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We received Brenda a 14-year-old teen mom through the Lubaga Hospital teen safe space. She was defiled by a neighbour who kidnapped, abused and abandoned her in an unfinished building in their neighbourhood. He threatened to harm her should she reveal what had happened to her. Brenda was in shock and did not tell her Auntie whom she lived what had happened to her, afraid that the perpetuator would kill her as he had warned. What she did not know was that she had conceived as a result of this incident, and of course, one cannot hide a pregnancy forever.
When our team was called to support her, Brenda was weeping painfully; she was depressed and was struggling to accept that she was pregnant. She refused to eat as an attempt to end her life. Brenda needed counselling and mental health support. Even though the perpetrator was imprisoned and her case is being pursued, Brenda’s life was being threatened. She needed a place where she could feel safe, protected and loved.
After a series of counselling sessions and specialized care to for Brenda, she accepted her baby and even began to look forward to holding him in her arms. She had her antenatal care reviews until she was 35 weeks along, when she got preterm labour pains. On October 13th, Brenda underwent an emergency caesarean section and gave birth to a baby boy – she named him “Joy”.
At birth, Joy was in foetal distress. Joy was asphyxiated with a very low oxygen score of of 4/10 and weighed 2.6kgs (5.7lbs). He was rushed to the neonatal unit in a critical condition where he spent 4 days. They were later discharged in a fairly good condition. One week later, however, Joy’s condition worsened and he was readmitted because he was still having difficulty breathing. After 3 days of close monitoring and regular tests, results indicated that the baby’s heart had a small PDA. According to the cardiologist, this should close by the time he makes 3 months, but we were advised that if it fails to close then surgical measures will be taken. Brenda is grateful as she testifies that it could have been a life lost if we did not intervene. She says
“I am forever grateful that The Remnant Generation saved my baby and I.”
Brenda is a strong girl and she loves her baby very much. Baby Joy is still in hospital. It costs about $57 per day for the medications, special tests, and general facilitation for our nurse and teen mom while in hospital. Join us in believing for complete healing.