Watch: Desperate pregnant mothers begged not to dump their babies
A ‘Baby Box’ was installed, allowing desperate mothers to leave their babies any time, day or night, for the church to take care of them.
He was sick with severe sunburn and rashes on his skin. He was most likely about 2-3 months old at the time and suffered from tremors as a result of the noisy trucks that would thunder past him on the roadside.
LITTLE NATHAN WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
Little Nathan was found by police on the side of the road and brought to Door of Hope with no name, no age, and nothing to identify him.
This is just one of the many stories of desperate mothers who choose to abandon their babies.
Abandonment of infants in South Africa is, unfortunately, a common occurrence,” The Door of Hope organisation has said.
“Many of these babies or children are left to die, or simply abandoned, in dustbins, open fields, public toilets, or on train tracks.”
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The organisation knew something needed to be done.
“In 1999 the Berea Baptist Mission Church said, “something needs to be done”. Under the leadership of Pastor Cheryl Allen, the church made a hole in their wall and a ‘Baby Box’ was installed allowing for mothers to leave their babies any time day or night for the church to take care of them.”
The moment a baby is placed, care workers on duty receive an electronic signal alerting them. The baby is taken in and the anonymity of the “donor” is ensured.
Watch:
“News has spread and other babies have been brought personally by their mothers or have come through other means such as the police, community members, hospitals or clinics.”
The organisation has three baby-houses.
“Our baby-houses are often commended for feeling like a home rather than an institution. We love our children and consider each house their home until they are adopted, reunited with extended family, placed in specialised homes or join the Door of Hope Village family.”
It added that some children will find their home at the Village.
“This is where they will become part of the Door of Hope family. Here they will find a community of moms and dads, ‘Aunts’ and ‘Uncles’, ‘cousins’, ‘Grannies’ and ‘Grandpa’s’ to love and cherish them.”