To care for abandoned babies is to BE love...there can never be too many homes like this. All the shelters I know of started with a baby and before they blinked there were five, six, twelve. These places of safety feed and clothe babies and children without financial assistance. They make sure the little people they have been entrusted with are looked after in every possible way.
The Lighthouse Baby Shelter, Emma's home before she found us, is always opening their hearts to babies. Whether they've been left in the Moses basket (hole in the wall) or found in cemeteries, on dump sites or in toilets, these babies are taken care of and treated with the love they deserve. She hugs and cuddles ALL of the children in her care. She spends one on one time with the toddlers and the slightly older kiddies, making each and everyone of them feel as special as they are.
Eleanor has also adopted one of the little boys that came to the shelter as a baby. He is now six and he loves his mom to bits. Divorced and in her late 50's, she always jokes that she asked the Lord for a man who would be with her for the rest of her life, who would take care of her and never leave her side. She just wasn't specific about his age...
With the dedication of a saint and the heart of an angel, Eleanor does everything a mother would do. There are days Eleanor looks exhausted and who wouldn't? At any time she's doing night feeds for 3 or 4 babies! Some of the babies that arrive are ill and need around the clock care, which Eleanor provides.When she has the money she employs night nurses to help her but more often than not she's on her own. The money that does come in is used for more important things, like covering the costs of vaccinations and medical treatment for the little ones.
With more than ten kiddies in her care Eleanor has ladies that help during the day. One or two are paid , the rest do it voluntarily because there just isn't the money.Along with all the shelters across the country, Eleanor relies on donations. And they rely on the goodwill of people like you and me.
To do your bit where you can is to SHOW love...on the 26th November there will be a HIGH TEA from 3pm onwards, at 2 Pallinghurst Road, Parktown, to meet Justin and Cathy and hear more about The Baby House that they have recently opened in Umhlanga.
Tickets cost R250 and as much as this is a fund-raising event, it's also to create awareness on adoption. From having adopted ourselves we get a lot of questions about the process, the legalities, etc
If you have a friend or family member in mind who you think would be interested to take part in the conversation around adoption in South Africa, please feel free to forward this note on to them. Please RSVP to Emma Holtmann with confirmation of payment of R250 pp to the following account, as soon as you can and send a confirmation with your RSVP.
Banking Details:
The Peace Agency, FNB Durban North,Branch code: 220426
Acc No: 62159958 217
OH God ! Such a woman must be a Saint ! I hope you manage to raise lots of funds for the shelter !!
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