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Donna lives in California, USA. She was reading a
story about Sparrow Village, South Africa and saw
this picture of a little girl.
She seemed so small, so weak, so lonely. Donna could
not forget this sweet child. She dreamed of her for
days.
Finally, Donna decided to find out about Sparrow
Village and this little girl called Nomsa. She spent
several days trying to find a way to connect with
Sparrow Village and finally found a number that
introduced her to Rev. Corine McClintock. Rev.
Corine began to tell the story of Nomsa... |
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Nomsa was found in her dead mothers arms. Her mother
had died of AIDS 4 days before they found her.
The doctors discovered that this 20 pound child was
almost 4 years old and was very sick with AIDS. They
were going to put her in the dying children's ward.
Here she would have minimum care, some medicine for
pain and left to die. |
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Someone told Rev. Corine about Nomsa and she came to
the hospital, picked her up and made room for her at
the already over-extended Sparrow Village. With love
and care, Nomsa began to put on weight. But the
funds were low and they could not give her the
medicine she needed to give her energy and quality
of life. |
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Donna heard this story and took what little savings
she had and sent some money for medicine to Nomsa.
With the rest she planned a trip to S. Africa with
her yearly 2 week vacation.
After many phone calls and letters the time finally
came when Donna got to hold sweet Nomsa. For the
next two weeks they were like Mother and Daughter.
Donna made up her mind she wanted to adopt Nomsa and
care for her in America.
She spent time with the authorities finding out that
it may be impossible to adopt a child from Africa.
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While Donna looked into adoption, she decided she
would do everything she could to make Nomsa happy
and help her forget her pain.
She helped with a fashion show the children put on
for guests. Nomsa is the one with the red hat and
gold prize ribbon. Whenever you had a camera, Nomsa
would pose and smile. She wanted to be a model.
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Some days were good for Nomsa and some nights were
very bad. She had a weak heart from early
starvation, she had liver problems from the strong
medicine she was taking and the AIDS virus made her
very weak. Donna cared for her in her weak moments.
But when she was well...they made every minute
count!
Rev. Corine believes you are not at Sparrow to Die
you are there to LIVE! And live is what Donna was
there to help Nomsa do...
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Donna would have Nomsa and her friends over every
day. Some times for crafts, pizza parties, dress up
or a dance party. This picture shows you some of
Nomsa's friends have a bubble bath with her. Very
tipical...right?
Well, remember...some of these children were found
in the streets alone. One was found hiding in the
trash bin. All lost their families. None had every
been in a real house before. And...this was the
first bubble bath for all.
As you look at this picture, a picture taken in
March of 2003. Know that some of the children have
already died and the rest will probably be gone by
Christmas |
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Why are these children so happy?
Because they were SAFE. That's all. SAFE. Most
of the children are found alone in the streets, some
in trash bins...all quiet...trying not to be
seen...not to be molested. All Sparrow Village does
is give children a safe place to die-with love and
care...and with the help of people like Donna -
medicine to give them quality of life in their last
days. |
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Donna had to leave and it was so hard to say good
bye to Nomsa, even though she was sure she could
make arrangements to adopt her. Saying good-bye to
each other was heart breaking.
Her two weeks in Sparrow Village changed her life
forever. She knew that no matter what she would
spend the rest of her life trying to give these
children some peace in their last days.
She came home with hope, excitement, memories and
plans for the future. Within a month the news
came...Nomsa had died. |
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Nomsa would like to Thank You |
Nomsa was found lying in her dead mother's arms.
Her mother died of AIDS.
Nomsa was almost 5 years old, she weighed only
twenty pounds.
She also had AIDS.
Nomsa would like to thank you…
The hospital where she might have been taken would
put her in the terminally
ill babies ward.
Here the children are left to die.
No medicine.
Minimal care.
To die of hunger.
To die alone.
To rid society of another burden.
These children are lucky…they die fast.
Nomsa would like to thank you…
All over the world, because of disease and poverty,
children are dying alone on the streets…curled up in
trash for warmth…trying to be unseen for fear of
being molested…
helping each other, because each other is all they
have…dying from violence, starvation, disease…a very
long, lonely, terrifying death…
Nomsa would like to thank you…
She was taken to Sparrow Village.
Sparrow Village could not save her life.
Sparrow Village could not give her a family.
They gave her medicine to take away the pain.
They gave her food to give her energy.
They gave her care to take away her fear.
They gave her love…
Nomsa could smile again.
Nomsa would like to thank you…
She had a year of love, songs, games and protection.
Love from Sparrow Village.
Her heart was at peace…
Nomsa would like to thank you…She died surrounded by
love… |
| No child
should die alone. |
