Naampun is a 13-year-old girl, born in the poor northeast of Thailand. She is still young but has already been through a lot in her short life. Recently there was great news for Naampun. This is her story.
Before Naampun was born, she already had an unfair disadvantage to her peers. She was born infected with the HIV-virus. Her mother had passed on the virus to Naampun and her older sister during the pregnancy. Not even born and already sentenced to a challenging life, it is not always fair. Soon after Naampun was born, her mother lost the battle against the HIV-virus. Naampun’s older sister also died when Naampun was still young. And as if that wasn’t enough already, Naampun’s father decided to leave his daughter behind and start a new family. Naampun has never heard from him since then.
Grandfather also passes away
Thankfully Naampun was blessed with a committed and very loving grandfather. He took care of his granddaughter and helped her with her medication. If an HIV-infected person takes medication on a daily basis, he or she can still continue to feel good and live a relatively normal life. Naampun grew up as a normal girl, she was happy. The family did not have much money, but thanks to Siam-Care Naampun was able go to school and prepare herself for the future that was ahead of her. Everything was fine, until fate struck again: her grandfather died quite suddenly. And Naampun was all alone again.
An orphanage as stopgap
Siam-Care has always been closely involved in Naampun’s life and stood beside her at this difficult time. Together we searched for housing for Naampun, who was still only 9 years old. All immediate family members were now deceased, but Naampun still had an aunt. However, she was poor and had three children to care for. She could not take care for Naampun at that moment in time. She had little to no knowledge of Naampun's infection and could not help her with her medication. After the death of her grandfather, Naampun did not want to take her more medication any longer. Aunt could not convince her of its importance. And so Aunt, Siam-Care and Naampun chose a stopgap: Naampun was going to live in an catholic orphanage, specializing in care for HIV-infected children. The orphanage was going to train Naampun in her medication use and keep her health situation stable.
Try to keep families together
Siam-Care tries to keep families together as much as possible. We do everything possible to help children stay in their own families, because we know from study after study that they’re better off there than in foster care. Orphanages provide regularity and structure, but children perform worse and develop demonstrably less. Yet there was no other solution for Naampun, partly because she did not want to take her medication at home. The orphanage Siam-Care had found for Naampun, was 350 kilometers away from aunt's home. Siam-Care remained visiting Naampun regularly to see how she was doing. Naampun quickly got used to the structure in the orphanage and also made some new friends. She learned why she should keep taking her medication and physically and mentally slowly developed.
Overwhelming joy
In the beginning of 2016, during a visit by Siam-Care to Naampun, Naampun shared her desire to move back to live with her aunt in her hometown. She had now learned why and how she needs to take her medication. Siam-Care staff shared this wish and started discussing the options with Naampun’s aunt. Our staff persuaded aunt to let Naampun move in with her and her children. Together we have also agreed to provide financial support so that Naampun can continue to go to school and have enough money to travel to the hospital periodically. We have also helped to find a good school and a good doctor back in Mukdahan, the hometown of Naampun and her aunt. Our staff collected all Naampun’s official documents from the orphanage and together with aunt we picked her up in March 2016. It was overwhelming to see the joy of Naampun, who will be part of a family again. An orphanage can provide regularity and structure, but it does not compare with the warmth, love and security that a family can give. Aunt and Siam-Care will continue together to take care of Naampun, a fragile and vulnerable girl. But due to the medication and love that she receives, also a girl with a bright future ahead of her. She is expected to finish her high school in about 6 years, which will allow her to find a job and take care of herself. And perhaps one day start a family of her own.
