Introducing Bring Hope to 12 in 2012's focus child for September
Aubree
Isn't she pretty?!
Some quick facts about this young lady:
She was born in August 1999 so that makes her 13 years old last month
She is active, easy-going and friendly
She is in a school-orphanage, which means she is being educated and its supported by humanitarian groups so likely isn't experiencing extreme neglect and abuse often seen in other orphanages
She can be adopted by large families and older parents
She has arthrogryposis and it appears as though it only affects her lower extremities, so just her legs! If her arms are affected they're very mildly affected because she uses her arms to scoot around on the floor
There is a mental delay listed but its hard to say what that means, it could be an institutional delay or she was born with it. It could be as mild as a learning disability or more severe. A very small number of kids with AMC have true cognitive disabilities so hopefully its just institutional
Her legs are stuck straight! I put the explanation mark behind that because when you have AMC, being born with legs stuck straight usually means fewer surgeries and an increased likelihood of walking. Most kids with AMC are born with their legs stuck flexed at the knees which require several surgeries and castsing to straighten them out so they can walk. Even if she couldn't walk after therapy and treatment, she would like be successfully independent in a manual wheelchair.
Don't be alarmed by her legs being described as "tiny" this is not abnormal for AMC and even people with "tiny" legs can walk and be successful.
An adoptive family has met her and been at her orphanage and is willing to talk to any potential families about her!
Reality is....
She has just 36 months to be adopted before she "ages out" which means she has just 36 months until she will be transferred to an adult mental institution where she won't have access to the resources she does at the school-orphanage, she may not get adequate food, water, heat or attention.
It will cost around $20,000 to adopt her and she has just $5 toward the cost of her adoption right now, a family will more easily be able to step up and commit to her if the financial burden is less.
How you can help...and give Aubree Hope
Share: Share this post or her picture or a link to her Reece's Rainbow Profile via email or social media! You never know who may see it and want to add her to their family or make a donation
Donate: Consider making a donation, large or small toward the cost of her adoption! Just $12 can make a difference, thats $12 her family doesn't have to raise. Thats the equivalent of giving up just 2.5 trips to Starbucks! Click here to donate!
Aubree and her situation remind me...
so much of Laurel's (Our focus child in February) situation. Laurel too was in a better orphanage and wasn't severely neglected but she has AMC that also requires her to use a wheelchair
Laurel was also an older teen but only 6 months from "aging out"
BUT.....
6 months later Laurel is now Alexandra Hope Harlan, she has been adopted by a wonderful family and had an AWESOME 16th birthday party with her new parents and her friends from the orphanage instead of being transferred!!
I hope that Aubree can have this happy ending like Alexandra has!
Alexandra with her parents!
I just hope and pray it doesn't take another 3 years for it to happen, I hope Aubree can have a 14th birthday party like Alexandra had for her 16th!!
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