Day 25- social crimes that leave me seeking answers

Day 25- Before I came to St. Lucia I wondered about the women I would come in contact with. I knew there would be stories, cases, that would break my heart and leave me searching for answers, and yesterday I encountered such a case. Her name is Najma, and she is 13 years old. An age that should be celebrated with birthday parties, trips to the mall, movies, and ice cream, but for Najma, it is not a coming of age year, but a becoming a mother year. At 13 years old she is 9 months pregnant. She arrived at the hospital yesterday morning having mild contractions. When I arrived at 2 pm, those contractions were about 10 minutes apart. She was alone, her 19 year old boyfriend who she professes is the father of this baby was nowhere to be found. Neither were any family members. Najma lay in her hospital bed alone, and afraid. When the doctor examined her, she fought and squirmed, and did not act like a sexually active teenager. 3 hours later she came to me and told me her pains were stronger. I asked if she wanted to be examined, and she said yes, but when we got to the exam room and I attempted an exam she clamped her legs shut and squirmed up the table. I have no idea where she was in labor because I could not complete the exam. She looked at me and said can I go clean up now. I peeked in on her about half an hour later, she had showered, changed her gown (which was not soiled) and put powder on so thick her black skin was white. I knew at that moment that this young girl had been violated at some point in her young life. Hours came and went and it was time for the head midwife to do an exam. This midwife is gruff to say the least, not a lot of compassion. She got the same response I got, but was not willing to let it go. As I patted the girls arm, the midwife tried to fight, coerce, and plead her way into an exam. Finally, I had had enough. I looked at the midwife and told her to ask the girl if she had been raped. The midwife looked at me and said, “She wasn’t raped!” (And I’m thinking hellooooo lady, look at the signs!!) I turned to Najma and asked her, “How old were you when you were raped for the first time?” Her answer broke my heart…..Eleven.