’ve all been there, feeling lost, overwhelmed, helpless, and forgotten at some point in our lives. Daron’s journey to be by his side sheds light on many things of which we already are aware; we just tend to put a label on it and put it in a back closet to be forgotten. The plight of the orphan hasn’t changed. It still remains the same today as it did years ago. EVERY CHILD NEEDS HOPE. Every child needs a family. Every child needs to feel loved.
The need to host an orphan from Ukraine looms larger today than ever before with war scarring children who already have very deep wounds. And the hospitals? We can’t go on with our duties to help the orphan and in the same breath ignore the lack of sanitary conditions and shortage of proper equipment the hospitals in Ukraine so desperately need.
Project 143 hears their pain, and we feel you will to. Can you give your time? Can you donate a grant? Can you open your home? Will you share your family? Please contact us for more information on how to help.
