A year ago, Verona didn’t think she could provide for another child and considered abandoning her newborn son, Elvis. Now, she cannot imagine life without him. World Vision's support has been crucial for keeping Elvis in the family.

May 2009

By Magda Camanaru, World Vision Romania, and Rachael Boyer, World Vision U.S.

Verona, 36, and her three youngest children live in a simple two-room house in Romania with barely enough firewood to heat one room. She has two teenage daughters who no longer live at home.

After one of her husband’s sporadic visits, Verona was filled with shock and dismay when she discovered she was pregnant. Verona’s husband does not provide for the family and deserts them periodically, coming and going as he pleases. She knew she couldn’t count on him for help.

Someone to listen

She went to the doctor, planning on having an abortion. But the doctor told Verona that at more than three months, her pregnancy was too advanced to allow her to have one. So, she continued the pregnancy, thinking that she would place the baby in an institution once she gave birth.

Then Verona met Sonia, a social worker who works with World Vision in the Ramnicu Valcea area of Romania. At one of their early meetings, Verona remembers asking Sonia, "How come you offer me so much of your time? Usually there's nobody to listen to what I want to say."

"I remember I was very confused and I kept wondering how I would be able to take care of another child — the fifth one," Verona says. "I had nobody to trust in, except Miss Sonia. I met Miss Sonia and then started to calm down, to think deep inside of me."

A life-changing decision

"When Verona came to the maternity clinic where I work, she was certain she wanted to give her child away," says Sonia. "But, thanks to God...we had enough time to work with Verona and convince her that Elvis' place is with his mom and siblings, in his own family."

Sonia told Verona about the importance of a child being raised in his family, and about the need to bond with the baby. She also explained that World Vision would continue to support her and the baby over the year to come.

With the help and support of Sonia and World Vision, Verona is glad she decided to keep her baby. Now, Verona says firmly that she wouldn't ever give Elvis over to state care — "not in a million years!"

Despite her amazing work, Sonia doesn't see herself as a hero. "The job I did was not extraordinary; Verona is a good woman, and I soon realized that her fears were coming from a lot of insecurity. She had no support from her husband whatsoever, and she earned very little money," says Sonia.

Ongoing support

<p><div class="news_firstimg" style="width: 250px; float: right; display: inline; margin-left: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 2px; font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;border: 1px solid #000000;padding: 3px;"><img src="/resources.nsf/main/enews-200905/$file/romania-mother-2.jpg" width=250 height=225 alt="Madalina holds Elvis, her little brother, at home."><br>Madalina holds Elvis, her little brother, at home.<br>Photo &#169;2009 Magda Camanaru/World Vision</div>One thing that Sonia is very proud of is the fact that she helped Verona come to the informed decision to breastfeed Elvis. Once Verona brought Elvis home, Sonia came by to check in. "I found that Verona was giving Elvis powdered milk &#8212; the kind used to bake cakes," says Sonia. "This is not nutritious at all and can have negative effects on a baby's health. I had to explain all the advantages of breastfeeding to her. Many women, especially in the rural areas, do not know the importance of breastfeeding." Sonia also showed Verona other important aspects of infant care. For the past 12 months, Sonia has visited the family on a monthly basis to check in on Verona and Elvis. World Vision has supported Verona by supplying diapers and clothes for Elvis, as well as food and hygiene products for his siblings Madalina, 7, and Traian, 8. Young Madalina helps her mother by taking care of Elvis as much as possible, and Verona is working with Sonia and another social worker to find the best child-care solutions for Elvis so she can work and provide for her family.<p>

Breaking the cycle

There is a cycle of poverty in Verona's town, which often forces women to make drastic decisions — like abandoning their children or resorting to prostitution just to put food on the table. Among the 6,000 residents of Verona's town, unemployment is sky high.

Verona's two older children are trying to make a living on their own. Simona, 18, married young, just like her mother. Tatiana, 17, dropped out of school two years ago and now lives with her boyfriend.

Since the beginning of the year, at least 21 children like Elvis have remained with their mothers, thanks to the work of World Vision and social workers in one of the maternity clinics in Ramnicu Valcea.

Since 2001, World Vision has been involved with nearly 1,270 child-abandonment prevention cases, out of which 1,000 children have stayed with their mothers, as opposed to being placed in a state-run children's institution.