Ema and Janelle after Ema's 4th surgery August 2011
Vision: To increase awareness of the plight of children born with disabilities in cultures that are ignorant of their value and potential. Through increased visibility, the collaboration of other non-profits providing medical care and education, and individuals who willingly provide a home, children like Ema can be restored to dignity and come to know life with hope.
Number Served:1
Director: Janelle Bongiovanni
Location: San Diego, California and Ploiesti, Romania
SHI Partnership Began: November, 2010
Project Overview: Ema’s Outreach is supported by Serving Hands international through the establishment of a fund to support the medical costs of Ema’s treatments that are not provided through other pro bono and charitable means. These funds are restricted to medical expenses only and help offset the estimated $100,000 per year cost of her medical treatment. Any and all donations to SHI on behalf of Ema’s medical fund are appreciated and tax deductible.
Participating Programs: Ema’s Medical Fund
Ema and Janelle Ema's first surgical procedure July 2009
Current Needs: Prayer for Ema’s medical Journey, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy services and support of Ema’s medical Fund.
Ema’s Story: Ema was born in Ploiesti, Romania in a government run hospital on May 31, 2007. She was the first born of twins. During delivery the Dr. saw her obvious birth defect and refused to touch her. An infermera (like a medical cleaning lady) was ordered to take Ema away. The Dr. told Ema’s parents to leave her at the hospital, that she would not live long. Ema was named for the purpose of a death certificate and then placed in a back room, where the medical staff waited for her to die. Ema’s mom delivered her twin brother, a healthy normal boy. Ema’s parents left the hospital with the boy, leaving Ema behind.
After 6 months of living in hospitals as an abandoned child, Ema’s parents were notified of her existence. They were unaware she was still alive until then! They were asked to come claim her. They came and the following day returned her. Having a child with physical deformity is shaming in their culture. They decided to place her in the hospital’s Social Workers care. I later asked them, what was it that kept you from taking keeping Ema? They shared these fears with me; fear that her siblings would be afraid of her, fear of the communities’ opinion of their family, fear her syndrome would make her difficult to care for. Their refusal to bring Ema home, began a series of long term stays in hospitals and orphanages for Ema. Due to her medical needs, the effects of APERT syndrome, she was more often in a hospital.
At the age of one year, Ema came to Victor Gomoiu Childrens Hospital in Bucharest. She was placed under the care of ROCK workers (Romanian Outreach to Christ’s Kids, a nonprofit organization in Bucharest). I met her there while I (Janelle) was volunteering with ROCK. I can vividly remember entering her hospital room and seeing her asleep in a purple sleeper. She made quite an impression on me. When we were introduced I was told to “touch her as little as possible”, the medical staff and other mom’s in the wing were convinced you could “catch” her syndrome as if it were a cold. She was then 14 months old.
Ema learning to crawl at 17 Months in Bucharest, Romania
I cared for Ema for 2 months, with each new day of interaction she grew in verbal vocalization, animation, interactive social skills and with some encouragement began to crawl! In October of 2008, Ema was transferred from Victor Gomoiu Hospital in Bucharest to a Children’s Home for mentally disabled children in Ploiesti. This center is run by a kind man. Sadly understaffed, but a clean and friendly environment, Ema had been accepted into their world despite the fact that she is cognitively normal. I was able to visit Ema at his center numerous times. With time a rapport and relationship developed and I was able to meet Ema’s parents and her social worker. Through their support, I was able to advocate for Ema’s medical treatment in Romania and in the United States.
Ema after her first hand surgery July 2009
Ema has since gained a medical guardian in October 2010 and traveled to California, USA for medical care. She currently receives Pro Bono surgeries through Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and Rady Children’s Hospital while living with her guardian family. Ema is expected to receive more than 15 surgeries over the course of the next 15 years.
For more information on how you can help this project please contact Janelle at emaoutreach@gmail.com.