Meet Baby Leah!
We would like to introduce you to the newest addition to the Asha House family in India. Meet Baby Leah! Isn’t she beautiful?
Leah was born by c-section on January 20th. As you can see, she is already dearly beloved by the other children at Asha House!
We are so grateful that her mother cared enough to give birth to her and to give her away to a loving home. The truth is, many women in India get pregnant out of wedlock as a result of rape or prostitution. Most live in poverty, and have no way to care for themselves or a baby… so they often attempt abortions or suicide. Baby Aksha (also at Asha House) survived 4 abortion attempts, but struggles with lung infections as a result. Sweet little Tabitha (a 3 year old member of the Asha House family) almost didn’t make it into this world – her pregnant mother was about to jump in front of a train when a pastor stopped her and brought her to Asha House. Other children aren’t so lucky. Because girls are devalued in Indian culture, female babies are often strangled or suffocated at birth or abandoned on the street.
Leah’s mother, however, lived at the house for several months so that she could get prenatal care and proper nourishment. When I met her in November, I told her how brave she was and thanked her for making a courageous choice for her daughter. While it’s a tragedy that Leah won’t grow up with her biological parents, we rejoice that she will have a chance at life! We know she will grow up with a loving “family” at Asha House, where she will be cherished, protected, and given an opportunity to get an education. So today we say THANK YOU! Thank you to the donor who paid for her to be born safely in a hospital, and thank you to everyone who donates regularly to help us care for precious children like Leah!
<