A MOTHER'S LOVE

I met Shapiou and his mother a few months ago when he entered the Remember Niger Sponsorship Program so that he could attend the School of Hope for Children with Disabilities. I was moved by his story and wanted to share it with you so you can see how you are impacting the lives of children in Niger.
      Shapiou is a 10-year-old boy who had a motorcycle accident.  He was playing with his friends on the side of the road, when a motorcycle ran over his leg. Unfortunately, following this accident the doctors had to cut off his right leg below the knee to save him.  As a result, his mother, being poor with no income, was forced to sell everything she had to pay for the surgery and hospital.  This is a very important act in Nigerien culture. Here in Niger, when a young woman is preparing for her marriage, parents take care of giving her everything she needs before going to her home, such as: the bed, mattress, dressing table, kitchen utensils etc. These materials are objects jealously guarded by the woman because they are objects offered by the parents.  Their value is historical and sentimental for the woman.  She will keep them her entire life because they mean so much to her. But, Shapiou’s mother lost a whole story and memory of her life by selling her precious goods to save her son. We can say apart from being a good mother she also sacrificed her story and her memory.