Trusting and Stoic

A Little One
Originally uploaded by interplast

Bamako, Mali - Bonnie MacEvoy, anesthesiologist: These kids are amazing. They spend most of their early life wrapped close on their mothers' backs, and have such a close sense of personal space. When we hold them in our lap to breathe them to sleep, rather than kick, push away, or have a tantrum, they give in and lean into us much sooner and closer than I am used to back home. They wander all over the neighborhoods as soon as they can walk, and have large extended families that include neighbors and friends. Very different sense of trust and community. There really have been very few children who have fought us, and it humbles me to watch them be so stoic through this experience.