The Children
When "Nancy" was only 6 years old she was diagnosed as a psychopath and given medications to deal with her violent anger. At one point a doctor who was working with Lina, saw a girl in the street who really upset him. She was "like an animal", he said, "biting and screaming in terror". It turns out she was Nancy. Nancy got to AF a few years later.
Nancy's been at AF since it opened it's doors as a full time children's home. She is long off medications. And now she smiles, and hugs and laughs with the other children.
Like all the children at Casa Hogar Ave Fénix, Nancy now knows what it is to be part of a family full of love.
When "Pedro" arrived at AF his expression and demeanor showed that he was full of rage. His grandmother and DIF (the local department of family services) brought him there, dropped him off and there he was, ready to fight the world. And he did. He hit things, broke things and threw things violently. Luckily he didn't aim at the other children. His expression never changed. And Lina wondered if there was any hope for him. He was 7 years old.
One day a few weeks after he arrived Lina saw him nearby, still full of anger, ready to defend himself from the world. Lina called him over and pulled him onto her lap. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry", she said over and over, and he began to cry. He cried and cried and it seemed he never would stop. When he finally did, and his tears were dried, his expression was totally changed.
The next day Berenice, Lina's daughter, asked her what had happened with Pedro. "He's like a completely different person", she said.
And he still is!
Who says miracles don't happen?
When "Susan" arrived at AF she was 9 years old. She'd been living with her aunt who was physically abusive, pinching her face, bashing her in the face with a frying pan, trying to drown her, threatening to kill her. She arrived at AF very defensive and tried to isolate herself as much as possible. She wanted nothing to do with the other children.
Recently, almost 4 years later, Susan received a gift of some money to buy herself something special, maybe a new sweater, or something she really wanted. Instead, she spent it on candy and little gifts that she gave to the other children.
When "Juanito" arrived at AF he was 2 years old. DIF and his oldest sister brought him and his sisters to AF. His mother was drug addicted and in a Rehab center. He and 6 siblings had been living with their impoverished grandmother. The grandmother was severely physically abusive with them, making their "home" a very unsafe place to live.
Juanito is now 6 years old. Just before mother's day, Lina overheard him singing a song he had learned in school for the mother's festival. "¿Quién me da la sopa? Mi mamá. Mi mamá" (Who gives me my soup? My mama, My mama.) He sang it over and over. Then he whispered to his sister that he didn't want Lina to hear because it had to be a surprise. His sister said, "Lina isn't your mother. Your mother is Josefina." Juanito responded, "Yes, but Josefina isn't here"
These are just a few stories of the children who live at Casa Hogar Ave Fénix. Each child has a story that breaks one's heart, then warms it again when you see the children now, laughing, playing and enjoying the love and safety that surround them.
