Vini is an 11-year-old girl living with HIV. She weighs just 12kg, less than half the average of 28kg for a girl her age. Vini has been plagued with severe malnutrition due to her illness, which compromises her immune system. While both her parents have died, Vini receives a wonderful dose of love and devotion from her grandparents with whom she now lives. She is particularly attached to her grandfather, “Pak Salim”, who cherishes her and the time they spend together.
On the day I first visited Vini, with nurse Dadan from Rachel House, we found her totally engrossed in watching cartoons on TV. It was wonderful to watch nurse Dadan playing and engaging with Vini while he prepared her for the routine medical assessment.
Pak Salim, who had just returned home for lunch from his construction job, sat down with us and began to share Vini’s story. Pak Salim told of Vini’s childhood, how when she was about one and a half years old, her mother had died. Due to this misfortune and her father’s neglect, Vini has been cared for by her grandparents since she was a baby. Pak Salim remembered that in fact Vini had been found with health issues even while she was still in her mother’s womb and was born with lung conditions.
An unexpected diagnosis
Earlier this year, Vini’s health was declining dangerously for no apparent reason, so Pak Salim decided to bring her to the hospital. It was here that Vini was first diagnosed with HIV. Left undiagnosed and untreated for all these years, the disease had been wreaking havoc on Vini’s little body with the compromised immune system. She was also dangerously underweight most of her life.
Pak Salim continued by sharing about how Vini’s situation had begun to improve since the diagnosis when Vini was referred to Rachel House’s homecare service. He shared how much of a support the Rachel House nursing team has begun for Vini and the family.
Nurse Dadan has also noticed significant improvement in Vini over the past months as her illness has stablised, commenting that “although Vini’s weight hasn’t changed, she appears to be looking more fit and able to enjoy playing like children should.”
It is clear that Pak Salim loves his granddaughter and is very proud of her. During our visit, he kept asking Vini to show off several of the many drawings that she has done. He also mentioned with pride that, although Vini often feels tired, she has a fiery spirit that will not stop her from getting back up so that she can go out and play with her friends.
Devoted carers
Nurse Dadan and Pak Salim then begun to share a story about Vini’s recent birthday. When Vini was in the hospital not long before her birthday, her biggest wish was to have a big birthday celebration at home with her family and friends. So when she was discharged from the hospital, the Rachel House team helped her grandparents throw a birthday party. It ended up being a very big one because most of Vini’s neighbours and friends were also invited!
Despite having very little and living in a house that Pak Salim had built himself on someone else’s land, their hospitality and generosity is heart-warming. The constant food that was offered to us by Vini’s grandmother; Pak Salim’s face that radiated such gentleness, and his willingness and dedication to care for his grandchild; and Vini’s playfulness despite her sickness, can only make one feel welcome in their humble, yet awe-inspiring, household.
Pak Salim and his wife will continue to devote themselves to love and care for Vini, accompanied by the team at Rachel House, who will walk alongside them on these bumpy roads.
Story by Cynthia Clara D. Law.Photographs by Lawrence Aritao.
