Meet Ethan*

Hearing what is not being said

From any age, children can experience abuse and research has shown that the perpetrator is usually someone we know.

Five-year-old Ethan* has suffered through moments which no child should experience. His parents showed him very little love and affection, and there were no games or learning experiences in his home; only beatings, shouting and neglect. Ethan was treated at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) and presented many symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including bed wetting, anxiety, and fear. Due to the tumultuous nature of his home, he learnt not to ask for help when he was scared, hungry or needed to go to the bathroom. In response to his bed wetting, he was severely beaten by his biological mother. Ethan’s sister, who brought him to the hospital, begged the social workers to not send him back home because of the unsafe environment. Children subjected to abuse often feel fearful or anxious about doing something wrong, and they may become withdrawn trying to shield themselves away from   further abuse. His sister’s love, strength, commitment, and presence was the healing miracle that Ethan needed.

The social work department worked with Ethan daily to give him the best possible treatment. It took three weeks to gain his trust and he has shown immense strength and courage. Complex cases such as these must always be presented to the police for investigation. Despite Ethan’s traumatic experiences he is now learning that it is okay to ask for help and that he can trust adults to be there for him and keep him safe.

“The Social Work Child Protection Service enables the RCWMCH social work team to manage very complex cases because we have benefitted from much training, had time to reflect on, do critical evaluation of our roles, skill sets, as well as plan the best intervention processes,” says Carla Brown, Head of Social Work at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to the generous donations received from our donors, the training the hospital’s social work department received has been invaluable. It has assisted them to do a critical evaluation of the case and plan the best intervention processes which would only benefit Ethan and ensure that he is taken care of.

The Social Work Service and Child Protection Room within the Emergency Centre will continue to help society’s most vulnerable, and the Children’s Hospital Trust is committed to be champions for children at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Click here to donate today and help every little one who is cared for at the hospital.