Lusanda Lehoko

Born: February 26, 2003

Taken into the Baby Home: November 23, 2004

Lusanda was brought into the Baby Home in November 2004, when he was almost 2. His grandmother took care of him in one of the townships near Durban. Their neighbours were very worried about the way Lusanda was raised by his grandmother. Losing both parents to AIDS shortly after his birth, the only relative left that would take care of him was his maternal grandmother.

This however was too much for the old woman; besides the fact that she had to live from a meager pension, she was also completely blind.

When Lusanda was brought to the Baby Home he was in a very bad condition. Because his grandmother didn't have money to buy food or milk, he was severely undernourished. In addition to that, he had a bad infection to his lungs. He was very solitary and cried constantly.

After giving Lusanda antibiotics and feeding him properly for a while, he slowly began to change. Early 2005, after almost four months in the Baby Home, Lusansa is a happy child that can walk en goes to pre-school full of enthusiasm each day (with his own backpack, see picture). Lusanda is a funny and happy child, that laughs constantly and enjoys himself very much.