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She did not shower , brush her teeth or exercise genital hygiene . She needed help to organise her possessions , plan her day , and complete activities .
She found it difficult to separate out her feelings and emotions , and name them . She had little insight into her thoughts or what she was feeling .
Luana had very low self-esteem . She believed she was a fat and ugly girl and found it difficult to know how to dress and behave with other people . She was needy and affectionate ; she obeyed the shelter rules without question . She was very sensitive to any kind of comment about herself . In general , she was immature for her age .
She had twice repeated a year at school . The professionals at the foster shelter diagnosed a significant learning deficit . These cognitive difficulties frustrated her attempts to learn skills ( like baking a cake ). In spite of these adverse experiences , she nevertheless had friends and tried to be sociable , outgoing and make bonds .
During the period at the shelter , she often felt guilty about the punishment that might be imposed on her father and mother . After two years of legal proceedings , the father was arrested . On one occasion , her foster mother turned up at the shelter and accused Luana of being responsible for his conviction .
Luana and Bruna left the shelter after being adopted by a couple that lived in a nearby city , who already had two children .
After a while , she met a man , much older , who had never been married and was a successful farmer . He and Luana got on well together , and he liked Bruna too . They married some months later and have had a harmonious relationship for six years .
The story of Ruby , fifteen years old , Brazil
Ruby
The story shows :
• Abandoned by her mother at the age of one .
• Raised by her alcoholic father .
• Abused sexually by several adult men .
Ruby is 15 years old and has lived in a shelter with eight other children since she was 12 years old . Her mother and father lost their rights as parents .
When Ruby was about one year old , her mother abandoned the family , left the city and formed another family ; she lost contact with Ruby . Ruby and her brother Heitor ( two years old ) were raised by their father , who suffered from alcoholism . Throughout their childhood , the psychosocial care network worked to remedy the family ’ s many problems and dysfunctions .
Ruby was six years old when she started to attend a psychosocial community service that helped children to bond with other children and professionals and reduced their exposure to risks and violence . In this period , Heitor was aggressive towards Ruby , copying the behaviour of their father . Very often , the helpers had to give her a shower because she arrived wearing filthy clothes ; she had lice so other children were obliged to keep their distance . She told the workers that her father argued with her and beat her frequently , and that the house was always “ full of dad ’ s friends ”, drinking and playing cards . After some home visits , the professionals concluded that her father was regularly drunk and that Ruby did all the housework .
APPENDIX