He speaks well, enjoys painting, and can walk with some need for support. He sweetly pushes his friend’s wheelchair and it offers stability for him and assistance for his friend. He’s been raised amongst boys much older than him and has picked up swear words but truly is a beautiful soul. He became jealous of our attention when we were talking with his younger roommate and he bit him. The facilitator would like us to note that he has a family history of mental illness and that his family should consider this in their decision. We are head over heals for this boy and honestly would have brought him home without hesitation were we approved for another adoption. Every adoptive family would be wise to consider trauma-informed parenting and to anticipate both aggression and mental illness. Please, consider whether you could be Shaw’s mama and papa.

He is so sweet, but can be a kind of “difficult” – strong-willing and stubborn. He is a smart boy. He wants to be adopted and asks to find a family for him. At the same time he will choose if he likes a family. I would recommend him to a family with older children – older than him, to show a way to behave. He may be very helpful and careful. I often can see him helping other kids with worse disabilities as he has. But he can lose his temper fast. He has mental delays. His biological mother is qualified as mentally disabled due to her schizophrenia.

From a family who met her in early 2014: She needs out! She is skeletal and looks to be in very poor condition. Neveah just cries and cries if you get near her. Also, she appeared to be heavily sedated. She had a toy tied to her wrist/hand, and her hands were bound to not scratch herself. So, so sad.

Update from a family who met her in late 2013: Lydia is the sweetest little girl! Our kids were in the same groupa, so we got to see Lydia everyday we were in country. She is a joy! Lydia spends her days sitting in a stroller with hardly any interaction. Now that our kids are home, she is the only non-walker left in her groupa, so she is the only one who sits in a stroller all day long. She looks to be about the size of a four year old, but looks like she is a healthy weight. She’s got a little chub on her legs. Her legs are not scissored, but when I lifted her legs up, they were definitely tight.

She needs a Mama to stretch her legs! Her legs are always bent at the knee draped over the bar of the stroller (she’s too big for her stroller). I couldn’t tell how much head control she had because her head was always supported by her stroller, but her head was always upright, not bobbing. I never saw her move her body (except to arch her back when tickled), but one day I held both of her hands, and she was able to grasp my hands tightly in hers. Neither hand seemed weak. Lydia’s vision looks pretty good. She could follow me with her eyes, but there’s a good possibility she’ll need glasses. Her poor teeth are rotten. We watched her eat lunch once and she seemed to eat well. She eats pureed food from a bottle. Did I mention she is SO sweet? Lydia seems to be very easy going. Once a child was hanging on her and pushing on her and she didn’t respond except to make a face showing that she didn’t like it. Lydia was my favorite child to interact with in the groupa. All I had to do was say hi to her and smile and she would light up EVERY single time and reward me with a big smile. We tickled her lots and she giggled away. One time she was left in a room all by herself and was crying. I peeked my head in the doorway and said hi to her and she immediately stopped crying and started smiling and giggling. She is very responsive when talked to. 🙂 Even though she is non-verbal, she communicates with lots of smiles and giggles. This little lady is FULL of joy! She will truly BLESS any family! Please, please consider this sweet little one. She is still in the babyhouse, but is one of the oldest in her groupa, so she will be one of the next children to be transferred. She does have an older brother who is eight years old and looks to be typically developing. I’m not sure if they will need to be adopted together or separately.

updated picture/information 4/2016:
This boy used to cry a lot before. He needs his family ASAP! Recently he was at health and recreation resort where lots of nationals spend their vacation. So he got good social experience and made good progress in his communication skills. He has a good potential. If he is not chosen for adoption within next year they will place him in a handicapped children and adults orphanage forever where more likely he will be a bedridden person with no chance for normal life.

Improved nutrition, and a loving, encouraging family will make a big difference for this little girl!