Girl fights for survival after accident
Sonya Sandham, Contributor/Sydney
The courage of a lion lies in the heart of a two and a half year old girl from Balaraja in Tangerang.
Almas Firosmona Yuniar, also known as Mona, suffered third degree burns to about 75 percent of her body in the kitchen of her grandparents in Prigi, Sigaluh, Banjarnegara, Central Java.
Mona fell backwards into a pot of boiling petis (a stew of meat, fat, sugar and spices) which burned more than two millimeters of skin from her torso and thighs.
Five months on from the July accident, her little body is still raw and blood pours from her wounds when her bandages are removed and replaced every second day.
Her cries of pain begin when she sees the packages of bandages and cream to heal her burns, only ending an hour later when she is exhausted and falls asleep.
Mona's mother, Ratna, 30, has a simple wish. "I just want my daughter to not feel this pain any more.
"Before the accident, Mona was a happy child, full of energy and always wanting to try new things. People used to say she was a tomboy and hyperactive.
"Now she can hardly walk, she rarely smiles and can't join in games with other children."
The greatest worry for Ratna, who had to close her warung (sidewalk stall) since the accident, and husband Pur, who works for a car assembly company, is how they will pay for Mona's ongoing medical treatment.
Every month they need to spend at least Rp 3 million, more than three times what Pur earns. They have already spent Rp 20 million on 23 days of hospital care and ongoing medical treatment including home visits and medicine.
"Every day I worry how I will be able to buy medicine for tomorrow. It is a horrible feeling to see my daughter suffering and not know if I can help her get better," Ratna said.
"Before the accident it was already difficult for us to afford to eat so we have had to rely on donations from family, friends and even strangers who offer money when they see Mona. We have also borrowed Rp5m from friends and neighbours."
"Everyone has already helped us as much as they can, including Pur's company Nasional Assemblers Indo Mobil, and we can't ask for anything more.
"Thank God we have been able to manage so far but now I can only hope for help from a doctor, hospital or charity organisation."
One month ago, Ratna and Pur did not have enough money to buy medicine for Mona so they sought the help of a paranormal. Unfortunately, the result was not what they hoped and Mona's condition worsened.
Once again, they have no money for medicine and this time they must wait for a miracle.
Until then Ratna must hear the cries of her daughter: "Mom, please help me. Mom, please make the pain go away. Please God, make me well."
As tears roll down Ratna's face, Mona wipes these tears from her mother's eyes.
Mona lives every day with a pain that is impossible to imagine and yet she possesses a wisdom and strength beyond her years.
If you would like to know more about Mona's plight or can help please e-mail helpmona@yahoo.com