Mother's Stories
Sometimes, I hear stories that are difficult to tell. Stories that leave me quiet for a long time before I even find the words. Today, I want to share the stories of three mothers here in Liberia. These are not just stories — they represent a painful reality many families face. These mothers gave birth safely. Their babies survived. But instead of going home with joy, they were held in the hospital because they couldn't complete their payment.
This is their story.
I met Martha at ELWA hospital in Monrovia. She had just given birth to a baby boy. When I saw her, she looked tired but happy. Her baby was sleeping quietly beside her. But that happiness didn't last.
A nurse came in and told her she couldn’t leave yet because her bill was not completed. I watched her face change immediately. Her smile faded, and her eyes filled with tears. Her husband works as a motorbike rider. He had already sold his phone to help pay part of the bill. Now, they had nothing left.
I watched as other mothers packed their things and went home with their babies. Martha stayed behind, holding her newborn tightly. That night, she told me quietly:
"I should be going home with my child… but I’m still here." Her baby started crying, and she struggled to sit up because she was still weak. I stood there, feeling helpless. A newborn child… already facing hardship on the second day of life.
Martha — Joy Turned Into Tears
Then I met Fatu. She came from outside Paynesville. She had complications during delivery and needed surgery to save her life.
Thankfully, both she and her baby girl survived. But the hospital bill was too high. Her husband was working in the interior and didn’t even know she had delivered. Her family lived far away and had no money.
Every day I visited, I saw her looking toward the hospital entrance. She was hoping someone would come for her. Nobody came. One afternoon, she asked a nurse softly if she could go home. The nurse shook her head.
I saw tears roll down her cheeks as she held her baby girl close. She whispered: "I brought my child into this world… but I can't even take her home." The room became quiet. It was one of the saddest moments I’ve witnessed.
Fatu — Waiting for Help That Never Came
The third mother I met was Hawa. She gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. She should have been celebrating. Instead, she was worried. Her husband had lost his job two months before the delivery. The hospital bill doubled because she had twins and needed extra care.
They paid part of the money, but it wasn’t enough. The hospital refused to discharge her. I noticed she hardly slept. She kept holding both babies close to her chest. One night, she told me:
"I don’t know how long they will keep us here… but I won’t leave my children." Her voice was weak, but her love was strong. She cried quietly while both babies slept peacefully beside her. I left that night feeling heavy in my heart