This Week's Wonderful Waiting Kids

The week I want to start with a precious little girl who captured so many hearts. Anna was listed for the longest time with Small World Adoptions. I never could understand why she waited so very long. I first advocated for her back in October of last year, here. When the CCAA changed the waiting list situation, Anna's file, along with the other cuties' files on Small World's list were sent back. Just like that!

The other day, a friend of mine emailed and asked that I post about a very sweet little girl who had just showed up on the shared list. A little girl who had captured her heart. As I read her info, I realized it was Anna!!! I could not wait to post about this wonderful little girl.



Isn't she precious! Anna has several special needs, but she is doing so well. Anna is at True Children's Home, a wonderful care facility in China. This is what is written about Anna in their newsletter:

She has a smile that draws, a determination that intrigues, and a love that captivates. Anna was born July 24, 2007 with MMC Spina Bifida. MMC sometimes causes hydrocephalus (water on the brain) as well as paralysis. Although she has both symptoms, her positive attitude, loving kindness, and encouraging spirit force you to look beyond what your eyes can see. A shunt was placed in her head to drain the water from her brain to her stomach. Her paralysis is in the bottom half of her legs and feet. With the support of her braces, shoes, and encouragement from her caretakers, she is learning to walk. She is determined and positive. In February 2010 she could walk with help from an adult. By April 2010, she could walk across the room with no help. If she falls down, she giggles and picks herself back up to finish the walk. She always reaches her goal. She has worn out two pairs of shoes in the last 6 months and is quite proud of it. She understands she is different from some of the children. She understands their differences as well. She is very smart and intuitive. Before she was transitioned to foster care, she would take AD's hand (AD is blind) and put it on her face and say her name. She began doing this after the staff explained to her that AD could not see. Anna put her hands over her eyes to see what this might be like. She would give him toys to hold and play with. She seemed to understand that he could not see to get the toys himself. The staff at True Children's Home hears AD say her name quite often. They were friends. She took care of him and he trusted her. AD could not see her smile, but he certainly felt her love. Anna was transitioned to the nearby True Children's Home foster village in early April where she has stolen the hearts of her foster family. She is visited weekly by our Foster Care Coordinator.

Anna definitely has quite a spirit about her.



She reminds me of my Lizzie in her determination and compassion.



Please email me at 5puppies@comcast.net. I have her file and a copy of the newsletter that I would be happy to send to anyone who might be interested. Given the chance, Anna will grow and thrive and accomplish anything she puts her mind to!!!

Next are 2 beautiful little girls who are residing at New Day foster home.

First is Serena



Serena is a sweet young girl who has waited far too long for a family. Serena was born in Aug. of 2000. She was diagnosed with amblyopia in both eyes and anorthopia in her left eye.



From New Day's blog:

Recently the Forever Home received a box of goodies. Amongst some of the items was some stickers. After giving each of the girls some things, I looked over at Serena only to find what she'd done with her stickers. Once again, she decided they must be for decorating her face! It's funny that so many things we take for granted are new for some of these older girls. It was even obvious that crayons and coloring was something she'd clearly never done before.
While all she knew to do in the beginning was scribble and only used one color, now she is coloring pretty pictures while staying in the lines and now uses more than one color. You go girl!!

According to an email I received from Lifeline, a family does not need to be LID to qualify. I assume Serena is on the shared list but you could contact Amy with Lifeline at hart5@bellsouth.net to find out more about her. I can testify to what an amazing agency Lifeline is but you could also email Carrie at carrie@newdaycreations.com as well to find out Serena's Chinese name. You can also go to New Day's blog, here to see a couple of really videos of wonderful Serena!! She is a hoot!!!

Next at New Day is Jenna.



Jenna is 5 years old and has just recently joined the New Day foster home. When she arrived she could not speak and had been diagnosed with selective mutism. She is a complete doll.



This is what is written about her on New Day's blog:

She's only been with us for 3 months, but we've already seen amazing progress in her. When she came, they told us she could not speak. In her entire 5 years of life, they had not heard a single word from her. She understood language and would follow directions, so they assumed she simply could not speak.

They were wrong.

After only a month, she began to say simple words like car, cat, want. To say we were excited would be an understatement. How wonderful it's been to see her grow and make enormous strides. Just today in preschool, I noticed Jenna beginning to do the motions to all the songs during music time- something she did not do before.

Jenna has recently been diagnosed as having selective mutism. That means she is able to speak, but chooses not to. She receives speech therapy 5 mornings a week and is doing so well. We aren't aware of any other health problems- she is very healthy. We don't know what traumas Jenna has had to endure in her short life, but we are certain that with a loving and stable home, she will continue to blossom.



Just think of what Jenna's potential will be in the arms of a loving family!! Could you be her family???? I believe WACAP has a $4000 grant toward her adoption. You could contact WACAP at familyfinders@wacap.org. I think her number on their list is, XRF.HD0903.01 but I am not positive about that. I did get an email from Elizabeth at WACAP that said there was a grant of $4000 for Jenna from New Day, so I know they would know her by that name if you inquired about her through WACAP. Again, you could also contact Carrie at carrie@newdaycreations.com to find out her Chinese name in order to search for her on the shared list.

Next I want to post some reminders about some very special kids from last week. These children have really touched my heart and I would love to see them find loving families to help them reach and achieve all that their beautiful hearts desire.

First I have to start with sweet Ruby.



As you may remember Ruby is an adorable little girl who is in a home care facility in China. She is 7 years old and is learning to walk for the first time due to CP that affects only her legs.



Sarah is her guardian angel who more than anything wanted to adopt Ruby. Sarah has spent much time with Ruby and can attest to what a very special little girl she is.



Sarah, however, is single and as we all know, singles cannot adopt from China - sigh!! Sarah is now looking beyond her heart and trying desperately to find a family for Ruby. Ruby's orphanage does not want to bother with her paperwork unless there is an interested family for Ruby. If Sarah can find that family, her paperwork will be sent in to the CCAA. This is kind of an unique situation but not impossible.

Please look at Ruby's sweet face and watch her video again and please help spread the word about this precious child.



Please contact Sarah at sabarnes29@gmail.com if you think you might be sweet Ruby's family.

Next is the amazing little girl on CWA's Camp Hope Project. Her number is YQ09-12-30and she is listed under their January kids. You can go to CWA's website to email and ask for a password to view her pics and video.

This precious little girl has severe burns on her hands and body. She also has LD's in both of her hands but is so completely functional. When you first see her pics, it does take you back a bit. Her facial scars are bad, however, when you scroll down and see her video, it will completley blow you away and touch your very soul. She is singing in the sweetest little voice and is just beautiful inside and out.

I hope to be able to share some wonderful news about this little one very soon. I have spoken to a wonderful woman who has started a foundation for kids in China and has worked with burn victums over there before.

It could be that in the near future, my advocacy for this child may change a bit from finding an adoptive family to finding a "host" or "medical foster" family here. I have been told that the doctors here would be albe to do so much for her. they would be able to release the tension around her mouth, rebuild her nose and do surgery on her hands for starters!!

I will definitely keep you posted. Of course the best scenario would be an adoptive family for her, but if that is not possible right now, this would be a wonderful (although temporary) alternative, with the hopes of finding her an adoptive family in the year (maybe) that she would be here receiving treatment.

Please go take a look at this sweet girls video and understand what true beauty is!!! As the representative from CWA told me, if she is not adopted, her future in China is not a good one. Please help change her future!

The next two are precious little girls who are currently featured on WACAP's list.

The first is a beautiful little girl who is almost 3 years old and listed as having mild hemipalagia, which I think is like CP.

Her ID # is XRF.SC1107.01 and this is what is written about this precious little one:

Her caretakers say she is a cute and beautiful little girl. Due to mild hemipalagia, she has a stiff right hand and leg and requires some help eating. She can go up and down stairs using a handrail. She doesn’t speak as much as other children and she likes to play alone. One of her favorite things to play with is a spoon and bowl, pretending she is a cook.

Next on WACAP's list is little "Olivia" from Lifeline's list a while back. There seemed to be many interested in her but her file ended up going back, which I just not understand! She is just to cutest and will do so well, given the love of a family. There is even a $2000 grant for this little one. On WACAP's list her ID # is XRF.PZS1104.01 and this is what is written about her:

This little girl has been described as outgoing, clever, well liked and energetic. She has several limb differences and wears a brace on her left leg to help her walk. For the most part, she can take care of her own needs and her social development is excellent.

There is a $2000 Promise Child grant for eligible families for this adoption.

Please go to WACAP's website to ask for a password to see these 2 wonderful children, along with so, so many others listed with them. You can check back to last week's post to read about some other cuties from their list.

I also have to remind everyone again about sweet Josiah.





This wonderful child who cannot use his arms, has already taught himself how to use his feet to do things for himself.







Please go last week's post to read about this special little boy. There is the sweetest update from the Harmony House director who met remarkable Josiah for the first time. It will touch your heart!

There are also several absolutely adorable little ones still sitting on AAC's list. I just do NOT understand why they still wait!

There is:

sweet Sam



Jillian



Gabriel



Drew



Avery



Alexander



and Madeline



Please go here on my blog to read about these wonderful kids!

As always, please do a search on my blog under "waiting kids" to see the other ones who still wait. I hope to get a sperate page up an d running soon that will be dedicated to my "waiting kids" posts. Hopefully this will make it easier to find past posts. Wish me luck!!! Also, if you have a question about any child you have seen on my blog or if you would like to for me to feature a child or re-feature a child, just email me at 5puppies@comcast.net!!