Giving care is what this mom does
Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and as promised we are bringing you the second story in our Mother's Day trilogy special. Meet Eunice Khumalo who works at The Baby Home Durban North. Eunice’s motto: “Every child needs to be loved.”
EUNICE Khumalo has over 20 years experience as a care giver. “These women have seen so much that what we are normally sensitive about doesn’t phase them,” said Jo Teunissen.
So why does Khumalo love a job that makes this mother of two face the most severe and heart-wrenching problems South Africa has, through caring for abandoned babies each day?
“You see it in her eyes every time she comes to work. Gogo (Khumalo) believes that what she does makes a difference,” said Teunissen who is the house mother at The Baby Home Durban North where Khumalo works. Khumalo’s two biological children are adults now, but this 55 year-old grandmother of three adopted Avuyile Mkhize in 2013.
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Also known as Avo, Avuyile was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The first time Khumalo saw Avo was at the then, The Baby Home Umhlanga where she also worked. Avo came to the home when he was three months old and remained there for the next two years.
“Seeing no-one want Avo made me decide to adopt him, because every child needs love,” recalled the care giver. Khumalo says that Avo, now five years-old, is ‘too clever’. She added that she is not worried about her son’s development – which is affected in babies born with FAS.
“He underwent occupational therapy during his earlier years that has really helped. He is growing up well and he is at a mainstream pre-primary school,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo finally gave up the answer for her dedication saying, “A lot of babies need to be given love. That is why I love what I do.”
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