The future now looks less dim for 12-year-old *Susie (not her real name) and her one-month-old baby daughter as they are now in a stable home in the care of other relatives.
A paternal aunt, who has since taken the mother and baby into her care, told Sunday Stabroek that she does not “have a lot” but would do her best to make them happy.
She said she knew of the girl’s pregnancy but did not know she had the baby and about the struggles she was going through.
After she read the article in this newspaper two Sundays ago she was touched, she said. The story also impacted on several other kind-hearted persons who have also offered to help.
The woman, who this newspaper was only able to contact a few days ago, said she could not allow Susie and the baby to continue to “punish” so she visited the Child Care & Protection Agency (CCPA) in Region Five the next day and offered to take them.
The officers told this newspaper that if she had not shown up the two would have been placed in foster care. They then inspected the woman’s home and agreed to let them go there instead.
Susie, who lived a life of abject poverty with her alcoholic parents, was raped by a neighbour when she was an 11-year-old Grade Six student.
Afraid to tell anyone, her parents only learnt of her ordeal after they realized she was pregnant.
The matter was reported to the CCPA in Region Five and to the police but the 20-year-old suspect was on the run.
A few days after the story was published Balram Mohan was arrested and charged for the offence. He was subsequently placed on $200,000 bail, which he was unable to post and remained imprisoned.
The CCPA had at first placed Susie in the home of her maternal relatives. From there she was sent to write the National Grade Six Assessment exams in the early stage of her pregnancy and was awarded a place at a secondary school.
But about three weeks after the baby was born she returned to the one-bedroom home of her alcoholic parents. When this newspaper had visited their home her mother’s breath reeked of alcohol.
The girl and the baby were immediately removed from the home after the CCPA officers found out she was there.
Rehabilitation
The officers told this newspaper that they would take the parents, especially the mother, into rehabilitation for the alcohol abuse. They are also making arrangements for Susie to return to school, noting that she is a “wise” girl.
She breastfeeds her baby which is still a struggle but the aunt said she is making an effort to purchase milk for the baby as well.
The woman said the milk is expensive and she would be grateful if persons can assist in purchasing the milk and provide any other help for the baby.
Susie had told this newspaper that she had to breastfeed the baby almost the entire night and would not get to sleep. Now, the aunt said, the baby only wakes up once, about 3 am, for a feed.
Meanwhile, Susie is still receiving $5,000 per month public assistance from the government. The CCPA officer had said that as soon as the documents are ready Susie would also start receiving public assistance for her baby.
She had said too that when Susie gave birth at the Georgetown Public Hospital officers visited her and took items for the baby.
Persons from her area also gave the baby a few pieces of used clothing, which she was thankful for, but the baby is outgrowing them really quickly.
