A Time to Say Goodbye to old friends and to welcome new friends

11-05-2009

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A Time to say Goodbye / A Time to say Hello

Doctor Vera:

We would like to say goodbye and the very best of luck to Dr Vera Munteanu who is leaving us after 8 years of service as one of ORM's principle Doctors. She has been appointed as the Director of the Medical Clinic in the town of Hincesti and takes on an enormous task of running such a busy service. 

We are grateful to Dr Vera for all her years working relentlessly for the health and well being of the children. While Dr Vera's background is in Endocrine medicine, she has proved to be a wonderful general specialist and has assisted the ORM medical team in all areas of care. 

While we are terribly sad to see such a wonderful doctor go, we are very proud of her new appointment and wish her only the best with her new career path. We would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate her on the birth of her new grandchild - David. Health and happiness to you all.

New Beginings for old  Friends:

While ORM is a supporting NGO providing essential services for children with special needs and palliative care needs, it is the Moldovan Government that structure and assess the residential units throughout the Moldova and decide on placement and transfer of all in their care. The new progressive Democratic Government in place since October is restructuring the entire social welfare spectrum and addressing all institutions. They have our full support as they address and tackle the reform process of deinstitutionalisation. 

When ORM started working in Hincesti 9 years ago, little did we know that 9 years down the line we would still be here and caring for the children who have now become adults. It has been a privilege and an honour to have been able to care for such incredible children and when they fly the nest, they leave a hole as big as an ocean in our hearts.

Yet again it is the children and the young adults that teach us much more from life than we could ever teach them. Yesterday we said goodbye to 5 larger than life characters from Hincesti as they started on their new journeys of life. While their new adventures bring excitement and anticipation, for those of us here, we lament their departure. They will be missed by one and all who had the privilege to call them family. Early morning cups of tea before school, afternoon checkups, up's and downs of daily teenage lives. We will be seeing them all in a few days and until then, enjoy your new homes, knowing that your extended families here and in Ireland are sending you only positive energy and much love.

Maria (22 years old) came to us when she was 14. She left yesterday a different person, full of life having touched the hearts of us all. A very different young woman that entered the gates 8 years ago, unsure of what lay ahead, determined not to like Hincesti. Most people associate Maria with smoking, and yes she smoked, she arrived at Hincesti a smoker but she wasn't just Maria the smoker. She was one of the most caring and trusting people you could ever meet. She struggled with school and struggled to make friends in the beginning but she overcame it all and won over everyone's hearts with her capacity to show genuine care for others. She can now read, write, cook and take care of all her independent tasks of daily living. All her friends and little sisters were there yesterday to wish her well and while she arrived all alone, she left with a family in the hundreds. We would like to thank Trish Hollywood, her sponsor, for taking such an active and ongoing role in Maria's life from Ireland.   

Natasa (23 years old) arrived at Hincesti Orphanage when she was 11 years old and 12 years later is moving on to make a new home. Hincesti was a different place when Natasa arrived and her determination to survive, made her the independent young woman she is today. Natasa enjoyed strong friendships and trusted those closest to her. She is such a hardworking young woman, helping out in the kitchens, the group and she excelled at all sports. She gained the nickname of Magpie early on, where she horded all things that glittered. She loved the special outings with the volunteers to the beach, the market, the amusement parks and bumper cars. She is a well rounded young woman that will be missed by all her young sisters.

Zina (20 years old) came to Hincesti orphanage only 4 years ago at the age of 16. Having come from a family environment, she found it incredibly difficult to adapt. She is fiercely independent and full of life and vitality. You get the feeling from Zina that she has an old head on young shoulders and that somehow she was here before. Her mum, brother, sister and uncle all came to see Zina off on her new journey. She had spent much of the 4 years between home and the orphanage making it difficult to adapt each time she came back. While she avoided making bonds with the other children she formed real friendships with those who cared for her, especially with our formidable volunteer manager Mercy. Her new home will bring her much independence and hopefully more peace.

Veronica (28 years old) arrived in Hincesti when she was 6 years old, so all her memories of her formative years are with Hincesti. She is a young woman who on first meeting can confuse you into thinking that she a loner. I have lost count the amount of times volunteers have come to the office to say that a child outside has a broken mirror in her hand and could be in danger. She lived for her mirror, all 2 x 3 cm of it. She loved to dress up, inspect herself in the mirror and if you tried to take it away from her, you would know all about it. She always knows what she wants and while her means of self expression can be distressing at times, she is quick to calm and quick to recover and was never a danger to herself or others. She formed some of the strongest bonds of all the children at Hincesti and moves on to her new home filled with excitement.

Vera (21 years old) arrived at Hincesti when she was just 5 years old. Vera is such an inquisitive character that loves to check her surroundings out through her senses she made her decisions on how something smelled, how someone spoke, their tone of voice. While Vera was on the very severe end of the autistic spectrum, her ability to communicate with us non verbally was amazing. She was a joy to work with and it was a pleasure to watch her progress daily. She became independent with eating, hygeine and dressing. Although her ability to form bonds with others was limited, her trust once gained was rooted in her routine and she flourised. While this new change will bring it's own challanges in her life, we are hoping that she settles quickly and enjoys her new home and surroundings.

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A very Big Hello to all our new Friends:

The children;

We would like to say a very big hello and welcome to all the new children that have been placed temporarily in the care of Hincesti Orphanage. ORM will ensure that you have everything you need, medically and socially to make the trasition seamless and without stress.

We welcome, Ionella, Angela, Aurelia, Felicia, Adriana, Corina, Gabriela, Doina & Marianna.

The staff;

We would like to welcome Dr Nadia Gergilas to the medical team to replace Dr Vera. With a background in Paediatric medicine and having worked for us previously as a night doctor; it is our pleasure to welcome you to the medical team and we look forward to working with you.