Children Stories - Nour

Prior to camp 2010 starting, Gladys told me that a girl had just arrived at the orphanage that was severely abused sexually and physically.  It would turn out that I was to spend most of my time with Nour from the arrival to the camp to her departure, one full day, which was the most she could handle for her first camp experience.  I found out that Nour had been abused by her mother, father, and maternal grandmother.  And at just 8 yrs old had run away.  She was living in the streets when the police picked her up and brought her to the Home of Hope orphanage.  She had only been there two days when she was sent to camp.  Her hair was cut short as that of most girls upon arrival for health reasons.  Nour exhibited multiple problematic behaviors.  For example, she clung, wanted to be carried, or climbed on camp staff.  She would just as easily reject or attack the same staff.  She didn’t follow directions, had difficulty remaining seated, walked or  ran off from where she was supposed to be, fought, spit, scratched, bite many camp staff (not me but she tried) when they tried to redirect her or stop her, overate, under ate, washed her teeth and hands twice whenever she did or felt anxious, made herself bleed by scratching her ankle, cursed, had temper tantrums, attempted to hit camp staff with a broom, tossed things, engaged with adults more than peers, and sought cookies from the pantry.  Many leaders interacted with Nour and displayed love to her in spite of her behavior.  Esther, age 16, and I were two of her camp leaders.  Esther knew English.  She was amazingly calm, patient, and understanding beyond her years.   I helped the leaders understand Nour’s behavior, what they did to help and what didn’t.   At one point, I asked Nour how she slept.  She replied, “Not good.  I’m sick”.  I told her she was not sick, that people had hurt her, and it made her feel bad but she was not sick.  While Nour had great fun, on the swings, doing crafts, eating, singing, her behavior after several attempts to redirect her, led to her being removed from the evening program.  She wanted to run away, push away those by the door,  and was so out of control, that I asked Josh, our paramedic, if he had anything such as benadryl, in case we needed something later to help her sleep.  A call to the orphanage revealed that was receiving sleep medication but they had not sent it!  After several times when she spit it out and knocking it out of his hands, she took some.  Still not sleepy, Esther and I took her for a walk while her roommates settled in.  When she wanted to throw herself on the stone walkway because she was not being let run off, I suggested she lay down.  I reminded her that she had been hurt but we would not let her hurt herself, we would keep her safe.  She was tired but fighting sleep.   Suddenly, under the night sky, possibly reminiscent of her street survival, Nour fell asleep.  No soon had she fallen asleep, than I noticed water from underneath her.  She was bed wetting!  It didn’t matter to me.  Let her fall asleep, we can take her inside, put her to bed, and change her.  However, the wetness woke her.  Not wanting her to feel shame, I reassured her, and off we went to wash.  We sought through a bag with a few clothes garments and found an outfit.  In the bathroom mostly through signs, I communicated with her.  I began to hand wash her clothes.  That night someone slept in the room so Nour would not get up and run away.   The next day, before she left, at lunch she served each one at the table their watermelon, her act of love! - Dr. Sarai Padilla