Please help: woman in need

Dear Blogsphere,

A part of my life that I don’t really touch on here is that I am a doula. That means that I support mamas during the birth of their sweet babies. I also help women before and after they have their little treasures. It was something that called out to me as a path in the first few weeks after Aodhan’s birth, and I am passionate about the work I am able to do.

Recently, I have been volunteering my time to work with clients that might not otherwise have access to doula care. Through this work I have been linked up with a client who is in need like no one I have ever met in my life. (She has given me permission to share the very basics of her situation, so please don’t think I am violating her privacy.)

She has very recently escaped from an oppressive country. In fleeing, her husband was killed. Pregnant and widowed, she continued her journey of escape with her 2 year old son. She has since been granted refugee status, which affords her the very basic care and housing. She speaks zero English and has no family to help share her burden.

I thought that it made sense to reach out to the readers of this blog to help make a difference to this woman before she delivers her baby this summer.

I have asked her what her material needs are and she says that she needs:

towels
a baby bath
a carrier or stroller
nursing bras
cloth diapers
crib

I created a donate button through PayPal to make it easy for folks to reach out to this woman. If you don’t feel comfortable giving money and you live in Canada, I would be happy to find a way to get your material donations to her. If you have a closet full of old nursing bras, or an old sling or some cloth diapers gathering dust, please let me help you figure out a way to get these items to this woman.

 I know it is a lot to ask, and I truly understand that there are many, many mothers and fathers who struggle and experience grief and trauma. I also know that many of us are not in a position to give. I only ask that you pass this on. I ask that you tweet this and share this in as many ways as possible and as often as possible.

If you want to help in any other way, or offer suggestions or good thoughts, please share in the comments section and I will have them translated into her language.

Thank you for reading this, sharing this and donating what you can.