Ivey

Meet Ivey!
Born in 2001.

From a mom who met her:  I have met her! We became very close during my trip and she asked me to take her to America to get her arms and legs fixed. She is so sassy! An absolute delight.
From another mom who met her:  I adore Ivey with every fiber of my being. She is so sassy, smart, and funny, and she deserves to have a family of her own! When I met her in June she was 11 and has just finished fourth grade - or the equivalent of fourth grade, at least. Her favorite subjects are math and reading, and she can recite long, complicated poems and songs from memory! Mentally, she is just like every other preteen. She invited me to watch tv with her, and was able to catch me up on all the plot lines of her favorite series very quickly. Ivey is also a sass master, and loves hanging out with the older kids.
Physically, Ivey is very limited. She cannot move her arms and legs at all and her hands are very twisted. Her legs are very tiny and underdeveloped. I believe she has lordosis and scoliosis in her spine, and her back is unnaturally arched. Yet she wants to be independent so badly. When we were painting nails and making bracelets she wanted to do those things by herself, but couldn't. When she learned that surgery in America could help fix her arms and legs, she asked me to take her in a suitcase to America so she could 'get fixed'.
Someone please look past her physical limitation! Ivey would make an amazing daughter and sister. I want to be able fulfill that promise I made to her during that summer - so somebody, anybody, please give her a chance!

"Please see if you can find me a family."
And a third person who met her: She is SO smart and funny and has the best sense of humor. When we were in there, she asked the staff if it was possible to get a family for herself, but they felt the answer would be no- because no one would want someone as badly disabled as she was. She can do nothing for herself physically, her limbs are twisted very badly, and unlike many of the others, she cannot feed herself. She lies on the couch and another older girl, also disabled, comes and feeds her. But she is amazing- despite her lack of formal schooling, she has memorized poems, and such. But she is also a fantastic conversationalist. She reads, can write some (limitations of her arms), has an incredible memory and method of delivery of things she has memorized (she also sang for us). She loves the color yellow and loves dressing up to feel pretty. She also loves to watch cartoons, but is ok with “serious dramas” on tv too lol!

No one would want someone as badly disabled as she

 was.

She’s spending her days on a couch, wishing for a family she fears will never come because her limbs are twisted and she cannot be “useful.” I am praying with all my heart that there is a family out there that recognizes that a person’s worth is not measured by what they can physically do- and will cross the ocean to call her daughter, because I truly believe she would be an incredible addition to a family. She’s spunky and overcame her hesitation about potential rejection, in order to ask me if I would please see if I could find her a family.

She apologized and said she knew she would not be 

much help to a family. 

I quickly explained that we Americans don't

 adopt kids to have servants.

I met her and I LOVE her!!!! Of all the kids I have ever met, THIS is the one I want to see in a family most urgently!!!!! 

She is amazing- she was a "big sister" of sorts to our [little one] and she is intelligent (very!) and sweet and compassionate, extremely helpful and respectful. I seriously have NOTHING negative to say about this girl. Not one thing. 

Heartbreaking truth: The day I met all the kids in the orphanage, and was taking pics to update the RR listings of the ones I recognized, she told the translator she wished she wasn't so old and "ugly" so that she too could have a family. The translator (a young woman from the village) told me what was said and agreed, it's a shame that she's so old and cannot be adopted. I asked how old she was, and she told me and I quickly asked the staff if she was available for int'l adoption. They looked it up and said yes, she was. 

She listened to all of it, biting her lip.

She listened to all of it, biting her lip. I could see this spark of hope in her eyes, but she was obviously fighting it back. I asked the director if it was ok to interview her, to see if I could find her a family and she nodded but told me she knew it would be very hard because of her age and severe disability. She cannot do any self care. She lays on a couch most of the day, and is spoon fed by another orphan who has more mobility. She apologized (the young girl) and said she knew she would not be much help to a family. I quickly explained that we Americans don't adopt kids to have servants, we adopt them because we love having families. She smiled and went back to being her usual happy self. 

I have video of her reciting a very long complicated poem. She is amazing- and delightful to spend time with. I went to take her picture, and she asked them to get her up in the wheelchair, so she looked "better for the family to see." 

We have GOT to find her a family- she is totally awesome!!!!

She wants to be able to feed herself and to paint nails by herself. When I was there she was trying so very hard to paint my nails by herself.

We HAVE to find her a family. Seriously. She's just amazing. And cognitively, to be 12 and to believe that you will NEVER be loved in a family because you were born with arthrogryposis, and because you aren't one of the "pretty ones" is just devastating to me. If it were me, I think I would be a total depressed mess. But she isn't. That's the thing that drew me to her- she's upbeat, optimistic, friendly, full of smiles, so helpful.

 As far as her AMC goes, everything Ivey has mentioned a desire to do is completely possible with therapy and surgery and even now with adaptive equipment.

Please if you have any interest in Ivey or any questions about either her, her situation, the country she's in (that starts with a U) inquire directly here.

Leave any questions about AMC in the comments below and we'd be happy to answer them!

And please share this girl far and wide! We don't want her negative thoughts about herself to become real! She DOES absolutely deserve a family! She is beautiful! And a couple of us have an "Ivey" at home who have the same joint issues and spine and even ear! (Long hair covers it!) We'd be happy to help! Both our daughters walk and feed themselves and write and go to school and play on the computer, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

Aubree update--she wants a family and little brothers and sisters!

Aubree with Serge, an adoption facilitator
Aubree would really like a family please. She asks about it all the time.

 

As many of you know we've blogged about Aubree before.

She was our focus for the month of September (link here).
A father adopting his daughter out of the same orphanage wrote about her here.
A young gal on a missions trip to her orphanage as well as a mom adopting from that same orphanage both wrote about her here.

Aubree is running out of time to find a family. A friend is in her orphanage right now adopting a different child(ren). Here's what she had to say:

"The good news is the orphanage [...] is very accommodating and pro-adoption, so we already met a BUNCH of kids

Aubree was one of the first ones I met. I'll be honest, I've read her profile, and I was worried. She's in the pictures we had of M in the new orphanage, and to think that she was the type of child described in the second "someone met her" description, was scary! I don't know what brought about the difference yesterday (maybe they're working with her, or she was just having a bad day before?), but she hung out with us for a while, and we didn't see any of those behaviors. I hope we get to spend more time with her next time as well, and I think we will.  AB [name of three year old withheld] loved her- she was very gentle and nurturing with AB and J [little kids] and very social! We talked for a while, with a nanny and Serge translating for us (although I actually understood quite a bit, because I asked questions that I could recognize the answers to!). She likes school very much, especially art, and writing and drawing. She likes animals (cats, dogs, etc). She LOVES jewelry, and hairbows (the more giant the better!). She very much wants brothers and sisters, and when i asked her if she wanted older ones or little ones, she said little (and I believe it, she was very interested in our five kiddos, and loved to snuggle them). She held AB and AB walked her through our photo book, describing everything- Aubree was so attentive, and her face looked so wistful.

So, physical description of Aubree: Obvious arthrogryposis, although, she seems to have some flexibility in her hands, because she was holding a banana (no peel) and eating sections of it by herself. her legs are pretty small, and very stiff. She struggles with speech, not with the thoughts, but with getting it out, and I believe she would benefit from speech therapy. She was very polite and affectionate as well, and although she does have some obvious cognitive delays, she seems eager to learn new things and to be a part of things.

When she was with us, I had our five playing blocks on one of the beds, and although she watched, and looked very interested in what they were playing, she never attempted to roll over there or monopolize attention. She talked with her friends, with our facilitator, and with me, for a while, especially when she realized that I might know a family for her- which totally broke my heart, because she was so eager to be adopted. At one point, I had turned away to say something to someone else, and she was trying to get my attention- her arms do appear to be affected by the arthrogryposis from what I saw, because her elbows didn't bend much, and her hands are turned at an unusual angle, and she grabbed at my shirt sleeve, trying to get my attention (she didn't know my name then). Her hands are strong, from rolling the wheelchair, and her grasp is poor because of the arthrogryposis, so she had to kind of sling her arm and try to close her fingers on my sleeve. I could see the awkwardness of it for her, but she definitely wasn't afraid to try! She's beautiful in person- these pictures don't do her justice at all. And I'm sorry my pictures are blurry, kids don't stay still long and I was using my camera with a slower capture speed because the room was a bit dim.

And something to consider- it is a very cheap area to stay in, and not far from Kyiv, so with Aubree's $3092 grant plus the private $3K grant, you'd be probably close to 1/3 of the way to funded just from that. 

Here's a few pictures of Aubree...again, sorry for the blurriness, but there were about 18 people in a six bed groupa "bedroom" and 5 of them were my kids under 7 that I was trying to supervise while I socialized lol"

Kambry pictures!

 

 

Update on Kambry

 

We have a video of Kambry showing her playing and speaking with her sweet little voice! And with all these pictures it is safe to say that her body works well! Besides what looks like clubfeet and possible curved fingers on the right hand, her contractures don't seem to affect her much at all! (She makes it to AMC status barely, with at least three contractures in at least two areas of the body--clubfeet and fingers on one hand.) Just watching her wave bye-bye in the video or hold her baby doll shows she has excellent muscle control and function. She has plenty of muscle for an AMCer! And she is wonderfully cheerful!

 

She has Freeman Sheldon syndrome (or whistling face syndrome), a rare type of AMC, but besides the clear facial markers, the rest of her body is relatively typical. At least what we can tell!

 

This is a very good prognosis!

 

Let's help her get a family!

 

 

 

 

Our focus for November: Kambry!

Meet Kambry!

 

There are over 400 types of arthrogryposis and Kambry has one rare type called Freeman Sheldon Syndrome.

 

(Dr. Hall says, "You must remember that arthrogryposis is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There are over 400 diagnoses that can cause AMC." So when you know the diagnosis you can treat effectively!)

 

To quote the arthrogryposis atlas:

 

"Freeman Sheldon Syndrome:

This is also called cranio-carpo-tarsal dysplasia, or whistling face syndrome. It

is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder with classic facial features of a pursed

mouth, deep-set eyes, and a small nose. Intelligence is normal. The infant is

often seen because of foot and hand deformities, including flexed, ulnar

deviation of fingers, clubfeet, or vertical tali. There may also be dislocated

hips and scoliosis and small stature."

 

 

Kambry is doing really well. She's up and about and it looks like she's walking on her clubfeet, although it mentions she has had them surgically corrected and maybe that's not evidenced by the picture. It looks like she would need ankle braces known as AFOs or possible future casting to straighten them out more. But overall I would not expect Kambry to need as many surgeries as the more common types of AMC. She has good-looking muscles (a coveted attribute in the AMC community) and based on the position of her upper body, it doesn't appear that her shoulders, elbows or hands are affected at all. It's hard to tell from this picture, but it doesn't seem that her hips are affected either.

One of the biggest things to remember about Freeman Sheldon syndrome is that it has very specific and easy-to-diagnose facial characteristics (aka the whistling face). But these are often confused with fetal alcohol syndrome to those unfamiliar with the specific characteristics of both conditions. This has scared some potential parents away, as many are told that fetal alcohol syndrome comes with "distinct facial characteristics." From her picture, all of Kambry's facial characteristics are purely due to her AMC type. Freeman Sheldon syndrome does not have intellectual disabilities or behavioral issues associated with it.

If you are interested in Kambry you can contact Reece's Rainbow by going here.
 

Our focus for October: Shawn!

Meet Shawn!

 

Shawn is just a well-adjusted, amazing little boy who is highly functional and mobile! He has all-limb Hall's contractures (arthrogryposis multiplex congenita). He is receiving an education, has a foster family inside the orphanage giving him much needed one-on-one time and he is social and outgoing. Because we can't say it better we're just going to quote the family who has met him outright:

 

"Shawn just turned 5 this summer and his special need is post-operative congenital Arthrogryposis.   He is a very sweet and very capable little boy who can walk, sit, raise his arm to grab a toy above his head and bend over to pick things up.  I also observed him reaching over to pull on a little friends ear!!!  I honestly didn't think I would have a favorite when I went to China but this little guy stole my heart within minutes...so much so that I asked to see him again before I left on our last day...  If I could've smuggled one child home with me...well it would've been him!

Shawn lives with a foster family in an apartment within the orphanage.  He is receiving his education through Half The Sky's Little Sister program and is described as an optimistic and active child.  He likes to listen to stories read by the teacher and has good language skills.  He understands instructions quickly and expresses his thoughts well.  Sometimes he thinks and explores difficult questions as if he is a "little teacher."  Shawn performs well in class, shares well and likes to play games with other children.  "He likes to play with the bowling ball and electronic piano.  He enjoys coloring and likes to dance with the help of the teacher. He is kind and will comfort others when they are sad."

Go here to find a video of Shawn!

Please email JCandRebecca@Yahoo.com for more info!

 

 

Meet our focus for September: Tavin!

Meet Tavin!

 

Tavin is 21 months old and a doll!

 

Several people have already discovered Tavin on the Reece's Rainbow website and asked about him!

 

No commitments yet though!

 

Tavin appears to have joint contractures in his left leg. It's hard to tell if anything is affected in his upper body since his wrists look so good and all limbs are pretty straight!

 

For those of you familiar with arthrogryposis, we're talking easy medical stuff.

 

Easy transition since he's young.

 

Adorable kid.

 

It wouldn't be surprising if he had a family before this month is up.

Meet our focus for August: Danika!

Danika

 

Originally we were going to write about Danika last year, but Russ*a put the ban on US adoptions and that stayed our hand. But since one of our Bring Hope members lives in the UK and we know the UK as well as Canada may still adopt this girl then that leaves some hope she'll be adopted.

 

But she must be adopted with her little brother who has no special needs. 

Abrehem

 

We've been using "Danika" and "Abrehem" to refer to these children, but we have no idea what their actual names are. Any adopting family can change their names anyway. All we know is that they are in Russ*a, and they cannot be adopted by Americans even though they are available for adoption and desperate for adoption.

Danika was born in April 2008. She has brown eyes and dark brown hair, although based on her picture I would call it light brown hair. She is said to have astigmatism and Hall's contractures (arthrogryposis). She is described as "communicative and friendly."

Abrehem was born a year later (April 2009). He has gray eyes and a calm nature.

Would you share this post with any Canadian or UK friends who are considering adoption?

They were listed as being in "Region 13." Even though they are no longer being actively advocated for on Reece's Rainbow, their profile is still there and that's where to get a bit more information on how to continue with the process. Go here for their profile.

Obviously their chances of being adopted together and under the US ban are low. But sharing about them can bring them hope!


***Since the US-based organizations cannot be involved, there's no way to accept money towards these children's adoption. So if you have your $12 donations ready and want to support a family adopting an AMC child, please go here to support the Schmitt family who are $5,000 short and pick up their two sons (one with CP and one with AMC) in about 8 weeks. Thanks!

Meet our focus for July: James!

James!

 

James needs a family! He already walks, smiles, plays, poses for pictures and is a super smart bundle of joy!

 

 

James is not in an institution and is instead in a foster home! In fact everything about New Hope Foundation is amazing! We've seen kids in institutions in China come home in rough shape. But here they are healthy--socially, emotionally and physically.

 

To quote their website, they aim to...

 

To take physically handicapped babies under six months old and provide them with a caring and secure environment;

To provide long-term care in as close to a normal home environment as possible;

To seek out the very best medical solution for their handicap and facilitate their treatment;

To work very closely with the local Children’s Welfare Institutes to give these children the very best opportunities for the future and also raising the awareness of the needs of these abandoned children in China;

To employ and train local staff, as well as working closely with local community to help support their needs;

To provide an opportunity for volunteers to get be involved with the care of these children;

To provide training and support for prospective foster parents in conjunction with the local Children’s Welfare Institutes; and

To keep accurate records of the children’s development so that they have a “history”.       

I can't tell you what that will do for his brain development and transfer to a new family! Wonders!

 

For more information on James (and more pictures) please click here.

 

PLEASE SHARE JAMES' PICTURE ALL OVER!!!

 

SHARE THIS PAGE!

 

SHARE NEW HOPE'S PAGE!

 

SHARE SHARE SHARE!

 

You can make such a difference! We know three families now who have found their AMCers from someone sharing on Facebook alone!

 

And once again we have no way to donate your monthly $12 to this child's adoption fund, but you can continue to make donations to the few families who are in the late stages of adopting their AMCers and who are desperate for help:

 

The Blackmon family needs a few thousand. They met their children last month and are waiting to finalize their adoptions.

 

The Schmitt family also need a few thousand. They have also already met their children and are waiting for their final trip.

 

Caius' family (the Robinsons) have committed to another child (another double adoption!) and are a few thousand short as well. They are finishing up their dossier and are almost done with all the adoption paperwork. The way things are going they may finish their adoptions and take home their children around the same time as the Blackmon and Schmitt families even though they have not met their children yet!

 

Also if you wish to donate towards New Hope Foundation to help kids like James, go here.

 

Thanks!

 

Aubree Update!

***Updated on 7/10/13 to include more info from people who met Aubree. New info in parenthesis***

 

Aubree

 

 

 

(Aubree loves to go outside and pick flowers! She also knows how to write and has memorized around 100 poems and songs.)

From a gal on a short-term mission trip who spent some time in Aubree's orphanage recently:

Aubree is a happy, loving, and well-adjusted little girl. She is popular in her groupa and loves to talk to people and attend the Montessori program at her orphanage. That being said, she is a child you don't want to turn your back to. She bites, pinches, and hits you when she wants attention or is jealous.  (Same gal adds later, "That typically happens when she is very excited. During our one-on-one time or when she was taking her classes she was very sweet and loved to show off her journal.") She is also very dominant and wants to have your attention at all times, which is difficult when there are other children in the room. ("These kids just have a short amount of time with their visitors and they know it and they crave attention so badly. This girl is a sweetheart and would be a great daughter. Dave and I were there for 21 days and had tons of interaction with the girls especially. She never did that [pinching, hitting, etc.] to me. They all really loved my husband." ~Jane)  While she is very smart, I believe she has some mental delay, though how much of this is due to being raised in an orphanage environment is unclear. She was thrilled when I told her a lot of people loved her and were praying for her, and in the right family she would thrive.

(I told her that many people loved her and were praying for her to find a family and the look on her face was indescribable. It was like "Really? People love me?")

I can't imagine having to vie for attention all the time! I can't wait to see this girl in a family who cares about her and gives her their time and attention! The missionary suggested that making Aubree the youngest child or only child in a family would make her super happy. 

I loved this update because the last update was so heart-breaking--Aubree clinging to a dad's hand (as he was adopting her friend), begging for a Mama and Papa of her own, crying for a family to love her. It's nice to see her relaxed and in her social element. She sounds like a goofball! And cheerful and happy and well-adjusted among her peers. And she pinches... which just makes me love her more. I don't know why. ;)


As far as the small glimpses of Aubree's AMC in her legs only it seems she has straight legs and club feet. They are small from not getting a lot of weight bearing. I don't know the condition of her hips, but I do see a dimple on her side that indicates that she is affected there. But I wouldn't put walking out of the question once those feet are fixed and she starts weight bearing! Her arms are strong and so she can transfer and is pretty mobile. Pretty much from what we do know it looks like she will be 100% independent one day!

Aubree has 13 months to find a family!!! Please share her file! Go here to learn more!

Bill has a family!

Bill/Liam

 

We just got word that Bill has a family! Bill (or Liam as he was listed in China) spent five years in a Chinese orphanage and two years with a temporary family in America who were not a good fit for him.

 

Now he has a WONDERFUL family! (Friends of friends.) He is in great hands now!

 

(Thanks for letting us know, Ani! We do worry about "our kids." ;))

 

First Oscar/Oliver, then Cauis and now Bill!

 

Come on Raymond and Aubree!!!

Caius has a family!

Someone said yes!

 

Caius has a family!

 

Go here to read all about them.

(And their family blog is here.)

 

Three families wanted this little guy. Three!

 

I wish all our kids has as many pictures as this one so people knew how great they are. Then they'd all have families!

 

AMCers rock.

 

Congratulations Caius!

 

A family is coming for you!

 

You're going to have siblings who love you and help you. And parents who cuddle you.

 

Say bye-bye orphanage! My mommy's coming!

Our focus for June: Oliver (Oscar)

Oliver

 

 

Over the last couple of weeks there has been a small sharing campaign to find little Oliver a family. New Day Foster Home put up a video of Oliver that we could share. CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) had Oliver listed as "limb differences" but many AMC families noticed that it was arthrogryposis right away. (We're so smart. ;))

 

 

 

He looks to have classic amyoplasia, the most common type of AMC, affecting all four limbs. The contraption they have him in seems to be a supination splint since his shoulders are a bit inverted. (Just a guess.) I see contractures in his knees, wrists, elbows and clubfeet. I also see stretches and serial casting in his future. Based on the number of kids we know with amyoplasia we can tell you he'll be mobile, functional, ambulatory and do well in school. That's a prediction we'll put money on!

 

Last month Oliver was picked up by Reece's Rainbow and given the code name Oscar. And then last week Oscar got a family!

 

 

 

Oscar is on the My Family Found Me page!

 

So we are waiting to find out who the family is and what their needs are.

 

I love when a kid gets a family, and it's even more exciting to happen so fast!

 

 

If his family sets up an FSP through Reece's Rainbow (meaning they need to fundraise) we'll be sure to help. Right now we have no way to help and just want to celebrate with them! If you were looking to give a donation to an AMCer this month, please still consider the Blackmon family. They are in country right now picking up their two children (one is an AMCer) and are still a bit short. Go here to help them! Their need is much more urgent.

 

 

New Pictures of Caius!

I cannot stand how cute this guy is! Please someone adopt him soon!!!

Here is a post with LOTS more pictures of him! He's doing well, playing with a ball and has two teeth coming in!

Original picture and description here. 

Our child for May: Bradyn!

While we were still setting up Bradyn's month of awareness, he found a family! We have a little over two weeks to help them raise $5,200 in order to travel to meet their sons (Bradyn and Steven) on May 18th since Bradyn is being added on to an adoption already in progress! The family has a $200 grant through Bring Hope starting now and ending May 3rd. It's a drop in the bucket, but let's help them get it all! If their account reads $5,700 before the end of the day on May 3rd then they receive the $200 grant. The family will also be fundraising like mad between now and May 18th. To donate to them go here.

Here's their story written by Tiffany Blackmon, Bradyn's new mommy:

 

Troy and I met in August 1991, during college at Texas A&M.  We dated for several years and were married in January 1994.  We have 5 biological children.  The oldest is 14 and our baby turned 3 today.  Our adoption story started in October when we saw a picture of Steven.  In the past, we had said that one day we may adopt, but never had taken any steps toward it.  A few weeks after seeing Steven’s picture, Troy and I sat at dinner one night and seriously discussed Steven.  We had never considered a special needs child, but because of our experience with our son, Colton, we felt like this was something we were being called to do.

Within a week, we had received information of Steven and had committed to him. 

 

This long process was beginning.  During the next few months, we started looking to add another child to our adoption.  We felt like we could care for another child, but “our” child was never available.  Every time we found a child waiting (that we were drawn to), there was some reason that we could not adopt.  They were either with another agency or had a family already commit to them.  It was a very frustrating time!

Our dossier was mailed to Bulgaria on March 5 for only 1 child, Steven.  It was translated, authenticated and ready to submit on March 22, the same day I got an e-mail from our agency with information on Bradyn.  We immediately knew he was the one!  We got more pictures of  him on March 25 and drove to Austin to Apostille commitment papers the next day.  During this time, I was able to get information about AMC from Alexis and several other momma’s which has been so valuable in planning Bradyn’s care.

Currently, our dossier has been verbally approved.  We are waiting on a signature from the Minister of Justice and travel dates for our first trip.  We should get to meet our boys soon, hopefully the week of May 18^th.

Bradyn turned 3 yesterday.  He spent it without a party, without a cake and balloons, without a family.  It will be his last birthday alone.  We are excited to add him to our family!

This was the first picture we saw of Bradyn

We believe that all children are a blessing.  God has called our family to love and care for these two boys.  He has blessed us with so much!  He has blessed us with the ability to provide a great place for these little guys to grow and to call home.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress.        James 1:27

Adoption is expensive!  Total cost for bringing the boys home is estimated at $32,000.  We are currently raising money to pay our final fees to our agency and our travel expenses for our first trip.  We need $5200 for this step. 

You can follow our adoption story at www.fiveplusonemore.blogspot.com

Meet our focus for April: Bill

"Bill"

This is Bill (a.k.a. Liam from An Orphan's Wish). Bill was originally adopted from China, but is available for adoption here in America. He is currently in Texas but anyone from anywhere in the US can adopt him. His AMC primarily affects his arms. As you can see he has wrist contractures and shoulder involvement. But great range of motion in his elbows and no leg involvement! He seems to do everything a typical boy his age does and is mobile and independent and smart.

Bill does need a special kind of family dynamic where he is the youngest and smallest.  

Bill's adoption costs will be minimal (as far as adoptions go) so we are not fundraising at this time for him unless an interested family steps forward and needs the help. Creating a Family's site where Bill is listed notes:

Cost for this adoption are uncertain at this time, but will likely be around $5,000-$8000. Bill may be eligible for a monthly adoption subsidy from the state (depending on where you finalize the adoption). The agency can provide more details on this possibility. 

So right now we're just doing a sharing campaign. Can you share Bill with anyone interested in adoption? He has been transferred a few times and needs a permanent, forever home. Thanks!

If you are interested in adopting Bill please contact Krystie at Children's Connections: krystie@childrensconnections.org.

Tears of joy over a smile.

When all of us at Bring Hope saw this painting for the first time, we knew right away who it was. "Raymond!" There are his eyes, those eyebrows and that face! This was the artist's vision of Raymond with a family. Future Raymond. Raymond smiling.

The artist, Rachael Rossman, decided not only to help us show Raymond's future joy, but she insisted on doing it pro bono and moved it to the top of her priority list as Raymond now faces transfer. You can read about Raymond's impression on her and see more of her work here.

Since seeing this picture I cried right into my daughter's hair. She said, "These are happy tears, right?" She knows the difference. She's Raymond's age. She also has a smile. She also has arthrogryposis.

Every time we advocate for this guy the same question is asked, "Do you have a better picture?"

One of our Bring Hope staff has blogged on her personal blog about how important a good picture is for these very vunerable orphans. (You can read that post here.) Notice how she shows her own boys and their good and bad photos? She also shares her adopted son's picture that was on Reece's Rainbow and another picture that was taken at his orphanage that is not flattering. Wow. Her son also has arthrogryposis too and was older than Raymond when adopted. (Her son was adopted after having been transferred out of the baby house. It was hell for him.) What struck me was how much a picture can made a difference! What was communicated through that picture mattered! What if that first ugly picture of sweet dimple-faced Aaron had been his listing photo?

No other pictures can be taken of Raymond unless someone flies over there, gets the director's permission and snaps a shot! That's HIGHLY unlikely. So this is what we have. Well, and one from the listing in his birth country that is also blurry and even older.

This precious baby needs love. He is facing transfer soon. Those of you who have been following our blog know that transfer is not a good thing. The institutions where young children with special needs are sent have care that is below the basics of what they receive in the baby houses. Some are sent to adult mental institutions. The survival rates there are dismal. After transfer it is estimated that between 85-95% die within the first 12 months. And they don't die from their special needs. Arthrogryposis is not a condition that carries any expiration date. It is not a mental condition in the least!

To quote the founder of Reece's Rainbow:

"That is when I found out what happens to children with Down syndrome and special needs when they are born abroad," Roberts said. "There is a very high rate of abandonment. They are transferred to mental institutions at 4 and a great many of those children do not survive their 5th birthday."

"We recently, just in the last two months, had an 8-year-old girl adopted out of a mental institution," Roberts said. "They put 18-month clothes on her. She was 15 pounds. It is far more common than people realize."

(Interview found here.)

And adoption can change Raymond's life! Just as it has changed so many others.

To donate towards Raymond's adoption please go here. If he can get up to $5,000 then he will move onto a new "sizeable grant" page on Reece's Rainbow and have an even better chance of being adopted as parents often look there first when considering a child to adopt. (I know my family did.)

Also please consider sharing about Raymond on your social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Just two weeks ago a friend of a friend committed to adopt our Anthony. Sharing works!!

Let's work together to make this beautiful smile a reality for Raymond!

Anthony has a family!

Anthony has a family!

 

Our child for the month of January has a family! And you can thank social media! At least a little. One of our friends (an AMC mom) shared with her best friend. Her best friend then shared with her husband and even though they were not considering adoption they fell hard!

 

This amazing family has a new blog for Anthony you can read here. 



 

Because the family just committed to Anthony there is much to do. The first step in adoption is a home study. That is when your home state qualifies you to adopt a child. This includes providing financial information, having a social worker come check you out and providing information about your background. It takes roughly 8 weeks to complete this process. And this has to be done before any other steps can be taken in the adoption process! But home studies are not cheap! Although it varies by state and agency their home study will cost $2,000.

 

So in order to start the very first step they need to raise $2,000! Four days ago the girls (Anthony's future sisters) had $66 saved up from babysitting jobs. So that's only another $1,934 left to go! If you want to help (and please do, time is not on Anthony's side!) please go here to donate to their Paypal account.  

 

To show you how important the home study is, without a completed home study, Anthony's family cannot even apply for an account with Adopt Together (to do any real fundraising) or apply for any grants. And because Anthony is older there is a host of reasons why things need to start NOW.

 

Let's help them take the first step!