By Elizabeth Grezda | Executive Director
Dear friends,
Each of you have formed our circle of support coming around new mothers, and we hope and pray that you are well.
I looked back at our first donation, coming from our courageous director at the time who left a note on her donation that said: I believe there is a need for this project and I believe it can directly impact maternal and infant wellbeing!
Your decision to support mothers and newborns means more than you might realize. Every day in our maternity hospitals, families face moments of deep vulnerability—when the right words and hands-on support can change everything. These days we regularly hear back from moms in the community who experienced the care we bring to them on the first days after birth, and we know that the work is still making a large impact, one mother at a time.
Because of supporters like you, mothers will not face those first moments alone. Every month we are able to distribute baby boxes to 5 different hospital wards and we provide lactation support and new mother classes to around 200 women and their babies. Here is a report from today's visit to the ward:
Today there were many mothers in the ward. They were engaged, cooperative, and actively sought help with breastfeeding. They were also open to Alda’s guidance.
A few moments stood out. One was a radiology student who radiated joy about her baby—her energy felt different. Even though she was well-informed, she warmly accepted Alda’s advice. I was struck by how differently mothers cope with having a baby in intensive care. One remained calm and was reunited with her baby today. Another struggled more, but with Alda’s support and encouragement, she felt reassured.
Finally, there was a mother of three who said this felt like her first child. Her first baby has severe paralysis, and caring for her second while managing medical needs had been very difficult. Despite everything, she showed incredible strength and called her youngest daughter a fighter.
Thank you for continuing to be a part of our community of support for new mothers and babies in Albania. Every time you give or share with someone else about our work, we know we can keep working to bring dignity, compassion, and hope to the maternity ward.
We grateful for you and hopeful along with you that maternity hospitals here would truly be places of happy beginnings!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Grezda
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