Before the War I Had Toys
Before the War I Had Toys
Children of Grozny
Khava Shamayeva, (3 years old)
Used to live at: Kalinin poselok, Radishcheva 6/2, Grozny
Four months ago Khava didn’t speak or walk properly for her age. Unfortunately she will never speak properly. She has suffered some psychological trauma. Originally, doctors suggested that Khava should simply be loved and not given any challenges that she might not manage. However, today Khava runs and is able to speak a few words. Her psychological condition might be associated with a bad burn she received on her hand when she was three months old. Khava lives with her 24-year-old relative Raisa. Khava’s mother left her when she was 3 months old and her father died in 1999. Today, Khava and Raisa live in the ruins of what was once their cosy home.
Raisa remembers:
“When Khava’s mother gave her to me, she said that she didn’t want this disabled child. Khava had no clothes, she was very skinny, she was wet and covered in boils and terribly scared of water. Today, she is no longer scared of having a bath, but she is scared of helicopters. Our house was bombed on January 24th, 2000. Nowadays, we live in a half-destroyed summer kitchen (vremjanka) with my mother and father – all in one room.”
Khava thinks Raisa is her mother. Khava likes to eat a lot. However she is not putting on any weight.
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