When children’s health is at risk
The Mukhsyan family lives in Hatsarat community, in Gavar region, eastern Armenia. As expected Termineh delivered her son in the local hospital.
Artyom spent the first ten days of his life in the infant incubator, struggling just to make it to the next day. “We had mixed days and nights. It was an endless nightmare for all of us”, shares Artyom’s father, David Mukhsyan, 27.
It came as another shock for the family to discover that Artyom has serious problems with his legs with muscles that hinder his movements “Women that were sharing the same labour ward with me were taking care of their children from the very first day. I still remember my feelings when I was staying empty-handed”, says Termineh.
Artyom was awfully pale and Termineh was unable to breastfeed him the natural way. Instead she expressed her milk and painstakingly fed Artyom with a small spoon for almost two months. He was always weak and didn’t display any kind of childish emotion.
Termineh took her son for regular medical check-ups at the local polyclinics. She hoped that the nightmare was in the past and that her child would overcome the crisis.
But Artyom remained very pale and his father David decided to take him to Yerevan where doctors were alarmed that at 18 months old he was unable to sit and struggled to keep his body straight like other children his age. It came as another shock for the family to discover that Artyom has serious problems with his legs with muscles that hinder his movements.
The recently opened Arabkir Medical Centre has been a great source of support and strength for Artyom and his parents. After learning that the centre specialises in rehabilitating children with movement disorders, Termineh and David took Artyom to the centre without delay.
My heart breaks when he asks me to help him to stand. I can see that he enjoys this process. I have to carry him in my arms almost all day long “We attended the physiotherapy sessions for three months. Then doctors recommended us to have a rest”, says David with hope. “I see improvements and am very encouraged by that”, he continues.
The centre not only helped Artyom to recover but also checked all the records regarding Termineh’s pregnancy and delivery.
“Doctors say that the documents show Termineh had some infection which was not managed properly, which could be one of the reasons of early and complicated delivery. But we were not aware of that otherwise we would have done everything to improve her health”, says Artyom’s grandmother, Sonik Karapetyan, 48.
Artyom has since become more active. He tries to stand for a minute or two with the help of the adults who are so caring and attentive towards him.
“My heart breaks when he asks me to help him to stand. I can see that he enjoys this process. I have to carry him in my arms almost all day long”, says Sonik.
When asked if they plan to have a second child, Termineh says, “I wish I could have more children. Unfortunately as a result of the complicated delivery I have some problems and have to undergo a long treatment, which is possible only in Yerevan”.
She explained she cannot concentrate on her health issues until there is real progress in Artyom’s health. “Though the treatment at the centre is free of charge it still costs us some money to take him to the centre every day and buy the necessary medicine”, says Termineh.
“My father-in-law lives in Russia for several months of the year working in construction. At this moment this is the only stable income our family has. My husband is unable to join his father because Artyom has problems, otherwise they would be able to earn more. So, we can hardly afford my treatment simultaneously”, she adds.
Termineh now prevents pregnancy because there is a risk that without proper treatment she will have a complicated pregnancy again.
“For this moment I have only one wish: to see my Artyom recovered. Recently World Vision has opened a kindergarten for the community children. We plan to take him to this kindergarten. Interaction with other children can be of help”, says Termineh.
“Our regional hospitals are out-dated and many women and new-born children face a variety of problems. Few families can afford to take women to Yerevan for regular check ups during the pregnancy and for delivery. There are complications that could have been avoided if the hospitals were better equipped”, explains Husik Sargsyan, World Vision’s Gavar Area Development Programme Manager.
“World Vision comes to visit us regularly, often with Father Gnel who gives blessings to my Artyom. Father’s presence brings a special joy to him. Unfortunately, Artyom is not baptised yet; we always delay the ceremony because of his health but Father Gnel encourages us not to postpone anymore. He says baptism can be healing”, says Sonik.
-Ends-
*It is reported that 7.5% of new-born children in Armenia weigh less than 2.5 kg. Almost 6.3% of women do not receive any antenatal care and 29% do not receive proper care. Some 39 out of 1,000 women who deliver experience complications.
Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
Artyom spent the first ten days of his life in the infant incubator, struggling just to make it to the next day. “We had mixed days and nights. It was an endless nightmare for all of us”, shares Artyom’s father, David Mukhsyan, 27.
It came as another shock for the family to discover that Artyom has serious problems with his legs with muscles that hinder his movements “Women that were sharing the same labour ward with me were taking care of their children from the very first day. I still remember my feelings when I was staying empty-handed”, says Termineh.
Artyom was awfully pale and Termineh was unable to breastfeed him the natural way. Instead she expressed her milk and painstakingly fed Artyom with a small spoon for almost two months. He was always weak and didn’t display any kind of childish emotion.
Termineh took her son for regular medical check-ups at the local polyclinics. She hoped that the nightmare was in the past and that her child would overcome the crisis.
But Artyom remained very pale and his father David decided to take him to Yerevan where doctors were alarmed that at 18 months old he was unable to sit and struggled to keep his body straight like other children his age. It came as another shock for the family to discover that Artyom has serious problems with his legs with muscles that hinder his movements.
The recently opened Arabkir Medical Centre has been a great source of support and strength for Artyom and his parents. After learning that the centre specialises in rehabilitating children with movement disorders, Termineh and David took Artyom to the centre without delay.
My heart breaks when he asks me to help him to stand. I can see that he enjoys this process. I have to carry him in my arms almost all day long “We attended the physiotherapy sessions for three months. Then doctors recommended us to have a rest”, says David with hope. “I see improvements and am very encouraged by that”, he continues.
The centre not only helped Artyom to recover but also checked all the records regarding Termineh’s pregnancy and delivery.
“Doctors say that the documents show Termineh had some infection which was not managed properly, which could be one of the reasons of early and complicated delivery. But we were not aware of that otherwise we would have done everything to improve her health”, says Artyom’s grandmother, Sonik Karapetyan, 48.
Artyom has since become more active. He tries to stand for a minute or two with the help of the adults who are so caring and attentive towards him.
“My heart breaks when he asks me to help him to stand. I can see that he enjoys this process. I have to carry him in my arms almost all day long”, says Sonik.
When asked if they plan to have a second child, Termineh says, “I wish I could have more children. Unfortunately as a result of the complicated delivery I have some problems and have to undergo a long treatment, which is possible only in Yerevan”.
She explained she cannot concentrate on her health issues until there is real progress in Artyom’s health. “Though the treatment at the centre is free of charge it still costs us some money to take him to the centre every day and buy the necessary medicine”, says Termineh.
“My father-in-law lives in Russia for several months of the year working in construction. At this moment this is the only stable income our family has. My husband is unable to join his father because Artyom has problems, otherwise they would be able to earn more. So, we can hardly afford my treatment simultaneously”, she adds.
Termineh now prevents pregnancy because there is a risk that without proper treatment she will have a complicated pregnancy again.
“For this moment I have only one wish: to see my Artyom recovered. Recently World Vision has opened a kindergarten for the community children. We plan to take him to this kindergarten. Interaction with other children can be of help”, says Termineh.
“Our regional hospitals are out-dated and many women and new-born children face a variety of problems. Few families can afford to take women to Yerevan for regular check ups during the pregnancy and for delivery. There are complications that could have been avoided if the hospitals were better equipped”, explains Husik Sargsyan, World Vision’s Gavar Area Development Programme Manager.
“World Vision comes to visit us regularly, often with Father Gnel who gives blessings to my Artyom. Father’s presence brings a special joy to him. Unfortunately, Artyom is not baptised yet; we always delay the ceremony because of his health but Father Gnel encourages us not to postpone anymore. He says baptism can be healing”, says Sonik.
-Ends-
*It is reported that 7.5% of new-born children in Armenia weigh less than 2.5 kg. Almost 6.3% of women do not receive any antenatal care and 29% do not receive proper care. Some 39 out of 1,000 women who deliver experience complications.
Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
Share