Our Little Prince

How could I have been blogging for this long and not yet told you about little Mohammed?

  

 

I’ve only worked one-on-one with Mohammed for about ten hours total this year. Seriously, ten of my happiest hours in Jordan so far. There’s something special about this boy, whose body is utterly vulnerable, but whose spirit is strikingly serene.

Here’s an excerpt from a piece that I wrote for my host organization.

“He’s our little prince,” says Tamara, a long-term volunteer at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf. Indeed, seven-year-old Mohammed attracts attention wherever he goes on school grounds. Many of the Deaf students are eager to give him a hug, gently pinch his nose, or kiss him on the cheek.

But this adorable little boy has not always been so warmly received. Like many Deafblind children in Jordan (and much of the world), Mohammed was regarded not as a blessing, but as a source of shame for his family. Thus, he has suffered from serious neglect. For example, before he arrived at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf (around a year and a half ago), Mohammed had never received any form of nourishment other than plain milk.

The path towards physical and social development will be long and arduous for Mohammed. His obstacles include malnourishment, immobility, tactile defensiveness (recoiling from all touch), and the absence of communication skills. Slowly but surely, however, he is making progress. Mohammed can now sit up straight on his own strength and put some weight on his feet. In addition, he has largely overcome his tactile defensiveness; if approached properly, Mohammed is receptive to anyone.

And thankfully, here at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf, there are many people for him to receive – and who joyfully receive him.