Marina

Marina (centre, in the white top) with her friends who are all younger than her. She was delighted by gifts of soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and paste. She has not seen these things since her trip to England. I also was able to give her some basic medications and some items, such as hair clips and make-up, which may seem frivolous. However, they lift her self esteem and mean a great deal to her after everything that she has suffered, especially since they indicate the fact that I care very much for her and remember her throughout the years.

Marina's story is one that is very personal to me and one that I hope to be involved with in the future.

I first met Marina when she was brought to England on a respite holiday with a group that I helped to translate and generally herd children for! She was very thin, pale and withdrawn when she arrived. Despite being ten years old, we were buying her clothes that were labelled as for ages 5/6 years. By the end of her time in England, she looked a completely different child.

However, whilst she was in England, her mother was having her parental rights revoked due to her ongoing problem with alcohol. She was returning to Belarus to enter the care of an aunt and uncle who had a disturbing history. Along with many other people, I was extremely worried about Marina's fate.

On my visit to Belarus in the summer of 2004, I was determined to find out what had become of Marina as many people had lost contact with her. I was not optimistic of what I might find.

Much to my relief, at 1900 on the Thursday, when my flight was leaving Minsk at 1355 on the Friday, I found her in a village orphanage. She was there with her brother, Griesha, who I was not previously aware of. The aunt and uncle had decided that they did not want to help the children further.

I have tried to maintain contact with Marina and Griesha since I returned to England. My mother and I have been regularly sending parcels of clothes, toiletries and anything else that we think might be useful to them! During all future visits to Belarus, I will be visiting them and making sure that they have items of clothing, toiletries and healthcare basics that they need. I also plan to support them in the future. If they chose to apply to university of take up an apprenticeship, I will personally ensure that funding is available for them. I think that it is very important to give them opportunities such as this so that they are able to build a future for themselves, have the means to move out of the contaminated area of Belarus if they wish and simply to be happy in what they chose to do with their lives.

Marina (centre), Griesha (below her) and some of the other boys in the orphanage. Small gifts of toys cars, trucks and emergency service vehicles caused so much excitement with the boys, Griesha instantly became the most popular boy in the orphanage! He was very excited to show and share them with his friends. Boys from seven to sixteen years of age were scrambling round on the floor with them in delight. In a situation where Marina and Griesha are often considered to be the poorest, it made a huge difference to them to have outside interest and gifts.

It is difficult to elicit the details of health problems suffered by Marina and Griesha at the moment. I plan to discuss with them whether they would like to see a doctor in the nearby town and see if the medical professionals there can make any suggestions as to how best to help them. Marina is still very small for her age and Griesha is also, but not to such a degree. I have many differential diagnoses that come to mind when I see them, but I find it difficult to make clinical judgements when I am so involved personally! It is something that I will keep track of and document if Marina and Griesha agree.

The most generous gift I have ever received.

2005

I was able to visit Marina again during our stay in Belarus. Marina is a child who I have had a lot of contact with over the last three years and she has been through some very difficult times. Last year when I saw her, she was living in an orphanage because her mother’s parental rights had been revoked as a result of problems with alcohol. She had gone to live with an aunt and uncle, but had then been moved into the orphanage.

We visited her only shortly after her mother had died, so it was a very emotional visit for her. She is now living with another aunt and seems to be doing well. She told me that she would like to become a nurse when she finishes her schooling in two years time. Previously, I have offered to help her and her brother, Griesha, in whatever they chose to do in terms of training or university once they have finished school. This still stands and will be on a personal level rather than through the charity. Unfortunately, we were unable to see Griesha this visit as he was living with another family member in a different area, but Marina tells me that he is well and is working hard as school.

Marina with me and my mother. A very difficult visit for us, but it was good to see Marina, despite the sad circumstances. She now hopes to go into nursing when she finishes school.