Buzovgrad

The Maternal Home of Buzovgrad is also called the "Maria Luiza" Orphanage. It is in the village
of Buzovgrad and is a specialized medical institution for 105 children with an increased
medical-social risk. The children are medically treated, raised, rehabilitated and educated in
the institution and many are with a disability. Some of the conditions include infantile cerebral
paralysis, hydrocephalus, microcephalia, inborn malformations, genetic diseases, delay in the
mental development and others.

The medical institution is divided into three children's sectors, each in a separate building.
Children from all over the country are admitted - from families, maternity wards, children
hospitals, or other homes for medical-social care. The Home has a status for children up to 3
years of age, but with a possibility to raise children with a disability or a disease up to 7 years
of age. However, children are raised in the institution to 10-11 years of age, because no other
institution for older children can provide them with the medical care they need.

The Maternal Home of Buzovgrad also admits healthy children.

Observations from a trip to the Maria Luiza orphanage...

We arrived in Buzovgrad mid-day. There to greet us were Gencho and Ella, two wonderful people
who quickly became our friends. They work with the Cedar Foundation, which is based in Bulgaria
and does the same type of humanitarian aid as Love's Hope.

We went inside and met the orphanage director, who was very warm and welcoming. She
immediately gave us a tour of the orphanage. It was composed of several buildings housing
children of various ages and disabilities. She told us the orphanage was mainly for children 0-3,
most with disabilities but also some without. She said many of the children with disabilities
stayed beyond the age of 3, as this orphanage was the only one who knew how to care for the
children... or even cared about caring for the children.

We met beautiful little children who are healthy, and beautiful children with disabilities. We met a
child whom the orphanage director told us was dying of kidney failure. There was nothing to do
but make death peaceful when it came. We met Vanessa, a courageous 12 year old with a spinal
condition that bends her backwards in an unnatural position. We met Gloria, who despite her
infirmities had an infectious grin that captivated us and made us smile. We met Christo, who lay
sleeping due to the illness he had. And we met Rusko, the child who touched me the most - a
child of 9 who was the size of a 3 year old... just laying there staring into our eyes, skin so thin
and pale that it was translucent, with beautiful big brown eyes. All the children seemed to
implore us to help.

We next toured the kitchens and washrooms, both in need of new machinery and equipment.
One of the greatest needs is new industrial washers and dryers so that the children can have
clean clothes. We also were taken to the back of the building where we saw the roof was badly
in need of repair. They had repaired other patches of the roof, but needed the rest of it repaired
before November when the winter weather sets in and snow falls upon the ground. We agreed
with the orphanage director to help raise funds for these two needs.

After our tour we went to the upstairs baby rooms. There they were replacing the broken,
rusted and worn windows with brand new windows. Windows purchased by Love's Hope
International, Inc.... Made possible by our supporters. This would keep the heat, bugs, etc... out
in the summer and keep the heat in and snow out during the winter. The windows also are more
energy efficient, allowing the orphanage to spend less money on heating and cooling, and more
money on important things, like feeding the children. We also were able to donate two large bags
filled with clothes, coats, shoes and hats for the children; nearly 200 toothbrushes from a donor
in GA; and a bag filled with shampoos and lotions.

As we left the orphanage, there were about 8-10 toddler aged children outside playing. They
were all Roma, like my son Michael - the most discriminated against of the nationalities living in
Bulgaria. But the orphanage director was unbiased and called the kids over for some hugs and
some of her chocolates (a rare treat!). They went to savor their treats on a bench in front of
the orphanage. As our car rolled away, we rolled down the window and waved to the children.
They smiled their chocolatey, sunshine grins and waved back.