Newborn baby abandoned at the hospital by his parents for looking strange

Having children can be the single most terrifying thing people go through. New parents imagine a healthy baby, and hope for the best, wishing nothing but perfection for their child. When that wish doesn’t come true, it can be heartbreaking as not everyone has the ability to care for disabled children, whether this is for an emotional or financial reason. One child was abandoned at a Ukrainian hospital when they discovered their child had hydrocephalus. An orphanage took him in and cared for him until he found his forever home.

An orphanage takes in a little boy with hydrocephalus

When little Dima was born, his parents got some very bad news. They noticed he didn’t look like the other babies in the hospital he was born, and the doctors informed them their child had a condition known as hydrocephalus. Dima’s parents, who have not been identified, could not bear the idea of caring for a baby with such difficulties. Tragically, they abandoned him at the hospital.

The doctors and nurses at the hospital cared for him after Dima’s parents left. After some time, they contacted an orphanage in Kramatorsk, Eastern Ukraine, who took Dima into their care. By the time he turned four years old, his condition had shown no signs of improvement. He could not walk, talk, or eat by himself. This meant he was completely reliant on the staff at the orphanage.

The orphanage had to relocate

In 2014, Ukraine saw the first signs of conflict with Russia. The orphanage was in a precarious location, and they were forced to close their doors and relocate to safer grounds. They held little hope for Dima, and they called a priest to pray for him as they believed he was going to die during the move. They had a shortage of food and water, but little Dima managed to survive.

Then, a miracle happened. A married couple, Earnest and Ruth Chaves from America, who had previously adopted seven other children, heard little Dima’s story. The Chaves wanted to adopt him and move him to Vermont where they live. They took him in with love and care and renamed him Zebadiah.

Earnest and Ruth gave so much love and devotion to their newest edition to their large family. One year after he was adopted, he finally learned to walk (with the help of a walker), eat by himself, and speak. The true miracle is that he speaks two languages – Ukrainian and English.

What is hydrocephalus?

According to Mayo Clinic, “hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain.”

Hydrocephalus is a condition that usually happens at birth, but it can occur in anyone at any age. You might identify an infant with hydrocephalus because they have an abnormally large head or a bulging soft spot. The physical symptoms of hydrocephalus include: “Nausea and vomiting, sleepiness or sluggishness (lethargy), irritability, poor eating, seizures, eyes fixed downward (sunsetting of the eyes), and problems with muscle tone and strength.”

In some cases, surgery is said to help “restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain.” However, various other treatments can help manage the symptoms of hydrocephalus. If these treatments are properly managed, many people with this condition can live relatively normal lives.

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