In 'Gift,' couple finds new beginning

After their 21-year-old son was killed, Celina and Pule Seloma decided to become foster parents.

from the September 26, 2007 edition

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But not long after Gift's arrival, he began to fall seriously ill. Celina called the social workers frantically for help, and more than once had to take him to the hospital. On Feb. 8, 2007, Celina heard the news. Gift was HIV-positive.

Celina's immediate reaction was disbelief, then sorrow. Then she and Pule, active members of an evangelical church, the Kings Way Christian Church, turned to their faith for strength.

"That time we hear that Gift is HIV-positive, we have never take that sick[ness] into our heart and put it into him," says Pule. "I said, 'No, well, that's for God, that's not for us.' God knows, all we have to do is treat this child and give him all this medicine. This child…." He pauses. "There is no such sick[ness] in this body."

Since beginning antiretroviral treatment this spring, Gift has regained his appetite, lost his fevers, and grown from nine kilos (about 20 lbs.) to a hefty 15 kilos.

In the meantime, Celina has looked into taking in some of Gift's siblings, who are now residing at the nearby St. Joseph's Children's Home. Celina says the two older sisters don't accept her authority, but the youngest, 7-year-old Mary, moved into Celina's home for a few months this summer and slowly pulled out of her shy, quiet shell.

But then came more hardship for Celina and Pule.

In early August, a social worker for St. Joseph's Children's Home took Mary back, saying social workers had managed to locate Mary and Gift's paternal grandmother.

For Ms. Swanepoel, the story just didn't ring true. "We have the same information in our records that they did," says Ms. Swanepoel. In any case, the mother's family had shown no interest in Gift or his sisters back when they were still being neglected by their mother.

"The mother's family knew the circumstances of the children and where they were living, but just stood back," says Swanepoel. "I'd have to say I think it's because of her HIV status.... It's like they've been cursed, so it's better to stay away. And if they take the children, that curse will come up on them, and that's why they said they want nothing to do with those children."

Swanepoel says that Gift himself cannot be taken away from Celina since the state has already legally placed him as a foster child in her care. She also says that Roodepoort Child Welfare will fight to bring Mary back, since it is better to keep siblings together when possible.

Heartbroken, Celina clings to Gift in her small living room. She is still recovering from the loss of Mary, the quiet little girl who was just beginning to open up. She hopes that Mary can come back, but says, "I must leave it alone now. It's in God's hands."

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