GMF#6 | The price of a child's life

TL;DR: Revisiting the heart of Give.Asia's impact, ChildMed, brings forth poignant tales of hope and uncertainty. Amid the lives touched across Asia, stories like Baby Hoai An's abandonment resonate deeply, showcasing the dual nature of humanity. Addressing financial fears, we collaborate with Dr. Hartini to provide an alternative to parents considering abandonment. As the cost of saving a child's life ranges from astronomical drug prices to modest expenses, our role remains to offer hope, assistance, and a stronger society through stronger families.

• ChildMed's journey reflects humanity's blend of hope and uncertainty.

• Baby Hoai An's story highlights the challenges parents face in desperate situations.

• Partnering with Dr. Hartini aims to reduce child abandonment driven by financial fears.

• The cost of saving a child's life varies greatly, from expensive treatments like Zolgensma to more modest support.

• Our role is to provide hope, assistance, and contribute to building a resilient society by supporting families in need.

Dear Self, 🖐️

Let's take a step back into the journey of ChildMed (learn more here), the heart of Give.Asia's impact. It's time to share a handful of heartfelt stories that have guided our course – stories that reflect the dual nature of being human, a mixture of hope and uncertainty that walks beside us.

Recall the years that have passed, marked by the lives ChildMed has touched across Asia. Within these stories, there are certain tales that have stayed with me. They remind me of the challenges we've faced and the moments that have defined our mission.

One such tale is that of Baby Hoai An. Imagine a baby abandoned, left hanging on a tree in a plastic bag due to a rare disease. It's a heart-wrenching image that paints the extremities of desperation. But within this story, there's a glimmer of light. Monks found the baby, refusing to give up where parents had. They scraped together what they could and flew him to Singapore for treatment. Together with Give.Asia, their effort showed promise, until a sudden turn brought tragedy. Such stories leave a lingering question – did we do all we could?

This narrative isn't an isolated incident. The desperation that drives parents to abandon their child is more common than we'd like to believe. It's a decision born from fear, from the overwhelming burden of medical expenses. And it's a weight I can't begin to fathom as a father myself.

In recent times, we've partnered with Dr. Hartini, a children's advocate in Malaysia. Hospital Serdang witnesses abandoned premature babies regularly (see how you can support here) – a heartbreaking occurrence that stems from mothers escaping under the cover of night due to financial anxieties. We're striving to change this narrative, to offer an alternative where parents don't feel compelled to make such heart-wrenching choices.

The idea is simple yet profound – if parents know there's support within our community, perhaps they won't feel forced to abandon their children due to financial concerns. No parent should have to face such a choice. For a child, the embrace of a parent is invaluable, and society as a whole benefits when families are stronger, more resilient.

The cost of saving a child's life can swing from jaw-dropping amounts for breakthrough treatments like Zolgensma, a staggering USD2.1 million for a single shot to help babies with spinal muscular atrophy, to the more humble expenses of supporting a premature baby's fight for life. Through ChildMed's journey, I've come to understand that the value of a child's life is beyond measure. Our role isn't to play god, but to provide a ray of hope, to offer assistance in a time of need.

As we continue down this path, let's hold on to our resolve. Let's kindle the flames of hope, one story at a time, one child at a time. 🌟🤗🖐️