Orphans with Arthrogryposis

There are kids with Arthrogryposis all over the world who wait for a family to call their own. Every child should have a Mama and Papa to love them. Sadly many kids will never know the love of a family as they will live out their shortened lives in institutions. The children posted here are from Reecesrainbow.com If you can't adopt, you can donate to their grants on reecesrainbow.com Don't leave them to die in institutions.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Madeline has a family!!

Little Miss Madeline in Eastern Europe has a family!! She has so much potential, I cant wait to hear who will be the lucky parents!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Meet Josiah

Meet Josiah


This little guy is 4 years old

He is available for adoption

He is living in China at Harmony House

You can find China's requirements for adoptive families here

Unfortunately he doesn't have any grants available

He has bilateral clubbed feet, a dislocated hip and he can't use his arms due to deformities. I am guessing that his overall diagnosis is Arthrogryposis

He has adapted very well to his limitations!


You can find his profile here

Could he be YOUR son?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Aaron's Family

Please keep the Nalles in your thoughts and prayers. They once again are facing some serious difficulties in getting Aaron out of that institution and home to his brothers.

A New Picture of Madeline

A New picture of Madeline...she's growing up!

She is 5 years old

She has likely been an orphan since birth

She is lucky to still be at her orphanage. Because she is 5 she is at risk of being transferred to an institution very, very soon.

Once she is transferred she maybe severely neglected & will have absolutely no chance at a future

She sits well, eats independently, likes to play, reacts well to adults, speaks in sentences and is independently mobile in her wheelchair and overall she a very sweet and joyful little girl.

She happens to have Arthrogryposis which includes clubfeet

She has so much potential. Her forever family needs to find her & fast!

She has $2000 in the grant fund through Reece's Rainbow toward the cost of her adoption

If you aren't in a position to adopt you can donate to her grant fund!

Is she YOUR daughter????


Saturday, August 21, 2010

Arthrogryposis Awareness

Arthrogryposis Awareness

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) means: Multiple Joint Contractures Present at Birth

A joint contacture is a joint that lacks normal range of motion or in other word is stiff or curved.

Its an umbrella term, which means AMC can be part of many syndromes & other underlying conditions.

More then 3 joints have to affected in 2 areas of the body to have a diagnosis of AMC
It occurs 1 in 3,000 live births

All joints can be affected including the spine & jaw

Joint contractures develop because the unborn baby fails to move properly. Movement is vital to proper joint development

Cognitive development (intelligence) is almost always normal

There are approx. 400 types of Arthrogryposis

About 1/3 of cases of AMC are Amyoplasia type which is non-genetic & sporadic in the population. There is no known cause for Amyoplasia.

Most Distal Arthrogryposis types & most syndromes (like Escobar, Sheldon-Hall) are genetic in origin

20-30% of babies born w/ AMC will die in the newborn period because they have a lethal genetic type or they severe central nervous system dysfunction

Some individuals do not have an identified type

Common joint contractures include: Clubbed feet or vertical talus, extended or flexed knees, dislocated and/or externally rotated hips, internally rotated shoulders, extended or flexed elbows, flexed wrists, adducted thumbs (stuck-in-palm), fingers are fisted or extended

There is no cure for Arthrogryposis, just treatment to reduce the severity of the joint contractures & increase the function level of the individual.

Treatment often includes: Stretching the joints multiple times per day, serial casting, tendon releases & lengthening, osteotomies, splinting & bracing, external fixators, physical, occupational & speech therapy.

Despite the fact there is no cure most kids with Arthrogryposis grow up to be independent & successful adults

More research needs to be done in the cause of Amyoplasia, mapping the genes in genetic types & long-term outcome studies need to done for common surgical procedures in this diagnosis.

To learn more about Arthrogryposis: www.amcsupport.org

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

2.5 yr w/ AMC needs a family-Domestic

If anyone is considering domestic adoption, especially of an AMC'er AMC Suport has a contact who is an guardian ad litem in the state of Florida for a beautiful, curly haired, 2 1/2 year old little boy with AMC and she is desperately seeking help in finding his forever family!

If you are a member of AMC Support: www.amcsupport.org you can find more info as well as a few photos in the Adoption Forum of our message boards.

If you are not a member of AMC Support, you're more than welcome to join (its *Free*) by registering at the following link: www.amcsupportorg/forum/ucp.php?mode=register

If you do not wish to register with the website, please feel free to contact: bod@amcsupport.org for more information. We would very much like to see this child find his Forever Family.

Grady has a family!!!!!!!!

Grady has a family
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Please go here:
If you want to read about his new family and/or donate to their adoption fund!



Update on Aaron!


Aaron's family was forced to come home due to paperwork issues in Aaron's region.

Thankfully they're scheduled to go back to his country at the end of August for court. They're hoping there won't be any more 'bumps' in the road to bringing Aaron home!

If you want to follow their journey back to Eastern Europe or help them with last minute adoption expenses go to their blog.


Monday, August 2, 2010

Meet Tasha!!!!!

Meet Tasha!!


Girl, Born December 8, 2009
Little Tasha is so pretty! She was born with arthrogryposis, and is missing her left foot entirely. Her right foot is clubbed, and she has had some corrective surgery for that already. Tasha is considered typically developing cognitively, and has a pleasant disposition! Now is a great time to get her home, to offer her surgery, physical therapy, and early intervention in a loving family environment.

Could she be YOUR daughter?

Tasha's profile on Reece's Rainbow can be found here

Donate to her grant fund here (be sure to specify the money is for Tasha)

Happy Birthday Moira!!!!!!

August is Moira's Birthday Month!!!!!


Moira will be 1 year old on August 10th. She has a diagnosis of Arthrogryposis & cleft palate. Cleft Palate along with Arthrogryposis isn't super common its also not unheard of. Typically a child w/ AMC & cleft palate would have received lots & lots of treatment in the first year of life because the first year is when the joint contractures are easiest to stretch out & treat. Because Moira is an orphan in Eastern Europe she likely has received no treatment for her medical conditions & likely won't unless she is adopted.

Could Moira be YOUR daughter?

She currently has ZERO in her account through Reece's Rainbow. If you aren't in a position to adopt but want to help her future forever family you can donate to Moira's grant fund here (be sure to specify the money is for Moira's fund)

Moira's profile on Reece's Rainbow can be found here!

Aaron

Please keep Aaron's family in your thoughts & prayers as they wait for the paper work to be completed in Aaron's country so they can return to bring him home