What would you do, if you saw this picture in the news paper on a fine Sunday morning? Really, think about it.
A picture that changed lives
The 19th September 2010 thousands of readers of one of the major Danish news papers Berlingske Tidende were presented with this picture taken by Mads Nissen over their morning coffee or in the train commuting to work. For one woman that very picture changed her life. One woman was impelled to act and so she did.
This is a story about how a single picture and the story behind it, invoked the inner change-maker of one reader inducing her to take action; and it is a story about how the tale of one individual, however brief her life was, touched the lives of many.
Toddler left to die on a chair in a hospital storage room
The picture portrays a small girl left for her own, on a chair in a storage room at a hospital in Nepal. She is one year and a half of age but does not have a name. She is never played with, held, or cared for. She has hardly ever been outside of the storage room. She was born with hydrocephalus, a disease that filled her head with water. In the west this is not a life-sentence, but in Nepal it might be if you have little means. The staff called her ‘Ghane,’ which means ‘large head,’ or ‘Moto’, meaning ‘fatty.’ By birth she was abandoned by her mother, and no orphanage would take her in due to her disease. So she ended up on this chair in a storage room at the local hospital, nameless and alone. Unable to move, she had developed a penetrating bedsore and her spine was damaged; only her eyes were lively and interacting with her surroundings. ‘Nobody knows what takes place behind these slightly fearful eyes’ the caption under the picture stated. The doctors had given up on her, just praying that her life – waiting on the chair – would be as brief as possible. Clearly the picture not only tells the blunt and harsh truth of a small girl’s incomprehensible unjust fate, it also tells the story of the unfortunate outcomes of massive poverty and world-political inequalities which are some of the major challenges of our time. This beautiful little girl gave many Danes something to think about.
One reader took action: moving out of comfort zones to assist someone in need
And for one woman, Cecilie M. Hansen, she not only made her think, she made her act. Cecilie simply could not accept this heartbreaking reality taking place. The restlessness and frustration from witnessing such passivity and irresponsibility regarding the girl’s situation, made this Danish mother on maternity leave from her carer job in a large, global corporation, embark on a journey to the other side of the planet to help the girl on the photo; a journey for which she could not foresee the slightest hints of it’s unfolding, but only react step by step.
Over a short intense period of time in the capital of Nepal, Katmandu, many things took place regarding the little girl’s life. She was named Victoria. For the first time in her life, she got to spend a night sleeping next to someone caring for her, and got dressed in nice, clean clothing just meant for her. For the first time in her life she was caressed, cared for, and talked too. A Nepalese international renowned doctor was on board to perform the highly complicated and risky procedures to improve her condition; the only option if Victoria should have any chance of making it beyond the age of two. Several operations and some waiting later, Victoria experienced a heart failure, and left this world behind. The doctor, the hospital staff assisting him, the journalist covering the case, and Cecilie were all devastated by these news, and presumably, many Danes following the story in the paper, too was touched by the story of Victoria. I know I was. And a dear friend of mine was so moved by it, that she had the picture of Victoria on her fridge, reminding us all about so many things.
It is a story about poverty and injustice, but also of hope, instinctive care and compassion from one individual to another, and it is a reminder, that it all comes down to caring and acting!
A brave little girl with a harsh fate, and the compassion from one woman across the world from her, Victoria’s story has touched many, given occasion for many talks and debates publicly and in private homes across Denmark. And I believe it has touched the inner change-maker within us all, at least it has done so for me. And it has reminded me, that it sometimes simply is about getting out there, of having the courage and compassion to move out of ones comfort zone in the effort of helping someone in need. Cecilie and her husband have subsequently started a fund called ‘Victoria foreningen’, to help other Nepalese children in similar situations by supporting the local hospitals to be better equipped for these situations.
Heated public debate: Should we interfere in others’ lives?
The story spurred a debate in the Danish media; was it right for someone to interfere in this little girl’s life and take such life altering decisions on her behalf? Some say, no, arguing that it only made her life worse that she had to go through complicated and traumatic surgery given the slim chances for recovery. They say it should not be up to a Danish news paper reader to decide on such matters. Others say, but what is the alternative? Should we accept seeing a small girl left to die in a storage room, malnourished, dirty, uncared for, and completely alone, not with as much as a name? Surely not. She then would have been awaiting a death, on the chair, of slowly but steady decay of her capacity to swallow and breathe. Is it not to prefer that she in her short life got to experience care, attention, and that someone fought for her?
The real question is: who has the responsibility? And when nobody claims any responsibility, what then? Doesn’t the international society have a responsibility towards the Victorias of the world? And as global citizens, as fellow human beings, do we not have a responsibility to care and react?
I find the acts of Cecilie very brave and inspiring. To me this is a modern tale of real life compassion, of following ones most basic human instincts of care for one another, and of having the courage to walk into uncertain waters just because there is simply nothing else to do. What would you do?
As the final words in the news paper series on the story concluded; ‘Victoria is dead. But she got a chance. She got a name’. And I like to add; she touched lives and will continue to do so.
Read more on Cecilie’s blog here.
2plus2equals10 
Mish
February 15, 2011
Thanks for sharing this remarkable story.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
February 15, 2011
Thanks for your kind reply, and for finding the story important. It is fantastic that the photographer behind the photo series of Victoria, Mads Nissen, just won third prize in the prestigious World Press Photos (www.worldpressphoto.org). That gives increasing attention to this special story and the ‘Victoria’s of the world’. She certainly has made an impact, that little girl.
geoff
February 15, 2011
Thank you for sharing. I saw the pictures via World Press Photos and wanted to learn more. It was nearly impossible to find anything on this story (at least in english) and I found your story. So, thanks again for promoting this story. C heers.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
February 15, 2011
You are very welcome, Geoff. Thanks for the comment. I am glad you found your way to this story (even if it was hard to find). It touched me a lot following it in the Danish news papers and debate, so I thought it deserved mentioning for an English-speaking crowd as well. A really thought-provoking story, which ought to be spread more than it has been so far.. in the name of Victoria:)
Carmen
February 16, 2011
I have just seen the imges you took of Victoria on the World Press Photos website. Thank you so much for sharing the heart wrenching story with the world.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
February 16, 2011
Thanks for the comment Carmen, and for reading Victoria’s story.
sanne1960
March 6, 2011
i am overwhelmed !! and i am extremely happy that the world has human beings like cecilie m.hansen !! thank you ,cecilie. i am so happy that victoria could feel love and caring and touching,loving ams at least for some weeks ,but i am very very sad she had such a short,hard life.regards from germany
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
March 6, 2011
I agree Sanne, thanks for the comment. That is also why I thought the story was important to tell (in English), both due to the inspiration I feel from Cecilie’s acts and for reminding us all, that there are Victoria’s out there, who needs care. Victoria’s story is heart breaking, but I find a lot of comfort in knowing that someone did care for her in her brief life, and that now, her story inspires and helps others. She did touch the lives of many and her legacy lives on..
Lennie Schroller
March 10, 2011
I read this story from our Bild am Sonntag last Sunday, March 6, 2011, and can’t help but cry over the sad fate of Victoria. Her story made me dig deeper and found a site, luckily my pc can translate it from Danish to English. I am very grateful to Cecile Hansen for giving Victoria a name, and motherly love. My hat off to Ms. Hansen and to Dr.Pant. We need more people like Ms. Hansen. Victoria will always be in my heart. She was a beautiful child.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
March 17, 2011
Thank you for your inspiring comment. I agree, she was a beautiful child. I am glad to hear, that the story also has reached Germany..
paul kenny
March 21, 2011
I read this story on 27th Feb in the Sunday times in Ireland. It is the most heart breaking story I have ever read .It has made me re-evaluate what it really means to be human, Just wish I could donate more to the Victoria site .
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
May 12, 2011
Hi Paul, glad to hear the story reached Ireland too. I know, it really makes you think about being human – of humanity – and about compassion and justice. I am surprised to hear that there is a limit on the donation amount; maybe you could inform Cecilie about this, would perhaps be beneficial for her to know, that people feel this way (wanting to donate more that actually possible)..just a thought:) Wonderful to hear, that you are supporting the foundation.
Evelyn Chiang
May 8, 2011
Hi, I am a volunteer translator for the World Press Photo’s exhibition in Taiwan. I came across your blog while doing background research for the caption translation. Thank you for providing all the additional information on this inspiring and moving story. I tried to incorporate it in my rendition, so that visitors in Taiwan were able to have a more in-depth understanding when they see the pictures.
Thank you very much.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
May 12, 2011
Evelyn, that’s amazing to hear – that the picture is being exhibited in Taiwan, along with other powerful and meaningful pictures. I am glad my blog could help you. Great that you are doing volunteer work – change-maker right there:) Do you have any links to the exhibition in Taiwan? Could be fun to see. Good luck with the show.. I hope Victoria’s story will continue to touch people across the globe; it seems that’s the case. By the way, you can read more about the story here on this blog written by the Cecilie Hansen, the woman who cared and acted: http://the-story-begins-here.blogspot.com/
Diana Briscoe
June 25, 2011
I read an article about Victoria in today’s ‘Weekend Australian’ magazine. It is very humbling when people are willing to ‘drop’ everything to try to make a difference. Thank goodness Victoria did experience warmth and love at the end of her short life. My daughter has hydrocephalus and I wish that Victoria could have had the happy outcome that my daughter has had. She is now studying law!
Son
September 22, 2011
I am a parent myself just back from maternity leave. I read the newspaper today and found an article about Nissen which promted me to read more about Victoria. That photo of the little girl on the chair and the story behind it is beyond heartbreaking. We all- mankind- must learn to need to connect with others -to be compassionate and caring and ACT on it. Thank you Cecilie for your strenght to bring love and care to Victoria.
Anne Sofie Fischer - 2plus2=10
September 25, 2011
Thank you for your comment. It is beautiful to see how this touching story about Victoria and the woman who chose to act, Cecilie, is traveling all over the world..