Psych Clinic Releases Russian Activist
Monday, August 20, 2007 9:02 AM EDT
The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — A member of an opposition group led by the former chess champion Garry Kasparov was released Monday from a psychiatric clinic after being held against her will for 46 days, a spokeswoman for the group said.
Larisa Arap, 48, a member of Kasparov's group in the northern port city of Murmansk, was forcefully hospitalized July 5 in what opposition activists said was revenge for exposing alleged abuse of children in a local psychiatric hospital.
Her case was taken up by human rights defenders, who saw in it echoes of the Soviet-era practice of locking up dissidents in psychiatric hospitals.
Arap was released Monday from a psychiatric hospital in Apatit, a city 180 miles from Murmansk, and was picked up by her husband, said Marina Litvinovich, a spokeswoman for Kasparov's United Civil Front. Arap was moved to the hospital farther from her home in late July.
Arap's release came after a commission, sent by human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to look into her case, said it found no reason for her forced hospitalization.
Her family had appealed her detention in court, but the request for her release was denied.
Arap was bundled into an ambulance on July 5 after visiting a doctor to secure documents attesting to her mental health as required by Russian law in order to receive a new driver's license.
When the doctor realized she was the one who had criticized conditions at the psychiatric hospital in an article published in an opposition newspaper, the doctor called the police, according to her daughter, Taisiya Arap.
Other members of Kasparov's group, including Kasparov, have been detained by the police, but Litvinovich said Larisa Arap was the first to be held in a psychiatric clinic.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Human Rights Watch
Here are a couple excerpts from the HRW done in Russian orphanages in 1998. The whole thing is interesting but I'm posting just a bit.
"Type 2: Worst prospects for a child abandoned at birth and disabled
A baby born with physical or mental disabilities in Russia faces the worst prospects if he or she is abandoned at birth. Some of them have only physical disabilities, or minor mental retardation and could learn to walk and talk, read and write. Among these are children with mild Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and correctable conditions such as club foot and cleft palate.
Numerous parents are routinely pressured at the maternity ward to give up such infants.32 After initial observation they are transferred to baby houses where the children classified with severe physical and mental disabilities are segregated into lying-down rooms. Confined to cribs, staring at the ceiling, these babies are fed and changed, but they are deprived of one-to-one attention and sensory stimulation and are not encouraged to walk or talk. However tentative their diagnosis of retardation was at birth, particularly for those who have only physical disabilities, it becomes self-fulfilling by the age of four.33
In the worst case, these babies fail the diagnostic evaluation of the Psychological-Medical-Pedagogical Commission at the age of four and are handed over to the Labor and Social Development Ministry. There they are interned in closed internaty for imbetsily and idioty, where there is little more than a perfunctory classroom to keep some of the children busy for a few hours a week.
The bedridden children from the baby houses are again confined to cots in lying-down rooms, often laid out on bare rubber mattress covers, unclothed fromthe waist down and incontinent, as we witnessed in one internat and heard in credible reports from volunteers working in many state institutions.34
Human Rights Watch saw children who were considered “too active” or “too difficult” being confined to dark or barren rooms with barely a place to sit. The staff tethered them by a limb if they believed they might try to escape, and restrained others in makeshift straitjackets made of dingy cotton sacks pulled over the torso and drawn at the waist and neck.35
Children with Down syndrome and other hereditary conditions are regularly passed over for corrective-heart surgery that is routine in the West, based on a long-held bias against spending medical resources on children judged as "socially useless."36
The orphans who survive to the age of eighteen move on to an adult internat, again removed from public view. Some, however, are housed in huge centers with hundreds of handicapped people across the age spectrum and where older inmates feed and care for younger or more disabled ones.
Variations on these cases
There are scores of variations on the two types of journeys followed by Russian orphans. For instance, some children are abandoned after living several years at home. As one baby house director told Human Rights Watch, this can occur in the case of severe disability, when a family struggles for a while to raise their child themselves:
If the mother decides to keep the child, after three years, maybe, she loses her job. The state subsdidies are minimal. The man might leave her. While the child weighs under twenty-two pounds, she can carry him. But then the baby grows, more care is needed and she has less money, and her physical and moral strength is getting weaker. We know instances where those cases will be found locked in a dark room in an apartment, because the mother had to goto work to feed her children, because the monthly pension for having a disabled child is really miserable—200,000 rubles (U.S. $30).37
Not all variations are so bleak. Volunteers and child development specialists in Russia told us about an increasing number of children who are being kept an extra year or two in the baby houses in order to improve their chances of passing the commission evaluation and avoid banishment to a psychoneurological internat. In addition, not all the children in baby houses are neglected equally, as certain children have winning personalities or attractive characteristics that encourage the staff to devote more attention to them.38
Finally, all children have their individual constitutions, which miraculously navigate some of them through the harshest circumstances, and help them not only to survive, but thrive.
[**This one really hit home. It is so true!!**:]
Reminiscent of the peculiar practice in Romanian orphanages to display newly acquired developmental toys in places only accessible to the staff, the staff of the Moscow baby house called our attention to their bright array of Montessori toys stacked in the glass cabinet just inside the play room. They stopped our tour briefly to demonstrate how the toys worked, and then put them back and closed the cabinet door."
There is so much more but I can't put it all here. I encourage you to go to the website and read the report. This needs to become more widespread and people need to be aware!! http://hrw.org/reports98/russia2/Russ98d-03.htm#P483_60775
"Type 2: Worst prospects for a child abandoned at birth and disabled
A baby born with physical or mental disabilities in Russia faces the worst prospects if he or she is abandoned at birth. Some of them have only physical disabilities, or minor mental retardation and could learn to walk and talk, read and write. Among these are children with mild Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and correctable conditions such as club foot and cleft palate.
Numerous parents are routinely pressured at the maternity ward to give up such infants.32 After initial observation they are transferred to baby houses where the children classified with severe physical and mental disabilities are segregated into lying-down rooms. Confined to cribs, staring at the ceiling, these babies are fed and changed, but they are deprived of one-to-one attention and sensory stimulation and are not encouraged to walk or talk. However tentative their diagnosis of retardation was at birth, particularly for those who have only physical disabilities, it becomes self-fulfilling by the age of four.33
In the worst case, these babies fail the diagnostic evaluation of the Psychological-Medical-Pedagogical Commission at the age of four and are handed over to the Labor and Social Development Ministry. There they are interned in closed internaty for imbetsily and idioty, where there is little more than a perfunctory classroom to keep some of the children busy for a few hours a week.
The bedridden children from the baby houses are again confined to cots in lying-down rooms, often laid out on bare rubber mattress covers, unclothed fromthe waist down and incontinent, as we witnessed in one internat and heard in credible reports from volunteers working in many state institutions.34
Human Rights Watch saw children who were considered “too active” or “too difficult” being confined to dark or barren rooms with barely a place to sit. The staff tethered them by a limb if they believed they might try to escape, and restrained others in makeshift straitjackets made of dingy cotton sacks pulled over the torso and drawn at the waist and neck.35
Children with Down syndrome and other hereditary conditions are regularly passed over for corrective-heart surgery that is routine in the West, based on a long-held bias against spending medical resources on children judged as "socially useless."36
The orphans who survive to the age of eighteen move on to an adult internat, again removed from public view. Some, however, are housed in huge centers with hundreds of handicapped people across the age spectrum and where older inmates feed and care for younger or more disabled ones.
Variations on these cases
There are scores of variations on the two types of journeys followed by Russian orphans. For instance, some children are abandoned after living several years at home. As one baby house director told Human Rights Watch, this can occur in the case of severe disability, when a family struggles for a while to raise their child themselves:
If the mother decides to keep the child, after three years, maybe, she loses her job. The state subsdidies are minimal. The man might leave her. While the child weighs under twenty-two pounds, she can carry him. But then the baby grows, more care is needed and she has less money, and her physical and moral strength is getting weaker. We know instances where those cases will be found locked in a dark room in an apartment, because the mother had to goto work to feed her children, because the monthly pension for having a disabled child is really miserable—200,000 rubles (U.S. $30).37
Not all variations are so bleak. Volunteers and child development specialists in Russia told us about an increasing number of children who are being kept an extra year or two in the baby houses in order to improve their chances of passing the commission evaluation and avoid banishment to a psychoneurological internat. In addition, not all the children in baby houses are neglected equally, as certain children have winning personalities or attractive characteristics that encourage the staff to devote more attention to them.38
Finally, all children have their individual constitutions, which miraculously navigate some of them through the harshest circumstances, and help them not only to survive, but thrive.
[**This one really hit home. It is so true!!**:]
Reminiscent of the peculiar practice in Romanian orphanages to display newly acquired developmental toys in places only accessible to the staff, the staff of the Moscow baby house called our attention to their bright array of Montessori toys stacked in the glass cabinet just inside the play room. They stopped our tour briefly to demonstrate how the toys worked, and then put them back and closed the cabinet door."
There is so much more but I can't put it all here. I encourage you to go to the website and read the report. This needs to become more widespread and people need to be aware!! http://hrw.org/reports98/russia2/Russ98d-03.htm#P483_60775
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Update
Yay! I was just informed that in October there is a occupational therapist and nurse who are going to the orphanage. They are going to videotape the kids so evaluations can be done! I was going to put the money I fundraised towards getting Christina a real evaluation, but now that is taken care of. I was told she would be put on the list of children to definitely get evaluated since I asked! I will get the results after that and put the money (just over $2000) into whatever operations the orphanage will allow. If they say she has a heart problem (most of the children have "heart problems" which justify the doctors from letting them do anything: having operations, going outside, laughing/getting too excited etc.) then they might not allow anything to be done. If the money is not enough I'm going to keep on fundraising until we have enough to cover anything they'll let us do!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
More pictures
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012375&l=229f1&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012374&l=0b0a5&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012373&l=69efc&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012372&l=907a4&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012369&l=fbffb&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012370&l=df1c4&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012374&l=0b0a5&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012373&l=69efc&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012372&l=907a4&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012369&l=fbffb&id=68201346
http://okcu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012370&l=df1c4&id=68201346
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Durock
Something that REALLY bothered me was how the caretakers seemed to think the children were vegetables. If the workers who are supposed to be helping them think they aren’t capable of anything that’s just what they’ll be capable of. One lady who talked to me a lot once pointed to a child on a bed and said “Ona durock” (she is a fool/idiot). I gasped because that is not a nice word and she was overjoyed that I understood what she said. She proceeded to point to each child in the room and tell me who was durock and who wasn’t. Most of the children were. I know some of the children who she gave that title are capable of thinking and feeling because I’ve worked with them. Myra and Anthony, if you’re reading this, both Irina and Vanya were called durock. She said something about Irina’s head being unable to think and then said Vanya could only respond to emotions. It’s true that Vanya loves funny things and laughing, but that doesn’t mean that’s *all* he’s capable of. It really disturbed me and I wish I could speak more Russian so I could’ve given her a piece of my mind.
Well, our Russia trip is now all over. The last week and a
half was probably the best there. Somehow Maria and I were
able to break through the ice with the caretakers and many
of them loved us by the end. They would ask us to come and
play with the kids, take them on walks etc. Once they even
brought a few kids to us to paint/play with! That would
have NEVER happened at the beginning. One day we had four
children we were working with at the same time. Usually we
were only allowed one because they get the blame if
anything happens while they're in our care.
In Christina's group the caretakers got to know me
very well and let me do whatever I wanted within reason.
They would speak very slowly to me in Russian so I could
understand (and I usually did!!!) and play charades when I
didn't. I think they found me to be some form of entertainment
because when I came into their group they would flock
around me and talk incessantly. They would clap whenever I
spoke in Russian and constantly were telling me what a
kind and beautiful girl I was. I wish this transformation
could have happened a few weeks earlier.
A couple days before we left they had a little
presentation (they have them a few times a year). All the groups
who could "go" (are able to either walk or roll their own
wheelchair) performed little songs/dances for the other
groups. All of the teachers were given a box of chocolates
and I played Russian folk songs on the violin. It was a
really fun time. Right when I thought it was over I
heard our Russian names "Nadia and Masha" and I noticed a
worker was calling us to come to the front of the room.
She then told the audience how great we were and went on
and on about what we have been doing. We each got a big box of chocolates and little Russian souvenirs.
I thought it was going to be very difficult to say
goodbye to Christina, but the best thing happened on the
last day. I was walking towards her group to take her on a
walk when I saw a lady pushing a stroller with Christina
in it! I went to her and talked with the lady. She spoke
no English but I was able to understand enough.
She was the grandma and had come to visit Christina! I was told her family visits her about once a year and I happened to be there when she did!! I really love the
grandma. Once we were back in the group she fed Christina
strawberries, cherries, and peaches instead of the nasty soup stuff she hates. When the doctor came in she told the
grandma to stop feeding her the fruit and got mad at her,
I was afraid because the doctor is an all-powerful woman.
However that grandma stood up and started yelling right back at her! When the doctor left the she made faces at her back and kept on feeding the fruit. The next time the doctor came back she was nice and said nothing about the fruit.
The grandma then danced with C. She had me play my
cellphone music and bounced her up and down. She laughed and laughed because she loves any movement. Many of the children's limbs have hardened from never moving so when they get to feel like they're moving they absolutely love
it. I said goodbye to Christina when the grandma put
her down for her nap and that was it. I felt so much
better about leaving knowing that somebody else cared
about her. I believe the grandma lives far away but at
least she seemed to care. She told me C. is her son's
daughter and her only grandchild. I asked about her spine
because I still can't figure out what exactly is wrong
with it. She said something in Russian but all I could
understand is her spine is bad and something is wrong with
her head too. I'm going to see if I can have a real doctor evaluate her with the money I fundraised.
half was probably the best there. Somehow Maria and I were
able to break through the ice with the caretakers and many
of them loved us by the end. They would ask us to come and
play with the kids, take them on walks etc. Once they even
brought a few kids to us to paint/play with! That would
have NEVER happened at the beginning. One day we had four
children we were working with at the same time. Usually we
were only allowed one because they get the blame if
anything happens while they're in our care.
In Christina's group the caretakers got to know me
very well and let me do whatever I wanted within reason.
They would speak very slowly to me in Russian so I could
understand (and I usually did!!!) and play charades when I
didn't. I think they found me to be some form of entertainment
because when I came into their group they would flock
around me and talk incessantly. They would clap whenever I
spoke in Russian and constantly were telling me what a
kind and beautiful girl I was. I wish this transformation
could have happened a few weeks earlier.
A couple days before we left they had a little
presentation (they have them a few times a year). All the groups
who could "go" (are able to either walk or roll their own
wheelchair) performed little songs/dances for the other
groups. All of the teachers were given a box of chocolates
and I played Russian folk songs on the violin. It was a
really fun time. Right when I thought it was over I
heard our Russian names "Nadia and Masha" and I noticed a
worker was calling us to come to the front of the room.
She then told the audience how great we were and went on
and on about what we have been doing. We each got a big box of chocolates and little Russian souvenirs.
I thought it was going to be very difficult to say
goodbye to Christina, but the best thing happened on the
last day. I was walking towards her group to take her on a
walk when I saw a lady pushing a stroller with Christina
in it! I went to her and talked with the lady. She spoke
no English but I was able to understand enough.
She was the grandma and had come to visit Christina! I was told her family visits her about once a year and I happened to be there when she did!! I really love the
grandma. Once we were back in the group she fed Christina
strawberries, cherries, and peaches instead of the nasty soup stuff she hates. When the doctor came in she told the
grandma to stop feeding her the fruit and got mad at her,
I was afraid because the doctor is an all-powerful woman.
However that grandma stood up and started yelling right back at her! When the doctor left the she made faces at her back and kept on feeding the fruit. The next time the doctor came back she was nice and said nothing about the fruit.
The grandma then danced with C. She had me play my
cellphone music and bounced her up and down. She laughed and laughed because she loves any movement. Many of the children's limbs have hardened from never moving so when they get to feel like they're moving they absolutely love
it. I said goodbye to Christina when the grandma put
her down for her nap and that was it. I felt so much
better about leaving knowing that somebody else cared
about her. I believe the grandma lives far away but at
least she seemed to care. She told me C. is her son's
daughter and her only grandchild. I asked about her spine
because I still can't figure out what exactly is wrong
with it. She said something in Russian but all I could
understand is her spine is bad and something is wrong with
her head too. I'm going to see if I can have a real doctor evaluate her with the money I fundraised.
Friday, June 22, 2007
P.S.
I forgot to mention that the scary guard at the orphanage was fired! Mary and Sergei found out about what happened to me and they took care of things. It's terrible that it had to happen, but I feel so much better now. I was so scared to go to and from the orphanage every day when I knew he might be there. Thank you Mary and Sergei!!
Miscellaneous
I have a friend at the orphanage! Her name is Sveta and she is in her early 20s. She speaks a tiny bit of English and loves being with me because her dream is to be a translator some day in an English speaking country. She is the only occupational therapist the orphanage has and is in charge of teaching the kids to walk and all that good stuff. She'll take kids outside with me when she's not busy and she even translates for me if she can understand what I'm saying. She has made life a lot nicer there. She peppers me with questions about America. She says she wants to live in a real house, not an apartment (there are thousands and thousands of nasty apartments here that are the norm. They are absolutely appalling. People should not have to even set foot in them, yet that's where almost everyone lives.), and has me describe mountains and the country in general. She says it's amazing how America does not have orphanages like Russia and was fascinated with the foster system. "The children get to live with a family? In a house? With a mother and father?" etc. She hates the orphanages I think. She is like a little animal who seems to be everywhere all the time and is always helping the kids. She'll tell me "this is the first time so and so has ever walked." Of course she does not have time to work with all 150 children so I don't know how she doesn't get discouraged.
After we worked at the orphanage Maria, Nastia and I used to go to an adult internat (orphanage) where Julia, a graduate from our orphanage was taken when she turned 18. I was teaching her how to play the recorder (she was a very quick learner) and Maria would paint with her. One day we went there with a great couple from Canada, Mira and Anthony, (hello! I know you'll be reading this :-) and they had the great idea to take her out for a walk since Anthony could lift her and take her down the stairs since again there was no ramp!! It was her first time out of bed, I think, since the orphanage, but before we had made one turn around the building a bunch of security and doctors came to us and started to speak angrily with Nastia in Russian. They escorted us back, had us put Julia in her bed and made us leave. Nastia told us that foreigners are not allowed in unless they have the proper documentation or something, and they were mad because Anthony had a camera. These internats are very closed and secret institutions. They do not want the outside world to know how things are. Nastia talked with the director later and said under no circumstances could Maria and I ever set foot in there again.
In the midst of all this sad stuff something good happened I think! Today was a national holiday - a day of mourning for when WWII started. The orphanage was having a ceremony for a few kids who could "go" (mobile) outside and Sveta asked if I would play a sad piece on the violin. All the workers that day were there (there are different workers every day. I think they work every three days or something confusing) and they loved my music! Everybody always loves music! I went to a group after that with a mean caretaker who hates me and she actually let me take one of the kids for a recorder lesson. It's been such a lesson for me here about the international language of music. If I'm having a hard time having the workers allow me to take kids I just play music in their group while Maria plays with the kids and usually I have the workers smiling and they are much nicer in no time. This doesn't always work, of course, but for the most part it has proved most beneficial.
After we worked at the orphanage Maria, Nastia and I used to go to an adult internat (orphanage) where Julia, a graduate from our orphanage was taken when she turned 18. I was teaching her how to play the recorder (she was a very quick learner) and Maria would paint with her. One day we went there with a great couple from Canada, Mira and Anthony, (hello! I know you'll be reading this :-) and they had the great idea to take her out for a walk since Anthony could lift her and take her down the stairs since again there was no ramp!! It was her first time out of bed, I think, since the orphanage, but before we had made one turn around the building a bunch of security and doctors came to us and started to speak angrily with Nastia in Russian. They escorted us back, had us put Julia in her bed and made us leave. Nastia told us that foreigners are not allowed in unless they have the proper documentation or something, and they were mad because Anthony had a camera. These internats are very closed and secret institutions. They do not want the outside world to know how things are. Nastia talked with the director later and said under no circumstances could Maria and I ever set foot in there again.
In the midst of all this sad stuff something good happened I think! Today was a national holiday - a day of mourning for when WWII started. The orphanage was having a ceremony for a few kids who could "go" (mobile) outside and Sveta asked if I would play a sad piece on the violin. All the workers that day were there (there are different workers every day. I think they work every three days or something confusing) and they loved my music! Everybody always loves music! I went to a group after that with a mean caretaker who hates me and she actually let me take one of the kids for a recorder lesson. It's been such a lesson for me here about the international language of music. If I'm having a hard time having the workers allow me to take kids I just play music in their group while Maria plays with the kids and usually I have the workers smiling and they are much nicer in no time. This doesn't always work, of course, but for the most part it has proved most beneficial.
Christina again
I love Christina so much. I think she loves me too. Two days ago I took her outside for a walk. It took three days to get permission to do this even though the only thing wrong with her is something with her spine that makes her unable "to go" (walk or use a wheelchair). I was told it was her first time outside in her entire life except for when she was born and taken to the baby house, and a year ago when she came to the orphanage (she's five). I strolled her around and around and she loved it! After a while the sun was bothering her because she wasn't used to it being in her eyes so I took her inside again. It's hard because she's surprisingly normal-sized for a five year old. I had to carry her up two floors because there are no ramps. They've been building an elevator for a year now.
Since her spine has a problem she was kept in a high chair that leaned back. She hated it and would always grab onto the tray and swing herself up so she was almost sitting up. She never left this chair except to lay in her bed. The hair on the back of her head (that is, what hair she does have since she has to have short hair) is all rubbed off because she's always on it. She loves biting but the doctor has not okayed her to have solid food so she is fed soup by the spoonful. She gets the greatest pleasure out of dumping the bowl of soup while she's being fed. I have been helping her learn how to hold the cup by herself with the syrupy stuff they're fed after they eat their soup. Speaking of that, I have never seen the kids drink water. It's possible that they do, just not when I've been there, but... They are spooned this syrup juice that makes them constipated. Most of them are fed pills that fix it. It's like they're creating a problem and giving a solution that gives another problem and so forth. It just doesn't seem right.
The day after I took her outside I went back to her group but couldn't find her! When I asked about her they said a lot of stuff in Russian and I still had no idea where she was. Maria found her in another group but they wouldn't let Maria in. I went there the next day and she was in a crib. She's been in her crib each time I've gone in there. I think the high chair is even better than that. She has a lot of energy and when she's cooped up she has to let it out somehow. She bangs her head as hard as she can with her fists. She also wants to chew (for some reason her teeth haven't rotted yet), but she is given nothing to chew so she bites her arms until they bleed. I try so hard to get her to stop because I know they'll tie up her arms if she does it much longer, but she won't stop! She gets attention when she does it so I think she likes doing it more! Today I held her for an hour even though the caretakers tried to make me put her to bed. I gave her a plastic case to chew on and she actually chewed on that instead of her arms!! A caretaker came and took it away, though. I was VERY mad. Whenever I'd try to lay her down she would start banging her head so hard again. If I held her she would smile and laugh. They don't like her to laugh when it's naptime so I had to try to make her stop laughing. It was terrible. When I eventually put her down she cried so hard, bit her arms, banged her head etc. trying to get me to pick her back up, but I couldn't. It was heart wrenching.
I wish it was possible to adopt her. I don't know how adoption works there. I'm not sure if it's even possible. She has parents who come to see her every couple years. Her mother is supposedly very beautiful which explains why Christina is so cute. I bought her teething rings that she can chew on and will bring them to her next time. Hopefully they won't be taken away!! I want to give her crackers so badly because she has been throwing up her soup and I know she'd love to chew on something and get food at the same time! What a concept! Who would ever guess that chewing would be too much to ask? The caretakers are extra careful because they get in trouble if anything happens to the children like choking etc I believe. The doctor would have to examine Christina and okay if she can be given a cracker. I will see what I can do but I think it may be too much to ask.
Since her spine has a problem she was kept in a high chair that leaned back. She hated it and would always grab onto the tray and swing herself up so she was almost sitting up. She never left this chair except to lay in her bed. The hair on the back of her head (that is, what hair she does have since she has to have short hair) is all rubbed off because she's always on it. She loves biting but the doctor has not okayed her to have solid food so she is fed soup by the spoonful. She gets the greatest pleasure out of dumping the bowl of soup while she's being fed. I have been helping her learn how to hold the cup by herself with the syrupy stuff they're fed after they eat their soup. Speaking of that, I have never seen the kids drink water. It's possible that they do, just not when I've been there, but... They are spooned this syrup juice that makes them constipated. Most of them are fed pills that fix it. It's like they're creating a problem and giving a solution that gives another problem and so forth. It just doesn't seem right.
The day after I took her outside I went back to her group but couldn't find her! When I asked about her they said a lot of stuff in Russian and I still had no idea where she was. Maria found her in another group but they wouldn't let Maria in. I went there the next day and she was in a crib. She's been in her crib each time I've gone in there. I think the high chair is even better than that. She has a lot of energy and when she's cooped up she has to let it out somehow. She bangs her head as hard as she can with her fists. She also wants to chew (for some reason her teeth haven't rotted yet), but she is given nothing to chew so she bites her arms until they bleed. I try so hard to get her to stop because I know they'll tie up her arms if she does it much longer, but she won't stop! She gets attention when she does it so I think she likes doing it more! Today I held her for an hour even though the caretakers tried to make me put her to bed. I gave her a plastic case to chew on and she actually chewed on that instead of her arms!! A caretaker came and took it away, though. I was VERY mad. Whenever I'd try to lay her down she would start banging her head so hard again. If I held her she would smile and laugh. They don't like her to laugh when it's naptime so I had to try to make her stop laughing. It was terrible. When I eventually put her down she cried so hard, bit her arms, banged her head etc. trying to get me to pick her back up, but I couldn't. It was heart wrenching.
I wish it was possible to adopt her. I don't know how adoption works there. I'm not sure if it's even possible. She has parents who come to see her every couple years. Her mother is supposedly very beautiful which explains why Christina is so cute. I bought her teething rings that she can chew on and will bring them to her next time. Hopefully they won't be taken away!! I want to give her crackers so badly because she has been throwing up her soup and I know she'd love to chew on something and get food at the same time! What a concept! Who would ever guess that chewing would be too much to ask? The caretakers are extra careful because they get in trouble if anything happens to the children like choking etc I believe. The doctor would have to examine Christina and okay if she can be given a cracker. I will see what I can do but I think it may be too much to ask.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Yes, she effectively scared us!!
Well, this is mom. After careful consideration I decided not to correct Hope's minor mispellings; I think it defines "the moment" because it's so unlike her and obviously she's experiencing a different realm of consciousness. I hope I spelled all that right! We miss having Hope home to correct us (yes, I know Hope, it's "I hoped I spelled all that correctly!", to see how much she could pack into one day and miss her so much! We did get quite misty eyed reading her blogs and know how hard it will be for her to leave. If any of you would still like to help her reach her goal (on Diema's Dream Foundation it was said that 3-4K, only, it was they were able to send one of these kids to US to have the surgeries (donated) to fix "club foot" so that they would not have to stay in state institutions and someday have jobs and live "normal" lives. Hope was a bit bogged down with everything until the last few days but we put together a quick fundraising effort and have raised $2,200 thus far. If you feel you would like to contribute please just email me at lanctot@quixnet.net for details and tax id # so it can be a deduction to you and a blessing, like no other, that she can leave (so that she WILL leave) knowing she couldn't fix everything but at least left one permanent change in someone's life.Kara
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Stories to scare our parents ;-)
I have only had 2 bad experiences with guys. One was with a young guard at the orphanage. He adamently refused to let me through the gate to leave (Nastia and Maria were a block away and I had run back to get something). He wanted to be my boyfriend and said he loved me many times in both Russian and English. He insisted I say it to him but I refused. I kept trying to get by him and said bood-bye numerous times but he stood in the doorway and wouldn't let me through. Another guard was there and I asked for help but he just stood there smoking and watching. The young one said to me in English "It is a big city. I can take care of you." He also swanted to kiss me "face to face" he said many times. I don't know how I finally got through. I got pretty angry and mean though.
The 2nd time was coming back from a church activity. Maria and I were just outside our apartment building when a yucky-looking man walked past us then turned around. He started shouting after us (I know because I know enough Russian to understand some of what he was saying). We stayed quiet so he souldn't know we were foreign, walked faster, and kept our eyes on the ground. He started following us and talking then side-stepped us and got right up in my face. I had to stop but Maria got away. A young guy saw what was happening and started chasing the guy. The yucky man ran away and we thanked the young man in Russian, then we ran all the way to our apartment room.
We told Nastia what happened and she said she will not let us out of her sight until she personally puts us on the airplane. She said she has lived in Moscow for years and nothing like these two things have ever happened. I don't think it's because we're foreign because we fit in quite well (except we don't dress quite so scandalously) and people always think we're Russian.
Oh, and I forgot about the time Maria and I went for a walk and a guy started talking to us and following us. Nothing exciting happened, though, so there's nothing more to tell.
Don't take these too seriously and don't worry! We will be fine - there just have to be lots of adventures so we have stories to tell and amuse. And on that note, I will indulge you by telling you have I flea bites all over me. I think they are in our beds because of the animals. :-(((
The 2nd time was coming back from a church activity. Maria and I were just outside our apartment building when a yucky-looking man walked past us then turned around. He started shouting after us (I know because I know enough Russian to understand some of what he was saying). We stayed quiet so he souldn't know we were foreign, walked faster, and kept our eyes on the ground. He started following us and talking then side-stepped us and got right up in my face. I had to stop but Maria got away. A young guy saw what was happening and started chasing the guy. The yucky man ran away and we thanked the young man in Russian, then we ran all the way to our apartment room.
We told Nastia what happened and she said she will not let us out of her sight until she personally puts us on the airplane. She said she has lived in Moscow for years and nothing like these two things have ever happened. I don't think it's because we're foreign because we fit in quite well (except we don't dress quite so scandalously) and people always think we're Russian.
Oh, and I forgot about the time Maria and I went for a walk and a guy started talking to us and following us. Nothing exciting happened, though, so there's nothing more to tell.
Don't take these too seriously and don't worry! We will be fine - there just have to be lots of adventures so we have stories to tell and amuse. And on that note, I will indulge you by telling you have I flea bites all over me. I think they are in our beds because of the animals. :-(((
Daily Life
Every day Maria and I leave for the orphanage at 8:20 a.m. and arrive about 9:30. We take the metro and buses to get there. Even though our apartment and the orphanage are in the same part of Moscow it takes that long!I have never been so thankful for a car and streets where you can actually drive instead of being in standstill traffic.
When we get there some of the groups are usually outside. There are eight fenced-in yards outside of the orphanage. The 150 children there are divided up into groups. Eight are capable of walking or have some motor capabilities, and four groups which lie in beds or sit and watch TV the entire time.
Once I get to the orphanage I go to the groups that just sit and watch TV and play my violin or recorder for them. The caretakers move them all so they can see me and they watch me with such rapt attention you'd think it was the neatest thing they'd seen. Many of the children who usually always cry or scream are silent while I play. As soon as I stop they cry again. I've heard a few try to sing with me. One day I was playing I noticed the most intriguing thing. One of the children who the caregivers say "has no brain" was expressing my music through her body. I watched her the entire 30 minutes I was playing in her group. When I play soft and slow she would relax and move her hands gently; when I played loud or fast she would kick her legs and bob her upper body. Her eyes never left me. Later that day I inquired about her and was told her name is Christina. The only thing I can find wrong with her is her head is slightly larger than it should be because liquid got in her brain before a shunt was put in. I wonder if they ever put a shunt in. There's one girl who never had one put in. Her head is about as large as a small watermellon, but when I rub her or talk to her she gives me the biggest smiles.
Back to Christina: Since she's in the non-mobile group she spends her life in a crib or her high chair thing that that lays back so she has to back muscles. Today I fed her lunch because I wanted to get to know her better. She is the smartest little girl. She kept trying to get out of her chair so I took her out and held her. I must have spent an hour with her and by the time I was done she could sit up straight on my lap by herself if she held onto my shirt. She loved playing games like patty cake and copying noises I made with my mouth. She laughed so much and must have been exhausted when I put her to bed because I doubt she's ever got that much attention. As I was leaving that group's bedroom I saw another intriguing child. I had noticed him before. H elooks like he's barely 1 year old but I'm told he's 3 or 4. He has Dowjn Syndrome and has been in his crib every time I've been in that gorup. Whenever I walk by he puts his arms up to be held. Today I had time to pick him up and he clung to me like he would never let go. He buried his head in my neck and would not be moved. He's the sweetest little boy.
There are two more children that really tood out to me today. Both of them are girls and have long hair. All the kids' hair is buzzed unless they have paretns who take them on weekends and care for their hair. THe 1st girl, Olia, is 13 and could be a model. She's absolutely beautiful. SHe has Autism, but the 1st time I saw her I thought she was blind because she came up to my face and touched it for the longest time. I asked about her the next day when I saw her tied to a chair (they tie up the arms of children who hurt themselves, or tie them to their crib if they try to get out etc.). I was told at first she seems nice but then she'll bit or punch. I figured I could handle that so I approched her. She stared at me for a long time with her dark gorgeous eyes. I played the recorder for her and let her look through the music book I brought. I was about to give her a recorder but Nastia said tnot to because she wouldn't be able to play it. After she left I gave Olia the recorder anyway. She blew into it and then quicker than I could think whacked me so hard in the face. Her expression never changed. After making sure my nose wasn't broken I took her hands and rubbed them on my face. I let her do this for a while and she never hurt me.
The other girl is probably 6. She has bright red hair and can't speak (that's the only thing I can find "wrong" with her). Her parents also take her on weekends so she has long beautiful hair, but I feel bad because all hte boys in her group pull it and hurt her. Every time I come to get children for recordre lessons she always makes motions for her to come. I hadn't because there are just so many children I'm trying to help but today she looked so sad. I motioned for her to come and I don't believe I've seen anyone happier. I tried teaching her how to skip and we raced inside. I got the recorders out but hard as she tried she could not blow. She looked so helpless shrugging her shoulders trying to show that she could not get a sound. I 've found that with a lot of kids. THey don't know how to blow and we spend all the lessons practicing blowing and then blowing into the recorder. It's a big step. I really wanted her to have a way to express herself since she can't talk so I brought her to the piano (which, by the way, should not even be called a piano because it's so bad). WE spent hte next half hour having a jam session. I played the violin and recorder and she banged on the piano, clapped her hands, banged her feet or made any other noise she could make. She absolutely refused to go to lunch and I couldn't get her to leave until Nastia came and tease/pulled/dragged her there. She is the cutest little girl and I don't know how her parents could let her live at the orphanage most of the time. I fixed her hair since the boys messed it up and put oin her hankerchef agian (all the little girls in Russia wear things on their heads when they play outside to keep the sun from making them hot or something). I will have more about the orphanage later.
I'm sorry about all the typos. I am typing this as fast as I can and don't have time to go back. Mommy, if you see anything really unrecognizable will you please fix it??
When we get there some of the groups are usually outside. There are eight fenced-in yards outside of the orphanage. The 150 children there are divided up into groups. Eight are capable of walking or have some motor capabilities, and four groups which lie in beds or sit and watch TV the entire time.
Once I get to the orphanage I go to the groups that just sit and watch TV and play my violin or recorder for them. The caretakers move them all so they can see me and they watch me with such rapt attention you'd think it was the neatest thing they'd seen. Many of the children who usually always cry or scream are silent while I play. As soon as I stop they cry again. I've heard a few try to sing with me. One day I was playing I noticed the most intriguing thing. One of the children who the caregivers say "has no brain" was expressing my music through her body. I watched her the entire 30 minutes I was playing in her group. When I play soft and slow she would relax and move her hands gently; when I played loud or fast she would kick her legs and bob her upper body. Her eyes never left me. Later that day I inquired about her and was told her name is Christina. The only thing I can find wrong with her is her head is slightly larger than it should be because liquid got in her brain before a shunt was put in. I wonder if they ever put a shunt in. There's one girl who never had one put in. Her head is about as large as a small watermellon, but when I rub her or talk to her she gives me the biggest smiles.
Back to Christina: Since she's in the non-mobile group she spends her life in a crib or her high chair thing that that lays back so she has to back muscles. Today I fed her lunch because I wanted to get to know her better. She is the smartest little girl. She kept trying to get out of her chair so I took her out and held her. I must have spent an hour with her and by the time I was done she could sit up straight on my lap by herself if she held onto my shirt. She loved playing games like patty cake and copying noises I made with my mouth. She laughed so much and must have been exhausted when I put her to bed because I doubt she's ever got that much attention. As I was leaving that group's bedroom I saw another intriguing child. I had noticed him before. H elooks like he's barely 1 year old but I'm told he's 3 or 4. He has Dowjn Syndrome and has been in his crib every time I've been in that gorup. Whenever I walk by he puts his arms up to be held. Today I had time to pick him up and he clung to me like he would never let go. He buried his head in my neck and would not be moved. He's the sweetest little boy.
There are two more children that really tood out to me today. Both of them are girls and have long hair. All the kids' hair is buzzed unless they have paretns who take them on weekends and care for their hair. THe 1st girl, Olia, is 13 and could be a model. She's absolutely beautiful. SHe has Autism, but the 1st time I saw her I thought she was blind because she came up to my face and touched it for the longest time. I asked about her the next day when I saw her tied to a chair (they tie up the arms of children who hurt themselves, or tie them to their crib if they try to get out etc.). I was told at first she seems nice but then she'll bit or punch. I figured I could handle that so I approched her. She stared at me for a long time with her dark gorgeous eyes. I played the recorder for her and let her look through the music book I brought. I was about to give her a recorder but Nastia said tnot to because she wouldn't be able to play it. After she left I gave Olia the recorder anyway. She blew into it and then quicker than I could think whacked me so hard in the face. Her expression never changed. After making sure my nose wasn't broken I took her hands and rubbed them on my face. I let her do this for a while and she never hurt me.
The other girl is probably 6. She has bright red hair and can't speak (that's the only thing I can find "wrong" with her). Her parents also take her on weekends so she has long beautiful hair, but I feel bad because all hte boys in her group pull it and hurt her. Every time I come to get children for recordre lessons she always makes motions for her to come. I hadn't because there are just so many children I'm trying to help but today she looked so sad. I motioned for her to come and I don't believe I've seen anyone happier. I tried teaching her how to skip and we raced inside. I got the recorders out but hard as she tried she could not blow. She looked so helpless shrugging her shoulders trying to show that she could not get a sound. I 've found that with a lot of kids. THey don't know how to blow and we spend all the lessons practicing blowing and then blowing into the recorder. It's a big step. I really wanted her to have a way to express herself since she can't talk so I brought her to the piano (which, by the way, should not even be called a piano because it's so bad). WE spent hte next half hour having a jam session. I played the violin and recorder and she banged on the piano, clapped her hands, banged her feet or made any other noise she could make. She absolutely refused to go to lunch and I couldn't get her to leave until Nastia came and tease/pulled/dragged her there. She is the cutest little girl and I don't know how her parents could let her live at the orphanage most of the time. I fixed her hair since the boys messed it up and put oin her hankerchef agian (all the little girls in Russia wear things on their heads when they play outside to keep the sun from making them hot or something). I will have more about the orphanage later.
I'm sorry about all the typos. I am typing this as fast as I can and don't have time to go back. Mommy, if you see anything really unrecognizable will you please fix it??
Boris
There's a little baby I met at the orphanage that made me cry. He is in one of the groups where the children stay in their beds all day (some tied up so they don't hurt themselves). I went in there to help feed and then I saw him. At first I thought he was a girl because of how fragile and delicate he is. His skin is almost see-through white and his arms about 3 fingers in thickness. I was rubbing the children because they like it so much when I came to him. He has the biggest eyes you have ever seen with lashes so long they touch his skin when his eyes are closed. He is the prettiest baby. I started rubbing him and he grabbed my finger and held it. His body is so deformed. I felt his ribcage and it does not separate in front - I think it's all one mass of bone. His nose is slightly deformed and has a cleft lip, but if you saw him you'd think he was an angel. I asked Nastia about him later and she said he's 8 years old. I usually can tell the age of children by the length of their legs or how decayed their teeth are. I had not noticed with Boris because he has no teeth and his legs are all mangled. When he was holding my finger he looked into my eyes adn gave me the biggest smile you've ever seen. That's when I started crying. I went back the next day to see him but the caretaker did not like me there because I could bring infections and all the children in there are so weak. I will try to gain their trust so they might let me hold him. Nastia said once she took him outside but his nose started pouring blood and he felt so bad. I wish there was something I could do for him. I went back later and was told he was at the hospital. Nastia says he has to go there about twice a month. I will try again tomorrow and see if I can find him.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
1st days
Well, this is Hope's mom again. I have had limited communication with Hope but was so grateful that Mary Dudley allowed both girls to call home on her cell phone when she arrived. Rather than paraphrase this is from Mary:
She said they were doing great and that Nastia (a young volunteer who offered to host Hope and Maria) has been just super. They had just finished visiting Julia (18 yrs old) who had to move from the orphanage and is now at a home for the elderly which does not have a lift or elevators. Julia is in a wheel chair. She will be the first former child from the orphanage to move to the village. Julia called Sergei while we were in the car and he put her on the speakerphone. She said that Hope and Maria were really nice girls and that Hope gave her a beautiful concert and several of the babushka's (grandmothers) came in to listen also!
I know they went to a clinic to get their blood work done. They have to be tested for AIDS, among other things in order to be allowed to help in the orphanage for a prolonged period. Their results are ready tomorrow morning so that will be their 1st official day. I will see them on Saturday or Sunday as I am taking a visitor to the zoo and want to take one of the children in the orphanage so I invited Hope and Maria to come along. Next week-end I am going to take them to an outdoor market where they can buy some souvenirs and other things if they want. I also plan to have them come into the city and will take them out for a meal. After the Russian food at the orphanage and at Nastia's they just might need a more American/European meal.
Well, all for now but I will write as I have news of them and we hopefully will find internet access for them soon!
Mary
Well, that's all for now. I'm sure they are both doing great.
She said they were doing great and that Nastia (a young volunteer who offered to host Hope and Maria) has been just super. They had just finished visiting Julia (18 yrs old) who had to move from the orphanage and is now at a home for the elderly which does not have a lift or elevators. Julia is in a wheel chair. She will be the first former child from the orphanage to move to the village. Julia called Sergei while we were in the car and he put her on the speakerphone. She said that Hope and Maria were really nice girls and that Hope gave her a beautiful concert and several of the babushka's (grandmothers) came in to listen also!
I know they went to a clinic to get their blood work done. They have to be tested for AIDS, among other things in order to be allowed to help in the orphanage for a prolonged period. Their results are ready tomorrow morning so that will be their 1st official day. I will see them on Saturday or Sunday as I am taking a visitor to the zoo and want to take one of the children in the orphanage so I invited Hope and Maria to come along. Next week-end I am going to take them to an outdoor market where they can buy some souvenirs and other things if they want. I also plan to have them come into the city and will take them out for a meal. After the Russian food at the orphanage and at Nastia's they just might need a more American/European meal.
Well, all for now but I will write as I have news of them and we hopefully will find internet access for them soon!
Mary
Well, that's all for now. I'm sure they are both doing great.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Well... Hope and her friend, Maria, left OKC early Monday morning extremely well prepared and put together. I, (her mother), was amazed because she had just finished a demanding Spring semester, a double full-time Summer interim, an important piano concert from winning the OK MTNA, attended a very long play for her little sisters and a billion other things all within 48 hours of leaving. After a very eventful series of flights (don't even ask... but we won't be flying with British Airways again in the future) she arrived early Wednesday morning (instead of Tues pm) and was very well received by Mary Dudley and their wonderful Sergei (at 5am!!). I expect her to have email access so she may be able to post and add pictures during their stay in Russia. She is more than halfway to her goal of raising the funds to send one of these children to US to have the surgeries necessary to correct club feet (
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
After months of fruitless searching I finally found a Russian orphanage last March to go to!! It took such a long time to find the right orphanage for numerous reasons: I'm American and they're hesitant to have interaction with us, they couldn't understand my e-mail due to language barriers, they were in rural areas that I was a little too frightened to go to, and some simply didn't have good enough contact information to reach them.
Finally though, I found my orphanage by a referral. I e-mailed the director and within two hours I had a response! It is the most amazing story... An American lady, Mary Dudley, was so moved by the absolutely horrendous conditions for disabled Russian orphans that she ended up funding an orphanage for disabled children in Moscow. Instead of being kept in cages and starved like in numerous other orphanages, these children have music classes, therapists, enough food, and well-paid caring workers.
This project has developed over the years and expanded. Once orphans reach age 18 they are forced by the government to leave the orphanages. Since they are disabled they have to go to adult institutions where they're kept for the rest of their lives. Keep in mind that some of these orphans are not severely disabled. In Stalin's attempt for the perfect society, people with Down Syndrome, or any disfigurement like cleft lips or club feet, were not allowed in public. This has somewhat carried on to today. Government workers visit parents' homes once they find out they have an imperfect child and coerce the parents into believing they are incapable of caring for it. They then take the children to the orphanages where they are given little chance of surviving. I have been told we would not want even animals to live the way they have to. Mary (and the foundation she started, Diema's Dream) began a Family Services Center to support and help families with disabled chilren. They are also in the process of building a village where the orphans can go after they turn 18 and live with host families and lead a happy productive life.
I am leaving for the orphanage Monday morning (June 4th) to help with this great cause! I will keep my blog updated as best as I can with pictures and more information. If you're interested, the Diema's Dream website is http://www.diemasdream.com
Finally though, I found my orphanage by a referral. I e-mailed the director and within two hours I had a response! It is the most amazing story... An American lady, Mary Dudley, was so moved by the absolutely horrendous conditions for disabled Russian orphans that she ended up funding an orphanage for disabled children in Moscow. Instead of being kept in cages and starved like in numerous other orphanages, these children have music classes, therapists, enough food, and well-paid caring workers.
This project has developed over the years and expanded. Once orphans reach age 18 they are forced by the government to leave the orphanages. Since they are disabled they have to go to adult institutions where they're kept for the rest of their lives. Keep in mind that some of these orphans are not severely disabled. In Stalin's attempt for the perfect society, people with Down Syndrome, or any disfigurement like cleft lips or club feet, were not allowed in public. This has somewhat carried on to today. Government workers visit parents' homes once they find out they have an imperfect child and coerce the parents into believing they are incapable of caring for it. They then take the children to the orphanages where they are given little chance of surviving. I have been told we would not want even animals to live the way they have to. Mary (and the foundation she started, Diema's Dream) began a Family Services Center to support and help families with disabled chilren. They are also in the process of building a village where the orphans can go after they turn 18 and live with host families and lead a happy productive life.
I am leaving for the orphanage Monday morning (June 4th) to help with this great cause! I will keep my blog updated as best as I can with pictures and more information. If you're interested, the Diema's Dream website is http://www.diemasdream.com
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