Carter

Boy, Born June 2004

 

From his medical records:  Spina bifida;  congenital defect of central nervous system;  Arnold-Chiari syndrome;  Lower paraparesis;  combined hydrocephaly

 

From his caregivers:  The boy is very smart, friendly, and communicative. He wants be adopted.

From a family who met him in early 2012:

Carter is pretty quiet, and seems sweet, cooperative and observant.  He’s walking with a walker, now, and focuses on that a lot in the halls … He has the most precious smile I have ever seen on a little boy. He is adorable- he still has some baby fat in his cheeks- and he moves so well. You can’t tell it in the picture, but his feet actually flip completely in. He walks on the side of his feet and his ankle and then flicks his feet underneath him. Give the boy some therapy and braces and he’ll be off. He’s a happy kid- and again, must be smart to be in the class he’s in. He’s a little guy- maybe the size of a 5 year old? Very cute.

Carter’s in the “normal school classes” at the orphanage, meaning that he’s learning the same things the other cognitively typical kids are learning in school … He seems like a very laidback, fun loving kid with a perfect sense of timing for practical jokes. He understands cause and effect, is able to be sneaky when surprising someone (again, a mark of intelligence). He’s pretty obedient, especially compared to most 8 year old boys I know.

He’s the kind of kid that refused to let some labels define him. Most of the kids there with spina bifida are in wheelchairs. He’s walking. Walking well, actually, either pushing his walker or his buddy’s wheelchair. He’s adorable- he has the cutest little chubby cheeks that plump up so sweetly when he smiles (which is often). His eyes have that mischevious little twinkle, it reminds me of the Dennis the Menace character with his cuteness. He talks, is polite, is sweet and funny and smart.

More photos available, married couples only.