Meet Anthony!

The first child we are spotlighting for Bring Hope to 12 is a young man named Anthony! 

Anthony is a 13-year year boy living in an Eastern European Institution. He needs parents, and he needs them fast! In Eastern Europe if he reaches the age of 16 he will become un-adoptable. Given that he has all extremity arthrogryposis his ability to become an independent adult in his society is very, very unlikely. He will likely be an some level of an institution forever. He doesn't deserve that, no child does. 

This young-man has all kinds of great qualities! He is full of energy and is a ham. He can read and write. He follow directions. He loves chocolate with nuts, the colors yellow and brown, likes soccer and cars. He picks up english quickly. He has a huge smile and loves to laugh! 

He has had some treatment for his arthrogryposis which included a year of serial casting on his legs and feet. He has been seen walking when he is in casts but otherwise utilizes a wheelchairs for mobility. He can self-propel in his wheelchair. 

He is VERY anxious to be adopted. When Americans come to his orphanage to adopt other children he asks to be adopted and yet he continues to wait. He remains hopeful his family will find him but understandably is getting frustrated. 

Here is a VIDEO of Anthony. 

He turns 14 in February, which means he has just 24-months to adopted or he will remain institutionalized for life. An adoption from his country normally takes around 9-mons but could take longer. A family will need to commit to him in less than 15-mons to have enough time to complete the adoption and still have enough time to allow for delays in paperwork. 

An international adoption will cost upwards of $20,000! Most people can afford to take care of another child and would willingly adopt but reality is they don't have $20,000 laying around. 

Anthony needs our help...he needs your help! 

Please consider donating to his adoption here and if your finances don't allow for that please just SHARE this blog post. Publicity on social media and the internet could lead to his family finding him and sharing is FREE and takes 30 seconds or less! 30 seconds of your time could change his entire life FOREVER! 

If you're interested in adopting Anton please contact us or click the "contact us about this child" at the bottom of this page: http://www.eliproject.org/children/anthony/ 

Adopting an older child with special needs can be scary but we know several families who have adopted much older children with arthrogryposis so if you're interested in adopting Anton and would like to connect with these families please let us know! 

Here are more pictures: 

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