Day 6...Beautiful Calina

Meet Calina...

Eight year-old Calina is blind.  She was born without eyeballs.  

Blindness scares people.  And so she has waited for SO long.  Too long.  

But to quote my dear friend, Katie, "It's just EYEBALLS people!"
(Katie is traveling to China SOON to bring home not one, but TWO sweet girls with the same special need as Calina.  You can follow their story here...I am beyond excited for them!)

I have learned how many services are available for children here in the U.S. with this special need.  It is nothing short of amazing!  If you are a Pinterest-y person, check out this page to see what I mean!

Although Calina spent time at the amazing Bethel, she has now returned to her orphanage.  Currently Calina is unable to attend school.  Most orphanages lack the training and resources to properly educate and train children with visual impairment.  That is heartbreaking.  

I have mentioned the shared list in previous posts.  This is a list of children who are ready to be adopted (paperwork is completed), but they have not been designated to a particular agency.  

This is sometimes helpful since any agency you choose (assuming they have a China program) can assist you with her adoption.  

This is sometimes NOT helpful since the shared list can become the black hole of sorts for adoption files.  The children are represented by a small line of information containing basically their name, birthdate, sex, special need and province.  The older the birthdate, the "less appealing" for many prospective families.  And kids with special needs such as visual impairments, deafness, and genital abnormalities often wait for YEARS on this list.  

Sweet Calina has waited for 6 years.  Her orphanage has deemed her "acceptable" for international adoption.  Her paperwork has been ready since she was 2.  And yet she waits.  

The last shared list that was published had 1,924 children listed.  The longer a file is on the list, the lower down the list it moves.  Calina is 1,923.  Yup...NEXT.TO.LAST.

So I am asking you to help her family find her!!!  Share this post.  Pray.  Tell your friends who have a heart for adoption.  Tell your friends that may already be familiar with this special need.  Calina needs a mama to snuggle with, siblings to play with, and a baba (daddy) to tell her how beautiful, loved, and perfectly created she is!  

And of course, if you feel Calina may be the missing piece in your family, I would love to share with you how you can find more information about her.  


I am praying today that sweet Calina's family finds her soon!  

Day 5...Brandon

Meet Brandon!

Look at that SMILE!!

Brandon, born in June 2006, is a shy young man who came into care at the age of 3 years old.  At first he had a difficult time adjusting to life in the orphanage.  But with the help of his teachers and peers, he began to settle in to his new environment.  Now he is in a Half the Sky program and lives with his foster parents and 3 foster siblings.  

New people and situations seem uncomfortable to him.  He is hesitant to interact with people he in not familiar with, but he plays well with his family members and is quite talkative with them.  Brandon’s original file notes mental delays.  However, he has made much progress since joining his foster family.  He still does not speak much, but his speech has seen great improvement since joining his foster family.  And although he rarely initiates conversations, he does respond correctly to questions he is asked.  Brandon attends school where is is considered average in his learning and academics.  

A recent update (June 2014) suggests that Brandon is a healthy boy with a ready smile.  He has normal motor function in relation to his peers and takes care of himself in day to day tasks such as getting dressed and using the restroom.  He enjoys watching TV and playing with toy cars.  His original file mentioned that he loved to sing, and he update said the same thing!  Perhaps he is a musician in the making!

Some general resources in parenting a child with special needs can be found here:
Love Without Boundaries Special Needs Manual
Rainbow Kids
Yahoo SN Children China Group
Children’s Disabilities Information

 

I have been advocating for Brandon for several months now and I have not spoken to one interested family.  That breaks my heart.  Since a file can only be designated to specific agency for 3 months, our agency no longer has his file.  For a while I lost track of this little guy, until a friend recently spotted him on another agency's site!  Yay!  Brandon's file is now listed with CHSFS.  If you think that Brandon might be the missing piece in your family, I would love to chat with you!  You can also email Lisa at CHSFS directly for more information on this special little guy.  

Today, I am praying that Brandon's family finds him soon!  

Day 4...Meet Bennett!

Sometimes it blows my mind why some kids have waited for so long.  Especially the boys.  And once they pass toddlerhood, their chances dwindle even more.  But, oh, how these boys still need a mama and a baba!  

Meet Bennett!

Bennett was recently part of a Journey of Hope camp and met the WACAP staff.   Born July 2006, he is a sweet boy, who was nervous to talk in front of the staff who saw him on a recent trip. Caregivers say he is a little shy, but likes playing with other children and gets along well with them. 
  
  

Despite his nervousness and a repaired cleft palate, his speech was clear. He told staff he likes all outdoor activities, but especially soccer. When gets a chance he also likes to play computer games. Currently, he lives in a foster family, and helps care for his younger foster sister. He is attending the local public school. Caregivers report he is a clever child, who always does his best, and tries to do things on his own.  He also has aural atresia of his right ear, but his left ear is unaffected.

Some resources for parents of kids with aural atresia can be found at Atresia Microtia Foundation, Microtia.net, or Yahoo Atresia Microtia Group. 

 

Bennett’s file is currently with WACAP, which is the agency we used to bring home Mycah.  There is a $4000 Promise Child grant available for qualified families.  If you feel that Bennett may be the missing piece in your family, please message me using the form on the sidebar or contact WACAP directly. 


Today, I am praying that Bennett's family will find him soon.  

Day 3...Nicholas

Another sweet boy who waits is Nicholas.  

Nicholas recently turned 10 and is an outgoing boy who likes to socialize with everyone, whether children or adults. He also likes when volunteers visit the orphanage and is very enthusiastic about performing for them. 

Nicholas has some weakness on his left side, but he can still hold things with his left hand, and work with his other hand to do tasks like stringing beads. He can also use his left foot to kick and can run and jump without issue. He was receiving rehabilitation for his left side until this past September, when he started school. He also has some nystagmus of his eyes.

Since he didn’t have a good academic foundation, he has a had some difficulty with school. However, caregivers feel he is very bright! He can do addition and subtraction, is fluent in Mandarin, and knows some simple English words. There is also video of him reading and reciting! 

Nicholas enjoys playing hide and seek as well as playing with toy cars. Caregivers say he is always happy, and they all like him. 

There is quite a bit of information available for families caring for a loved one with cerebral palsy (CP).  Here are a few resources:

4MyChild

United Cerebral Palsy

University of Virginia

Children’s Hospital St. Louis

Forms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy Source

March of Dimes

Yahoo Adopt Cerebral Palsy Group

You can also read a great blog post about parenting a child with CP HERE as well as HERE.  

Nicholas’ file is currently on the shared list which means that any agency with a China program can help with his adoption.  However, WACAP (our agency for Mycah) may be able to offer a $4000 grant for qualified families.    

If you think that Nicholas may be the missing piece in your family, please email me or contact WACAP directly at ckids@wacap.org. 

My prayer for today is that Nicholas's family would find him soon!  

Day 2...Cutie Pie Archie!

Meet Archie!

Archie, born is January of 2006, is almost 9 years old.  And if you have ever been around a 9 year-old boy, you know that means lots of energy, action, noise and FUN!  Archie is ready to find his forever family.  One with "many other brothers and sisters" he says.  He is quite social, if you couldn't guess!

At approximately 2 months old, Archie was found at the gate of a local hospital.  Wrapped in a quilt, he was taken to the police department while a search for his birth family was conducted.  The search was unsuccessful, so Archie was placed in his orphanage where he currently resides.  His initial physical exam noted that he was in a good general state, had poor development and nutrition, as well as a yellowish face a skin.  

Since his finding, Archie has spent his entire life in the orphanage and is closest to his caretakers.  Reading through his file, it is quite obvious that this little boy holds the hearts of several members of the orphanage staff.  He is a clever young man and attends school, although more often that not, he would rather be playing with his friends than working on his studies!  Yep...sounds like he is a 9 year old boy to me!!  Despite his active nature, he does well in school and is in the second grade.  Archie likes to sing songs and can recite several poems.  Not surprisingly, his favorite subject is PE!  His caretakers feel his development and abilities are both age appropriate and that he would thrive in the right family.  

Archie had a sensitive special need that was corrected with surgery when he was very young.  Although the surgery was reported to be a success, his caretakers noted that it was not 100% effective.  Archie's forever family would benefit from having a urologist review his file to discuss what procedure, if any, may be necessary when he comes home.  In addition to his sensitive need, Archie has also had his appendix removed in 2009 due to acute appendicitis.  There are surgical reports and lab results available for potential families to review.  

Archie's file is currently designated to WACAP, which is the agency we used for Mycah's adoption.  On a recent visit to China, WACAP staff was able to meet Archie.  When asked if he wanted to be adopted, he said that he did.  He also mentioned that he would like his adoptive family to have many other brothers and sisters that he can play with!  There are additional pictures and video available from WACAP's summer trip for Archie's family to review.  For qualified families, there is a $4000 Promise Child grant to help with the cost of his adoption.  If you think that Archie may be the missing piece in your family, please email me or contact WACAP directly at ckids@wacap.org.  

Feel free to share this blog.  You never know who may happen upon this post!  Praying that Archie finds his family this month!  

Day 1...Archer

Meet Archer!

Archer, born October 2002, is a charismatic boy, who is not shy when WACAP staff saw him on a recent trip. He seemed to enjoy having an audience, and performed some cartwheels and breakdance moves! Caregivers report he loves all sports, but especially basketball. 

Archer is deaf and does not speak. He attends a boarding school for the deaf Monday through Friday and has learned simple sign language. With orphanage caregivers he uses gestures and body language to communicate. They say he cannot read lips, but he was very skilled at sensing what our staff was asking him to do and responding appropriately. 

When not at school, Archer lives in a foster family unit in an apartment at the orphanage. A married couple cares for 5-6 children of various ages. His foster mother reports he is a big help with the other children, and voluntarily helps her with cleaning and chores. He is also a carrier of a blood condition, though it is not active. Archer is a happy boy with a great laugh, who would surely blossom in a family of his own. 

Silly face!!!

Archer's file is currently with WACAP.  They have lots of photos and even video of this handsome guy!  There is a $4000 Promise Child grant available through WACAP for qualified families.  If you feel he may be the missing piece in your family, email me or contact WACAP directly at kids@wacap.org.  

Feel free to share this blog...you never know who may see this!  It may be his mama!  I am praying that Archer's forever family finds him soon.

National Adoption Month

November has been designated as National Adoption Month.  If you know me at all, you know that adoption has a special place in our family and in my heart.  You will also know that I am burdened by the THOUSANDS of children in China waiting to be adopted.  I know that there are orphans in EVERY country, and they are no less important!  But just like missionaries are often drawn to and burdened for a particular people group or country, I find that is often the case for orphan advocates as well.  That being said, China has my heart.  

Choosing only 30 of my sweet kiddos to post this month may be difficult.  So I ask for forgiveness in advance if I sneak in a couple extra posts here and there.  

Most of the children that I advocate for are currently with our adoption agency, WACAP.  Some are now on the "shared list."  In the China program, there are currently 1,924 children waiting on this list.  This means that they have had their paperwork completed to be eligible for adoption and can be chosen by any agency.  Although that is a HUGE number of children, it is merely a small fraction of the orphans in China.  Some have their files waiting with a specific agency.  Some have families working to bring them home.  And yet others still wait to be deemed worthy enough for their orphanage to even prepare their files for adoption.  That is heartbreaking to me as EVERY child, regardless of their special need, deserves the chance to have a family.  

Probably the one thing that surprises people most about our adoption with Mycah was that he was a BOY.  Not only are there boys waiting to be adopted in China, but approximately 75% of the children waiting on the shared list are boys!  This video sums up my feelings about how AWESOME boys are...even the older ones.  

Another thing many people do not know about adoption from China is that children "age out" at 14 years old.  I wrote a post about that a while back.  You can read more about that here.  


So if you only check in on my blog for Mycah updates, you may be a bit disappointed in the posts to follow.  But my hope is that you will see these children as the amazing gifts that God created them to be.  Perhaps you will pray for them.  Perhaps you will donate to support an organization that cares for them.  Or perhaps you will realize that they were the piece in your family that you did not even realize was missing!