In a tiny one-room home in central Jakarta, a young girl celebrates a very special 5th birthday. On this happy day, little Diana* is surrounded by several generations of her family and some of the nurses from Rachel House; cuddling her new friend with joy and glee – a giant pink Hello Kitty that is […]
Tyas is almost 15. She was just seven years old when she first heard the word “tumour”, back in 2010. She didn’t understand the meaning of the word back then, nor the impact it would have on her future. The agonising treatment, paralysis and the eventual amputation. Tyas’ story is one that tells of the […]
Little Jessika (not her real name) is only seven years old, but has already experienced more adversity in her short years than most of us will in an entire lifetime. Her life has been one medical procedure or tragedy after the other. Yet despite her multiple illnesses and challenges, Jessika remains a happy child who […]
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 […]
Reaching the home of five-year-old Caca (not her real name) is a challenge. To enter this kampung (high-density, low-income urban settlement) in East Jakarta, you need to crouch down to pass under a wall. Having successfully navigated this first obstacle, you must then thread your way carefully along narrow, muddy paths beside canals that are fetid in the dry […]
“Ivan weighed only 7.2kgs when he was referred to Rachel House in August – far below the normal weight for an 18-month infant. He was suffering from severe malnutrition and lung tuberculosis, and was being fed through a nasogastric tube, which can cause great discomfort.” As told by Nurse Ana – all photos Ryner St […]
Ira has been living all her life with a very serious illness, she has never known anything different. Like any other six-year-old girl, she loves to sing and dance. Her favourite movie, like many young girls across the world, is Frozen. Ira lives with her family in a small house in Jakarta. Late last year, […]
Yogi was 16 years old when he had a motorbike accident and broke his arm. About a month after the accident, his arm became swollen and he was in a terrible pain. The X-rays showed that Yogi had a malignant bone cancer, or Osteosarcoma. The doctors initially proposed to amputate Yogi’s arm to prevent the […]
Fadil is six, and absolutely adores music. He is often seen with his toy guitar, singing and dancing to a tune. He lives with his parents in a rented room (measuring four by five meters) in a crowded area of north Jakarta. Fadil has been sick for as long as he can remember. When he […]
Have you ever wondered what it is like for Rachel House’s nurses to care for children with life-threatening illnesses in and around the metropolitan city of Jakarta? Then read this story by Dadan, one of Rachel House’s nurses, about his journey in bringing love and care to Teguh, a five-year-old boy living with HIV. “The […]