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En el Hogar de María en Mar del Plata At the “Home of Mary” in Mar del Plata Im “Hogar de Maria” in Mar del Plata |
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Nico en el baño Nico in the bathroom Nico beim Zähneputzen |
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Almuerzo Noon meal Mittagessen |
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Lavadero Laundry Room Wäscherei |
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Con la nutricionista With the nutritionist Mit der Ernährungsberaterin |
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Volviendo del colegio Returning from school Zurück aus der Schule |
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Gimnástico Gymnastic Gymnastik Fotos: Hogar de Maria © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA, Mercedes Rom. In Mar del Plata, Argentina, there is now a light of hope for mentally handicapped children who do not have a family. That is, those who did not have a family because now they have found a home in the "Home of Mary" which was founded by Mercedes de Rom, the mother of a little girl with Down’s Syndrome. The Home of Mary is her response in the Covenant of Love to God’s message through the birth of her daughter.
A day as any day begins in the Home of Mary.
Early in the morning, around 7:30 A.M., a child awakens. It is Nicholas. As he opens his eyes, there is someone smiling close to him. "Good morning!" Nick, perhaps joyful this morning, perhaps yawning, but without a doubt wanting to stay a little longer in bed, stretches his arms toward those arms which await him…..arms full of love, of dedication, of service.
Nicholas begins his day. He washes his face and brushes his teeth. Perhaps he does it by himself, slowly, learning every day to handle the soap, observing and slowly trying to learn to brush his teeth. Daily he fights the great temptation to play with the water unaware of the time. Or, perhaps he is helped by someone who magically turns the soap into a fish which needs to be caught. The tooth brush is converted into a small airplane which washes the recesses of the mouth and the tap water becomes a river filled with small boats. All is guided by a plan which trusts in Nicholas’ abilities. It is all planned out for him by a loving and professional occupational therapist.
Nick returns to his room to dress himself. His clothing is laid out for him. Hands of volunteers either went out to seek the clothing or received it, they chose it, altered it and put it away. The hands of servants sewed it, washed it and ironed it, and the hands of therapist aides offer the clothing to Nick so that he can try to dress himself.
Nicholas goes to breakfast. His breakfast is ready. The hands of a cook prepared it delicately, following exactly the instructions of a nutritionist who put together the best alimentary plan for Nicholas so that he may grow strong and healthy.
Nick grows
After breakfast, the van arrives. Nick leaves for his special school. There he will try to develop his capabilities and is led by special teachers and technicians who while working together with technicians from the Home of Mary have a special work plan for him.
On Tuesday mornings he goes swimming. In addition to the therapeutic benefits of swimming, Nick plays and enjoys without worry each moment he is in the water and Nick grows…..
Around 12:30 P.M. he returns to the Home of Mary. Someone greets him –"Hello, Nick! How was your day at school? Did you bring your assignment tablet? Let’s see what it says: Meeting to return journals on…..Tomorrow you have to take a blue poster board….."
Nick is hungry. His lunch is ready. In front of him is his plate of food and the great challenge to acquire step by step the "daily habits of life". An attentive therapist aide is close by, not too close in order to stimulate his capabilities but not too far so that he can guide him and help him acquire behavioral models. Next comes dessert. Nick eats cheese and quince candy. The cheese is purchased each month by a volunteer and the candy is a gift by an anonymous donor each month.
Nick is tired. Perhaps he may sleep for a while. In the meantime, the telephone rings constantly in the office which is not far from his room. The activities are many: suppliers deliver goods, the security insurance which comes due tomorrow must be renewed, reports to the Office of Minors must be sent to La Plata, catechists arrive for their lessons, the technical team meets to go over their plans, a meeting for the Thursday therapeutic aides is organized, a call to the pharmacy for some medicine, a messenger arrives with money collected by volunteers, the event planning group calls for a list of businesses which collaborate with the Home for Mary, an urgent call from the court system asking for the assistant social worker, a call from the accountant for the paying of taxes, information is needed on the legal guidelines for renewing the work contracts, visitors arrive at the Home for Mary and coffee must be prepared…..
Someone Will Watch Over Him Throughout the Night
In the afternoon there are workshops for Nick. At times they take place in the garden where perhaps that same morning a group of women planted seeds of hope. Sometimes the workshops are inside where someone is constantly busy fixing chairs or faucets.
Nick works hard in the workshops. Bathroom skills and habits are also quite a task.
His body and his health are tended to by his doctor who examines him, offers suggestions, tends to certain things and prevents many more.
The day is coming to an end as is endurance. It is time for the evening bath with soap and sponge.
It is now time for a common supper where all are of one heart with someone who arrives at the Home of Mary precisely at the moment the children need to be doted upon. Nicholas goes to his bed. It is clean and warm. His pajamas and his Baby Jesus await him under his pillow. The silence of the night brings the day to an end. This was a day of much work…..much effort…..much dedication…..many agreements…..many disagreements…..many successes…..many stumblings…..many, many learning experiences…..much giving of self…..much service…..much love…..
Nicholas sleeps in peace…..serene…..free from worry. Someone will tend to him throughout the night…..someone who will leave very early in the morning and whom he may not see.
We believe Nick was happy today.
The Mission of the "Home of Mary"
The "Home of Mary" has as its mission to attend to the social needs, the healthcare needs, and the psychosocial needs of children and adolescents, regardless of sex, who have some mental deficiency (with or without problems of motor skills) between the ages of 3 and 15 and who do not have a family. They also serve children with families who for different reasons these families are not able to tend comletely to their basic needs. The basic aim of the small home is to safeguard and to restore the value of the concept of HOME so that this stage in the lives of the children and adolescents who live there can result in a good experience to help them develop wholly as persons and that they may exercise the legitimate and inalienable rights which every human being has to grow, to live and to develop his capabilities with dignity. The latest project they are working on is a project to extend the ages of the adolescents at the home to 21 years of age.
Translation: Carlos Cantu, LaFeria, TX, USA