I apologise for not answering everyone on here yet. This is the first and only time I've told this story in complete detail and telling it was all-consuming emotionally, mentally and spiritually . I've fallen behind IRL and need to spend some time catching up.
Something wonderful has come of this, though. An anonymous ex saw my post and between us we believe we have located the correct mother and child. It seems the boy not only survived, but grew up completely healthy physically and is still alive. Nothing confirmed yet, plus the family may not wish to be public about this.
For me, though, it is as if a huge dark cloud over me has lifted. Such a difference that makes IRL! My deepest heartfelt love and appreciation to the anonymous ex who helped.
Sometimes I remember names and a lot of detail, sometimes I don't. There was a time I remembered the MLO's name and more of the others. Memories come and go. We all do our best
- Story Contined -
The Aftermath
Afterward, the rest of the toddlers and I coped well enough in the nursery. They were fine, no health or other issues. Once Josh was gone, the rest was a blur of diapers, meals, bottles and cleaning and none of the details stand out. A couple of weeks later, "Sue," the senior nanny, returned from her vacation . She'd been gone about four weeks, maybe longer, but beyond the standard three since she hadn't had one in over 8 years.
Sue freaked out when she saw Josh gone and started to tear up. She feared the worst. She'd had a nice time with her family but never stopped worrying about him while she was gone.
I hugged her, told her his mother picked him up. She was so relieved, like a huge weight lifted.
Then she asked me what I said to the mother. When I told her word-for-word, her eyes went wide. To hear that he'd gotten that bad. To hear how mouthy and disrespectful I was with a missionaire. To hear my teen medical wog directions that bypassed the entire chain of command and told her to go to a hospital. It shocked her. She didn't mention Josh to me again.
I didn't know if I was in trouble or not and didn't give a damn. I just wanted to go back to the EPF. I wasn't ready to be a mother, especially to so many. It was too hard. In every way. I was never more keenly aware of my lack of education, experience and shortcomings. I didn't feel like any hero, I felt like a failure and wanted to put that behind me. Before the CEO, the oldest child I had babysat for was six years old. Bottom line, I did my absolute best but it was so far from ideal that to me, it was woefully inadequate.
The next day, Sue told me the MLO had been Comm Eved and FBed out. She'd been at CEO 9 months, and sick kids had mostly all stayed sick and she never inspected the nurseries for hygiene, etc. She told me I was going back to the EPF the next day. She hadn't heard anything more about Josh.
When I returned to CEO as a missionaire three months later, Sue was gone. Nobody said where she was, so probably blown. A new nanny was there and a lot less toddlers. They still recognised me though, and laughed and squealed to see me.
And we moved the CEO to the Fountain building.