The Reece's Rainbow HIV Family Coordinator & Support Liaison explains the medical aspects of living with a child with HIV. HIV is a virus that claims many innocent lives when children do not have access to antiretroviral medications. Fortunately, it is treatable and the children who have access to meds and adhere to their treatment have good long-term prognosis.
Children born to women with the virus have a chance of becoming HIV positive due to mother-to-child-transmission. These children are innocent carriers of the virus.
The children you see below are currently living in institutions. Sadly, if they end up aging out of institutional life, there is a high likelihood they will be ill on the streets in a life of crime.
New laws in the US and Canada allow for these children to be adopted. Being in a loving family helps them access medical care and gives them the opportunity to have a normal, healthy, productive life. They can go to college, get married, give birth to healthy babies and live long enough to meet their grandchildren. To learn more about adopting and parenting a child living with HIV, visit ProjectHopeful.org
Effective September 1, 2011, all older children will be able to carry their grants as they grow (until they turn 10), instead of being combined in a general older child fund.
You are also invited to send a check (no Paypal fees) to Reece's Rainbow, PO Box 4024, Gaithersburg, MD 20885
"Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each waiting child donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund as well!
Girl, born May 2004
HIV+
Britta is a very nice girl — and such beautiful eyes! Those giant bows mean she's a favorite at the orphanage.
Girl, born January 2004
HIV, convergent squint
What a little sweetheart! Look how she's showing her beautiful dress.
Naomi is a very affectionate and kind girl. She has a brother who was already adopted by Americans — and yet she still waits.
Alyssa was born in May 2003. She is described as being a calm girl. She has dimples on her cheeks and chin. Yates was born in September 2004. He is calm and quiet. They are very close. One of the siblings has HIV. Additional photos available. Video of Yates available.
Girl, born 2003 or 2004
HIV+
Celeste has a brother who has already been adopted.
She's a beautiful young girl, hoping for a family of her own!
Girl, born August 2003
This lovely young lady is HIV+ and has no other health issues reported at this time.
Mark was born in August 2004.
He is living with HIV.
Girl, born Feb 2004
What a lovely girl, with such beautiful long hair! Jenny is HIV+. Very smart, typically developing.
Jenny has a healthy brother, born Feb 2008, and they CAN be adopted together because Jenny is older.
To learn more about adopting and parenting a child living with HIV, visit ProjectHopeful.org
Boy, Born May 16, 2005
For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/
From a missionary who visited in this orphanage in March 2010: This kiddo was lots of fun, too. He was so inquisitive and curious. He has lots of energy and he’s very mobile. I have lots of pictures of him jumping on the couch. He seems like a very sweet little boy.
Update fall 2011: He is a wonderful boy, and wants to be adopted!
Girl, born October 2003
What a beautiful girl! Cindy is HIV+
More photos available.
Boy, born January 2003
Such beautiful hazel eyes this boy has!
George is HIV+
More photos available.
Boy, Born April 2005
Avery is a handsome little boy with brown hair and brown eyes. He is also HIV + positive, with an RNA of 400. More photos available. He does not have any siblings. He is described as having a calm demeanor.
For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit www.projecthopeful.org
Girl, Born April 2002
Marjorie is a beautiful dark haired girl with a big smile and an even bigger personality. She is diagnosed HIV+, stage 2, and "inactive form" of Hep C. Marjorie is a smart girl and is hoping for a forever family. She is typically developing cognitively/physically/socially.
Girl, Born September 2002
Octavia is 9 years old. She is diagnosed HIV+, stage 2, and also ADHD. We are uncertain if she takes meds to help with her attention deficit, but would certainly benefit from the availbility of that help here in the US.
Her medical records indicate a mild level of cognitive delay, but we don't know if this is because of the ADHD or possible FAS. She does have some facial features of this condition, although it is not documented in her file.
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Date of Birth: October 2005
Lively child, cheerful character, always in good spirits. Accurate, loves beautiful clothes and playing dress-up. She takes pride in her appearance. She likes to help her nannies set the table for dinner. She takes this job very seriously and she wears an apron and a cap and puts everything in it's correct place – fork on the left, knife on the right. She loves to draw and is very artistic. Her drawings often depict a house, a mom and a dad. She hopes that her dream will come true.
The only health information that we have about Sarah at this time is that she has a "serious incurable disease". She is listed on the HIV page and also on the Other Angels page in case it is Hepatitis C or something else. Please be open to health conditions if committing to adopt Sarah as we may not be able to get medical records before committment in this region.
Sarah may be at risk of being transferred.
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Jory was born in February 2004. He is a communicative boy. He does not have any siblings. A volunteer visited his orphanage and saw the boys all sitting next to a cat who was drinking water. Nearby was a newborn kitten in a cardboard box which had died. Jory asked "will the kitten come back to life? No?" The volunteer replied that the kitten will not come back to life and it will need to be buried in the ground. The volunteer asked him his name and he replied and said that he used to live in a baby house but now he lives in a boarding school and he has classes every day and a playground with grounds where he likes to play. The volunteer asked what he has learned in school and he replied that he has learned to read, write and count. She then asked him if gets along with the other children and he said he likes most of the children and he can defend himself against the others because he knows a little karate. All throughout the conversation, he was smiling at the volunteer and he seemed to be a very happy, sociable and nice boy. He is described elsewhere as being a cheerful, sociable and lively child who loves to play. Additional photos available. HIV+
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Date of Birth: May 2002
She is calm, even-tempered, obedient and she likes to learn. She and Tim are the orphanage favorites. HIV+
Girl, born May 2003
Such a cute girl with a beautiful smile! Please disregard the mark on her nose — that's a flaw on the photograph.
To learn more about adopting and parenting a child living with HIV, visit ProjectHopeful.org
Date of Birth: November 2004
Inquisitive. Kind. Diligent. Outgoing. Industrious. Hard-working. Sociable. HIV+
Additional photos available.
Girl, Born June 2004
What a beautiful, glowing smile Yelena has! Beautiful blonde hair (all hidden under her kerchief). Yelena is HIV+. She so badly wants a family of her own.
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Date of Birth: July 2005
Andrew is a friendly and sociable boy who loves order which is immediately noticeable in his appearance – he is always combed and neat. He is a diligent and patient boy. These qualities help him to successfully develop new skills and apply them in practice. He grasps new concepts quickly. He is a cheerful boy and often smiling. HIV+
More photos available.
Girl, born February 2, 2005
Her mother died. She has no father. Diagnosis: HIV+, umbilical hernia (will undergo surgery when she is 6 years old). She used to have enuresis but the situation has improved significantly and is almost gone. The children in this orphanage receive excellent medical therapy and have had their innoculations.
This beautiful little girl is quiet and not very sociable at first, but when she starts to trust a person she will do her best to show her friendly nature. She loves to help her caregiver in every possible way and she is truely attached to her. She has an inquisitive nature. More photos are available.
Girl, Born October 2003
Isn't Brynn beautiful? Brynn is HIV+. She has some minor facial features of possible FAS, but she is described as a typically developing child, so this is just a cautionary disclosure.
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Date of Birth: July 2003
Drew is calm, sociable and affectionate. He is described as being friendly, obedient and kind. He loves to sing, dance and draw. HIV+. Delayed verbal development.
Blonde hair and blue eyes. He has been diagnosed with HIV, but is medically healthy. Yuri is already living in the older child internat/boarding school, but can be adopted with any child from orphanage 37, 38, or 39 as well.
For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/
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Date of Birth: March 2005
He is a friendly boy. He plays well with older children. He is a very good boy. He is active and inquisitive and there is often a spark of interest in his eye. He wants to know everything and is eager to learn about new things. He is more interested in playing with things like CDs, telephones, stationery and real world things, rather than toys. He likes to have books read, even if they don't have pictures and he is plunging into the exciting world of words and letters. He is an appreciative listener. Tell him a tale or an interesting story and you will see he responds with interest and emotion to new information. He is HIV+ and has motor and speech delays.
More photos available.
Girl, Born January 2004
Isn't she pretty!? Ilyssa is living at a boarding school and is waiting for her forever family. She is diagnosed as HIV+, stage 3. She also has an astigmatism, and will greatly benefit from glasses.
Ilyssa is a very typical, normally developing child. She is a good student and a social girl.
BOY, Born August 10, 2005
Don't mind this pink shirt, Porter is a BOY. This is an older photo, but Porter is already 5 years old. He is HIV+, stage 3. He is mildly cognitively delayed as well.
From his medical records: HIV stage 3, without immunosuppression, delay of psychomotor and speech development, bacillosis
He can be adopted simultaneously with children in 16 or 23.
Girl, Born 2004
SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!! SCHEDULED FOR TRANSFER IN AUGUST!!
Miss Alicia is a beautiful little girl who needs a loving family. Her other two typically developing sisters were adopted by other families already.
Alicia was born to an HIV+ mother, and is HIV+ herself. She has also has significant delays and challenges associated with her FAS. (fetal alcohol syndrome). We are waiting to learn if she has any medical complications, but she is cognitively delayed and does show signs of attention deficit and hyperactivity. Alicia will do best where she can be the focus of attention and have her Daddy wrapped around her finger
Alicia has SO much potential, and deserves a family as much as her other sisters do. I know there is a family out there for this little girl! She is facing the mental institution soon, but has grown up in a loving and well kept orphanage so far. A committed family now can prevent her transfer!
From an adoptive family who visited with her in July 2010: " Alicia absolutely LOVES one on one attention. she is front and center if you are handing out kisses and hugs. You can see she wants a Mama all her own, and it will be so hard on her to have her sister leave to be adopted, as her other sister was already adopted. (Their mother is deceased, most likely from AIDS). She likes to swing. She loved to lay her head in my lap while we were both on the bench swing and I would stroke her hair. The other kids didnt like to share my attention but Alicia was ok with it. I could have two in my lap and she didn't mind, but she didnt like being crowded out when the other child decided they wanted me all to themselves. She likes sensory input. She kept rubbing her arm across my husband's unshaved face and shivering and making the funniest face and then immediately doing it again. She likes to go down the slide again and again. She really likes to be in the middle of whatever is going on, and be included. But often she is excluded, even by attendants. For Alicia it's a vicious circle. She is delayed, she gets frustrated, they don't let her do things the others are doing, she gets more delayed and more frustrated. She is VERY VERY SWEET AND LOVING. She needs a family that has only a couple kids, not ten. She has HIV. If you want a little girl to hug and kiss, she will GLADLY take all the hugs and kisses you can hand out. She isn't afraid of men but isn't inappropriate either. I saw her with my husband as well as another couple of young men who visit regularly. Alicia is on the small side, like maybe size 4. The children are valued and loved at this orphanage. The grounds are visually stimulating and the kids get outside for a couple hours in the morning as well as afternoon. They even go swimming in the pool they have there. Hope someone will come for Alicia very soon!" Alicia is toilet-trained and able to say when she needs to use the restroom. She has tremendous potential if someone would take her home and love her!
MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE, MARRIED COUPLES ONLY
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Girl, Born December 2003
An article from December 2006 states "Now urgent problem with one of our patients Iryna who is nearly 3 years old. She is HIV-positive but she does not need special treatment; the virus can sleep in her body for many years (slow progressor). It was disturbing her underlying disease – cerebral palsy and she needs a qualified neurological treatment which we cannot provide in our hospital. The children with this pathology go to the orphanage for children with central nervous system damage and mental disturbances (the mental institute). We are working in this direction but it's hard to say how long the girl will be in our center. Frankly, we are scared to send the child to people suffering from phobias about HIV. It is excusable for an uneducated man, but should never be in health care workers. A year ago, she held her head badly, could not sit there and just not realized was smiling, but now she crawls, stands, leans on the barrier and is beginning to talk. The children at this hospital are loved, they are neatly dressed and well trimmed" (photo taken between August '06-December '06.)
Please be flexible if inquiring about the little girl Iryna mentioned in the article as we are somewhat sure this is her picture, yet there is a chance we may get a different photograph of her. We understand this is a leap of faith and are asking for an open and flexible family.
The hospital Iryna was in at the time the article was written seems to be a decent place, but we believe she has been transferred to the mental institute. It is our hope to find a special family very soon who can help with her HIV, CP and also with any emtional help she may need. Please help to find a family for this little girl. This is her only chance.
Boy, Born May 15, 2003
Boy, Born November 29, 2002
From our facilitator who has visited with him:
HIV. His life story is very typical The boy doesn't have brothers and sisters. His mother abandoned him at the delivery house, the father was registered after the mother's words. Loves to construct, to draw, very assiduous, wants to know everything about What? Where? When and Who? Hardworking, can focus his attention and be concentrated on the most important things. Among children he is very supportive and friendly. For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/
Boy, Born May 2004
SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!
Diagnosis: HIV. He takes daily medication ART (antiretroviral therapy). Very smart, tells poems, can draw, write, is good in mathematics, participates in children's activities, likes encouragement.
For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/
Date of Birth: June 21, 2005
The mother's rights were terminated by court. There is no father. Diagnosis: HIV+, dermatitis, umbilical hernia, dysarthria (she attends speech therapy). The children at this orphanage receive excellent medical therapy and have had their innoculations.
Maggie is a normal, sociable, playful and happy child who tends to be a leader among the other kids. Additional photos are available.
Girl, Born July 25, 2002
From our facilitator who has visited with her:
HIV. The girl doesn't have brothers and sisters. Her mother abandoned her at the delivery house, the father was registered after the mother's words. Later the mother died. She loves to draw, to do things with her own hands. Very communicative and supportive with her friends. She is very artistic and active in everything what happens in the social life of the orphanage. For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/
Boy, Born June 2002
Christian is 9 years old. He is HIV+, stage 3. He has a scar on the left side of his nose (not sure from what).
Christian is a handsome boy and well-liked by his peers and staff.
Boy, Born January 2005
Harding is a handsome brown eyed, brown haired boy who is HIV+. He is 6 now and needing a family of his own.
Girl, Born May 2005
Taylor is a sweet kindergarten girl who is HIV+.
More photos available.
Alina B.
Date of Birth: August 2004
No siblings
Blue Eyes. Light Brown Hair. HIV.
Alina is a real leader and has a strong intellect. She can be serious and thoughtful and may also light up with joy. She has endless childlike curiosity and she is very charming. Alina is active, brave, stubborn and she likes to play complex plot games with the boys. She prefers to play with cars and other boyish toys more than dolls. Alina is sociable, likes to tell stories and she is a very happy girl. She was in an orphanage than taken in to a family, but the grandmother found out about her diagnosis and was strongly against it so the foster-adoptive parents terminated their parental rights.
Additional photos available.
Anastasia S.
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Date of Birth: September 2005
Gender: Female
Anastasia is similar to the rosy-cheeked cherub in old Christmas cards. She is an affectionate, gentle and sociable child. She smiles a lot, not touchy, easily comes into contact. She is well developed, and she likes to play alone. She is a girl with character, strong-willed and likes a lot of attention. This little girl needs to know the love of parents to learn to trust people and be able to express her feelings and emotions, to share them with other children. HIV+
Anastasia was in a very good baby house. The children have access to plenty of outdoor play, ride-on toys, well maintained playground equipment and sensory/developmental toys.
Additional photos and video available.
JQGM-15
Date of Birth: October 2004
He is a cute boy with dimpled cheeks. He has an infectious smile which seems to emanate from each of his cells! He has a very positive outlook on life. He understands everything and speaks well. He is very active, loves action games, and easily comes in contact. He is a leader among the other children; he is determined, headstrong, and always gets his way He is a sociable boy and is HIV+ Additional photos and available.
