The Boy From Baby House 10: From The Nightmare of a Russian Orphanage to a New Life In America

by: Alan Philps and John Lahutsky

Published by: St. Martins Press

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens

A little boy named Vanya was born premature and then diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He was born in Russia where he was put in an orphanage for state care when his mother abandoned him. The name of the orphanage was baby house 10.

Here he was kept in rags and in a room with other children who didn’t even speak. He was given sparsely any food and hardly if any medical care. At the orphanage kids were kept in beds or walkers that were tethered to the end of cribs. The children were not allowed to get on the floor, and a broken toy was a prized possession–even if you got to play for only a minute.

After a few years, at age six, the boy’s status was reviewed to determine where he should go next since he wasn’t a baby anymore. He was evaluated and sent to an asylum referred to as an internat.

A few adults that Vanya became close to came to check on him at the asylum. He was kept in a crib with big bars where he could not get out. He would have to lay on the mattress with his own feces and urine until someone decided to clean it up. He was given no medical treatment here and was losing weight from malnutrition.

Vanya was a smart boy who drew people to him by him talking to them. A few friends were Vika, Vanya, and Sarah. They fought with all their might for this child who they saw had potential and is denied a home and education.

At age eight, after many years of struggle to find him an adoptive home, Vanya finally gets adopted and moves to America. He now has a mother and is getting the medical care he needs, as well as an education.

Today John (Vanya in Russian) Lahutsky is now an honor-roll student at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is a member of both the Boy Scouts of America and the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts’ national honor society.

This book was very touching. I have never been to an orphanage, and I can’t fathom how children are neglected and abused this way. My heart goes out to Vanya who was a very courageous and strong child who overcame so many obstacles.

Warning: Pictures and paragraphs go into detail of just how bad things were for the kids–and it touches your heart and literally makes you sick.

Armchair Interviews says: A powerfully moving memoir of Vanya’s early years.

Author’s Web site: http://www.AlanPhilps.com