JOANN
Birthday: January 25
JoAnn was just under six months old when she arrived at Treasures of Africa. She had been taken to...
Birthday: January 25
JoAnn was just under six months old when she arrived at Treasures of Africa. She had been taken to a “baby home” when she was barely one month old after the death of her mother. Her brother Joel, who is a year older, was brought to TOA after the mother’s death. Feeling that it would be best if the children stayed together, we petitioned the Welfare Office, and they agreed to reunite the siblings since we were willing to accept both children.
JoAnn and Joel’s story is a very tragic one. Their father had severely beaten their mother in a drunken rage. She dragged herself to a small ill-equipped medical dispensary in the rural village where she lived and succumbed to her injuries within 24 hours. Since she lived in a tiny one room flat, it is not hard to imagine that the children were present when the physical abuse against their mother was taking place.
JoAnn’s parents were not married to each other and her father had another family who were totally unaware of her existence as well as the existence of her brother – Joel - who was just over one year old at the time of their mother’s death.
JoAnn is now one year old, and has thrived under the care of the TOA staff who have lovingly nurtured her and helped her learn to walk. She loves pushing the baby walker down the halls of Treasures of Africa. She is also responding to the abundance of love and attention she is receiving and laughs and smiles frequently.
Please pray for this precious treasure – so that her heart and memories of the trauma and abandonment will be totally healed.
