He needs a family

Abbott is a 4-year-old boy with Down Syndrome. He has just been transferred to a mental institution, so his need is urgent--90% of children with Down Syndrome die during their first year in a mental institution.

I don't know why we live in a world like this--a world where little boys and girls are basically sentenced to die because of their extra chromosome (whether in a mental institution at 3 to 7 years old or before they are born) and no one seems to care. But I do know there's a solution. Societies can change, and we can all work for that. Societal change is unlikely to come quickly enough for Abbott, though. His needs can only be met by a family willing to step out and go to where he is and rescue him. Otherwise, he will die alone surrounded by the moans of others sentenced to a life in a bed without love. But he does have a chance--a chance not just to survive but to know hugs and kisses and siblings and school and the outdoors and all those things that say vroom. When these kids get big grants, someone goes for them. Or sometimes someone goes without a grant.

Can you be Abbott's mommy? Can you give just a little money to just one child who needs a family?

Loves to cuddle

Archie is 3 and medically healthy. He has a long description written by a missionary who has worked with him, so I'm just going to paste that here--he sounds like such a little joy!

"The boy has very tender, affectionate, cheerful and forgiving personality. He does not hesitate approaching to people and looks with interest at what they are doing and truly tries to emulate. He is doing it in such a cute way that these attempts turn out to be very funny to watch! Ilya does not speak yet but he is showing some progress in speaking.
The whole world is like a puzzle to him. When he hears a sound whether by tram or car – it is the whole event in his life. He stops and looks to the side, where sound occurs. When he is given toys he can play alone and will quietly deal with himself, allowing the rest to others.
The child needs tactile sensations very much. He loves to cuddle and be cuddled. He is not doing it in a demanding, but gently and neat way. He is independent and if falls he not waiting for help from an adult. He's just not accustomed to it and is not expecting that it someone might be interested in him. He found his simple way for tactile sensations: he is touching his palm with something soft.
Archie responds quickly to someone’s smile with a soft laughter. He is not potty trained yet but in a family will pick it up quickly. He is very friendly with the kids but at the same time he can stand up for himself; if someone takes away a toy from him, Archie will follow the offender, trying to get it back. Archie loves to eat. If we go for a walk, everyone pays attention to his cheeks, cute little hamster! Archie does not like to run or play sporty games, he prefers quiet games with toys."

A little boy waiting for a family

Sweet Russell, 2 1/2 with Down Syndrome, is still waiting for a family. He looks so cuddly... why hasn't he found his family?

Maybe because God is calling you?

Region 3: additional children

Unlike 42, there are quite a few children in Region 3 with their own profiles, among them Shaun and Jamison. I noticed the additional children recently, though, and I noticed that some of them have a bit more information than is typical of "additional children."

I noticed two little girls named Maria with "other special needs."














Maria G, 3 1/2, is blind and looks like she may have additional special needs as well (50% of blind children do). Maria S will turn 7 (!) in April and I don't know what her special need is, or whether her picture is up to date. More information may be available... she certainly needs a family.






Christine, 8, is so high-functioning she's been sent to an orphanage for older children (like a boarding school, most likely) rather than an institution. She's an orphanage favorite.






One can assume from her hair bow that Suzanne is an orphanage favorite too... or at least was. She just turned 7 so it is likely she's in an institution and her picture has not been taken there.






Four-year-old Mark is healthy and "doing great."






At 6 Orielle is a much-loved favorite in her orphanage, but she is facing transfer to a mental institution. She was born with a heart defect, but seems healthy; the defect often heals on its own.






At 5 Maria T. spends her days in a walker. She has crossed eyes.






I noticed this little boy... Igor is 6.






Veronica needs something to smile about. She's 11.






Valery is 7. Looks like he may have some sort of repaired cleft or another facial issue in addition to Down Syndrome. Such a handsome young man.






I hope Vladislav's picture is not up to date... he is 8. He appears to be very lacking in stimulation. Look what institution does to these boys and girls. The older kids look younger. Vladislav appears to have a rash or hemangioma (probably Down Syndrome as well).






Ivan P. is 5... who could resist that smile! I hope someone finds him somehow and he never has a picture that looks like Vladislav's. This boy looks like a joy, someone must want him.

Region 42: additional children

Daria, born in May 2008 (the same as my daughter)




Michael, 1 1/2




Igor, also 1 1/2




Andrew S, 2




Nikita, turning 3 in May




Catherine, almost 3




Olga, 2




Zahar, almost 3 (same age as Catherine)




Veronica, 3 1/2 (also born in May 2008, like Daria and my Hannah)




Alana, 3





Daniel, turning 4 in April

No, it's not a lot to go on... a picture, an age, maybe a line about personality (Catherine is tranquil, Olga is mobile). There's no medical information, just a cute little face who needs a family. You don't know what you're getting into; you may not until you actually meet Alana, or bring Michael home. It is likely that all of these kids have a diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

Daria and Michael look to be in rough condition (maybe they are in a worse facility? Maybe they have complicating health conditions or problems eating?), but it looks like most of these little ones in "Region 42" are well-cared-for and healthy. It appears that all the children in 42 are additional children--so if there is full info on one child (a test case for the region), a family is committed, or the agency partner may have info available... or it may just not be possible to find out anything about Daria until you go to her country to meet her.

Region 42 is open to couples of at least 25 or single mothers. The mother may not be more than 45 years older than the child. If the parents are married, they must have been married a year. Fees under $25,000, which is pretty average in adoption and low for this country. All very standard, so this may be a pretty easy region. I don't know whether you could adopt more than one child at the same time.

I can't tell you what to expect... but I can tell you you would never regret making Igor or Zahar your son. You can't save them all... but you could save Daniel. I don't know if Andrew is healthy, but I know he's a child of God. I don't know whether Veronica needs surgery, but I know she needs a family. Your family isn't perfect, but it's better than a mental institution... and Nikita doesn't have a family at all.

Do click and see the rest of the sweet kids in this region if you are interested, this is only about half of them.

Would you be Jesus's mommy?

Amanda, a cute little girl with Down Syndrome, has lost her family. She needs someone else to commit to her before she ends up in a mental institution.

The situation is grave for every one of these children... they all face either the mental institution or one day, the streets. Even if they did not, the specter of life with no family is enough of a tragedy.

God knew from the beginning of time that Amanda's parents would not choose to care for her in a culture where children with disabilities are "the least of these." But He tells us that what we do for the least of these, we do for Him.

These kids leave the orphanage in clothes belonging to their new parents--their mommies and daddies clothe them. When their parents take custody, they may have enough to eat for the first time in their lives--their mommies and daddies feed them. Before they can bring them home, their mommies and daddies visit them behind the gates of the orphanage they cannot leave (their prison). Is this not exactly what we are commanded to do for the least of these?

If Jesus were an orphan, would you be his mommy?

little girl

Kaleigh just turned 4. Somehow her birthday hit me because, like my daughter Hannah, she was born in 2008.

And this year, unless a family comes for her, Kaleigh will be sent to a mental institution. Forever.

That's not a place, that's not a fate for 4-year-old girls with so much potential and their whole lives ahead of them.

Please won't someone make Kaleigh their daughter?

Update on Seamus

It apppears that Seamus' biological family has been visiting him, and so he is not eligible any longer for adoption.

Please pray that he would get the care he needs and that his family will bring him home!

2-week-old baby

On Monday I saw this post on MommyLife (I have copied it from there).
An adoption agency is seeking a home for a little boy with Down Syndrome, only 2 weeks old. If domestic infant adoption is on your heart, and you live in travelling distance of New Jersey but not in New York, you may be eligible to adopt him. That includes any of my local friends in MA.

I am with Open Arms Adoption Network, a non-profit adoption agency in Philadelphia, PA and am writing to you in hopes that you may know of any homestudy ready families who might be interested in adopting a little boy who was just born 10 days ago with Down's. This is a NJ adoption and we do have all medicals. Birth mother is signing consents today. (02/17) Below is a brief summary. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to be considered.... I can be reached at the number or email below.
Thanks so much for your help!

-Michele LeMasney

The birth mother would like to have contact with the family post placement, so a family within traveling distance of North-West New Jersey is ideal. She is hoping to be able to arrange 3 visits per year if possible. Unfortunately we cannot place NY families at this time. The fee would be $5,000 placement fee and $1,000 birth parent expenses...and this would not include post-placement supervision visits. Many may also consider the $12,650 adoption tax credit for adoptions finalized in 2012. If the adoptive family wishes for us to process a medicaid application, there will be an additional fee of $150.00 per hour for this service. He is Caucasian, full -term and presenting with no medical issues...no cleft or heart defect. Birthmother is a very lovely, mature woman (41 years old) and will be a delight to have a relationship with. We are hoping to show profiles early next week if possible.

Michele LeMasney
Training Coordinator
Open Arms Adoption Network
1301 Springdale Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
609.694.2626
267.256.2230 Fax
mlemasney@openarmsadoption.net
www.openarmsadoption.net
24/7 toll Free Hotline: 1-888-OPEN-ARMS

Updated pictures

A couple more of my favorite kids have updated pictures too.

Sasha, who is in very poor condition and has Down Syndrome, has a new picture up. I don't know if his condition is improving; he needs a family so badly. Here's his old picture that I have posted before:


Sasha may also have cerebral palsy and/or autism... or he may just be severely neglected. Here is the new picture:


Remember sweet baby Rebekah?


She has Down Syndrome and just turned 2 in January... here's a much newer picture:



Sweet Constantine has some adorable pictures which inspired this whole post when I saw them. I only had seen one picture of this little guy:


But someone posted some more on the Reece's Rainbow message boards:




Gorgeous, isn't he? His parents are going to be so blessed by him one day.

I also found a few more pictures of Ivan, who desperately needs surgery so his brain has room to grow and develop:




Someone please give this precious boy a home and a family; he is so worth the effort and cost!

Urgent need

Seamus is in urgent need of a family and medical care to save his life.

He has Down Syndrome and just had a kidney removed earlier this month (February). He is only 20 months old and considered fragile.

Seamus has been removed from the RR site. This may mean that he is being adopted or has been adopted. It may mean his availability is uncertain. It may mean he is dead. I will let you know when I know more.

Is he your son?

This is Presley. He's turning 4 next month. He's really cute... and he really needs a family.

He has a mild mental delay, crossed eyes, and a deformed skull (flat on the back)... all of which may well be from growing up in an orphanage instead of a family.

He also has leukemia.

He deserves a family.

Simply put....

Matthias is a healthy 3-year-old boy with Down Syndrome.



He needs a family.

Stretched

Sometimes God wants to stretch us.

For some that may mean considering the adoption of an older child... a child with severe special needs... a child who seems incapable of loving you back. And those children need homes desperately.

But for others, just thinking about adoption is a stretch, let alone the adoption of a child with special needs. If you fall into that camp, that's okay too. Maybe you are thinking HIV sounds pretty uncomplicated, but blindness, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, arthrogryposis... that's more than you can handle. Maybe you just want to adopt a baby girl, maybe a toddler.

15-month-old Brenna needs a family too. She's HIV+ and in a country where young children are available for international adoption. She needs a family as badly as any older kid or kid with severe special needs. Maybe she's your daughter.




Praise God, the Evensons have been granted custody of their beautiful, precious sons! Gideon and Micah are now no longer orphans but sons and brothers! This is only the beginning of a journey that will last all their lives, but I am so glad to see these boys granted their family.

Five years old

In the US, five years old means kindergarten. It means being a big boy. It means big boy clothes instead of toddler clothes.



For Meade, five years old means something more profound... a better chance at adoption.

I mentioned a few days ago that in one Eastern European country, children weren't available for international adoption until five. Meade, like Jenny, has HIV, and so he wasn't available to be adopted internationally until his fifth birthday, sometime last month.

Children with HIV are sometimes adopted in his country, but with the option of being adopted internationally, Meade has that much more chance of a family of his own. Maybe you could be his mom?

Two possibilities

This sweet little man is Konner, 2 1/2. He has spina bifida and has received surgery for it. He could live a full and productive life with an adoptive family in the US... or he could remain bedridden in an Eastern European orphanage. I hope someone gives him the chance he needs.

Please pray today for the Evenson family, that they would find favor and be allowed to bring home their two new sons, Gideon and Micah.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What could be sweeter than adopting siblings?

Jenny and Jordan both have February birthdays; she is turning 8 this month and he will be 4. They can be adopted together because Jenny is over 5; in their country only children older than 5 are available for international adoption unless they have disabilities on a certain list.


(Jordan's picture is not available.)

Jenny has HIV. As far as is known, her brother is healthy.
HIV is a very manageable need--kids take twice-daily medication and have quarterly blood draws to make sure their medication levels are correct.

Many orphans

If you are interested in adoption, please check out Adeye of No Greater Joy Mom's "linky thing" to see over 100 orphans who are in dire need of families...

Aging out in a few short weeks or months.
In urgent need of medical care.
Transferred, or about to be transferred.

You will recognize some of these sweet boys and girls...
Bethany. Megan. Wyatt. Maxim. Owen. Shaun. Nicholas. Ivan N. Preston. Sasha. Alix. Ivan. Tatiana. Lexa.

Every one of these precious children deserves a family of his or her own.

Laurel is facing transfer to a mental institution and a life of hopelessness in a matter of months. She has been in an excellent home for children with physical disabilities where the children are nurtured and well-adjusted. All she needs is a family to step forward and say "This is our daughter."

Any of you Canadian?

I don't know if I have any Canadians who read my blog, but some of the children on RR are only available to Canadian families.

Timothy, who just turned 4, is HIV+ and needs a Canadian family to adopt him.

(Many of the children are available to citizens of other foreign countries, such as Spain or France, as well; but RR is a ministry that concentrates on the US and Canada, so they aren't really trying to find families in Europe, though some military families living overseas have connected with their children through RR. If you happen to live in some other country, feel free to inquire about whether you could be Timothy's mom or dad.)



Timothy's availability is uncertain, but if an interested family inquires RR or his agency can find out more. If international adoption is an option for Timothy, his family needs to find him!

Boys who look like my son, revisited

Over 6 months ago, near the beginning of this journey, I posted about 3 boys who look like my son.

Today, as I looked through the pages of children who are special to me, I had trouble finding the picture of Peter M. in the additional children of Region 23. Why? Because he has a new picture and looks so much bigger. Peter M. will turn 4 about the time I am having my third child (June)... just look how much bigger he's gotten!



He doesn't look as much like my Peter anymore, but he is adorable... surely someone out there wants to be his mommy? I don't know when children in his region or orphanage are transferred, but some children are transferred as early as 3 or 4. Peter deserves a family who will love him, not an institution.

The two other little boys I posted about have not yet found families either. Kyle is now 5 and faces transfer soon. He badly needs a family to step up for him and save him from the institution. He's had a new photo for a while now:



Kyle doesn't look as much like my Peter anymore either, in part because Peter's hair doesn't usually get that long, but he is still precious too, and also deserves better than life tied to a bed in a mental institution.

At the same time I found Peter M's new picture, I discovered Andrew has a new picture, though he hasn't changed as much as the other two:



The information for Region 2, where Kyle and Andrew live, has been clarified, and there is a possibility Kyle and Andrew could be adopted together! Or, look at all the other sweet kids in region 2. Robyn, Celine, Elijah, and Jack live there as well... and if you fall in love with Megan, 6, who has just been transferred to a bad institution and has a grant over $20,000, and think she is your daughter and Andrew is your son, or if Evan, turning 11 this month, catches your eye and you think he is meant to be Kyle's big brother... trust me, I won't complain. They all need families just as badly.