Book Review: There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene

This book is an amazing, true story of a middle class Ethiopian woman named Haregewoin Teferra who came to the rescue of hundreds of AIDS orphan in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the heart of a global health crisis.

After the death of her husband from a heart attach and her 23 year old daughter from AIDS (at that time called 'slims disease'), Haregewoin, with little to live for, because a recluse. She approaches a priest, wanting to live the life of a religious seclusion. The wise priest, seeing her need, began to deliver orphans, first just two, then one after another, into her care. Amazingly, the children began to thrive, and so did Haregewoin.

As more and more children appeared at her door, Haregewoin's tin walled compound became known as a rare place where dying parents and grieving relatives could place children. Haragewoin was soon running an unofficial orphanage. As the numbers grew to as large as sixty children, and adoption agencies began to notice her, money began to pour in, and as an uneducated, untrained matron, she had trouble keeping account. She was soon charged with child trafficking. That and a charge of sexual abuse in the boys section caused her to spend some time in prison. When she was released, exonerated, she was taught how to do the paperwork and book keeping the government required, and given her orphanage back, this time with more help. Her orphanage was named after her daughter who died.

The book details how Haregewoin became very attached to a couple of the children, only to let them be released for adoption to give them a better life. It shows the grief of the children as they are left behind by relatives who are too poor to care for them after the death of their parents. It describes how media attention from America was almost the doing in of Haregewoin's good works. The book ends by following up on several of the children whose lives Haregewoin saved.

Melissa Faye Green, an adoptive mother, tells the story with the compassion only someone who has benefited from this work can tell.

This is one of my favorite books. It is long, but a very inspiring book to read.