Baby Anaya

Baby Anaya (name changed) came to Palna through the cradle as a 2-day old infant in June 2021, as an unknown, abandoned infant. As the baby’s weight in the cradle set off the siren in the PALNA premises, a nurse took baby Anaya to our in-house Medical Crisis Unit. Like so many others, Anaya arrived in PALNA in a precarious state of health.

A preliminary examination by the PALNA medical staff revealed that though the baby weighed a normal 2kg, she showed signs of birth trauma caused by a difficult delivery, and had multiple deformities in all four limbs (skeletal dysplasia). TORCH test showed Cytomegalovirus IgM positive (maternally transmitted infection). This is manifested in a short, left forearm, missing finger in the right hand, right foot unformed and small left foot with unseparated toes.

She has been under the care of the PALNA medical team since her arrival, and also gets regular physiotherapy as well as nutritional supplements. Now she weighs 9kg and is a happy and active child, and responds immediately to her name. She recognises the voices of the staff and other children and greets every familiar face with a gorgeous smile, though she’s shy with strangers!  She has earnt to use her hands well and pulls the doctor’s stethoscope with her thumb every time the doctor comes across to her!

In a wonderful development, a family chose to adopt Anaya, and our little nestling is flying  out of our nest to join her own loving family.