What’s in a name?

IF YOU were a policeman and you happened to be called out to an abandoned baby crisis, chances are that the infant will bear your name. I was curious to know how the babies, most of whom had been abandoned, were named.  After some meddling at one of the four babies’ homes in Durban North,  I learn’t that many of the babies were named after the policemen or women who rescued them or took the infants into child welfare services.

But not only do they take on the first name, the babies also take on the surname. And while some might argue that there is not much to a name, the process appeared somewhat callous.  But if they are fortunate enough to end up in a baby home like Domino Babies Home, it leaves one asking, what’s in a name? Spending just under one hour at the Domino Babies Home in Durban North cemented this idea in my head.

I had strolled in thinking, “they don’t even know the babies correct names, how can they just willy nilly name the child.” It did not take me long to understand what Shakespeare wrote when he said, “Whats in a name?” On entering the home that is situated just opposite Northwood School, one is met with such warmth from, not only the staff, but also from the babies.  Take the lively little fella who lights up the room at the home. He greets visitors with a warm, “shup shup” and sticks out his itsy bitsy thumb to denote the thumbs up sign. Staff think the boy, who is currently undergoing speech therapy, was named after the policeman who rescued him after his mother abandoned him.

The children are called fondly by their names and the staff not only know their names but they can rattle off each child’s personality. And while nobody knows what went through the mind of a university student who gave her new born baby boy up for adoption three months ago, we can sit with warmed hearts knowing that her baby boy who snuggled up to this journalist was in safe hands at the Domino Babies Home.

Even better news is that the student has told child welfare and the Domino Babies Home that she wants her baby back. A mother who gives her baby up for adoption has 60 days in which to decide if she is taking the right path. The dedicated “mothers” who staff the babies’ home put their hearts and souls into loving the little ones but there is no doubt that the child is often better off with its parents. While the home, that is run by the Domino Foundation does receive funding, its project manager, Melanie Turner said funding to raise awareness was lacking. They want to prevent mothers abandoning their babies – so give to this worthy cause. The north Durban area has four babies homes: La Lucia Baby Home (Contact Sheila 084 989 5432), The Domino Babies Home, also known as Fairhavens (Contact Melanie 031 563 9605), Ray of Hope Baby Home (Contact Rachel 031 563 8312) and House of Love and Hope, also known as Holah (Contact Kim on 083 232 5501).