Zeek #

Boy, Age: 3

Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida

Spina Bifida; shunt placed for hydrocephalus

Listed: Sep 2021

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers, MACC 2021

Zeek is being taught to use a wheelchair. He can currently turn, but has not yet mastered going forward and backwards. He is also learning to pull his torso up and move around when in his bed or on the floor.
He can physically handle toys. He picks them up, transfers them between hands, looks for them and retrieves them if he drops them. He can push buttons and activate sensory toys. He follows simple directions such as “give me”. He plays peek-a-boo. He enjoys interacting with the staff. He will hold out his hand for a hand shake, make kissing noises, and reaches to be held. He uses his hands to show how big he will grow up to be when asked by an adult. He is pronouncing sounds and syllables.

Danny #

Boy, Age: 3

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida

Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus-shunt placed

Listed: Nov 2020

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Danny loves being in the playroom at the orphanage. He plays with toys and gets very excited when adults interact with him. He enjoys listening to music. He participates in therapy each day to work on learning new skills.

Penn

Boy, Age: 11

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina bifida (congenital malformation of the central nervous system, spina bifida of lower thoracic spine and upper lumbar spine) lower paraplegia, pelvic organs dysfunction, hydrocephalus

Listed: Jan 2013

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

Linda

Girl, Age: 11

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina bifida; hydrocephalus

Listed: Nov 2015

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

Smart girl, she can talk, very affectionate Updated picture in stroller from March 2018.

Lanora

Girl, Age: 12

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Congenital malformation of the central nervous system, myeloradiculomeningocele with rachischisis of lumbar spine; internal hydrocephalus, low paraplegia

Listed: Oct 2012

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

Lovely Lanora needs a mama to let her beautiful hair grow out!

Eric

Boy, Age: 13

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Arthrogryposis, Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida

Eric has arthrogryposis and compensated hydrocephalus. He has had a surgical repair of spina bifada.

Listed: Jan 2012

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

Eric is a smiley little fellow who likes to feel his caretaker’s heartbeat or pulse, because it comforts him. He would be a wonderful little brother in a household of older children.

Overall, he is healthy and would do well in a family without smaller children. His upper body is quite strong and he has full use of his hands, fingers and arms, but he has little control or movement in his lower limbs and they are significantly smaller than his upper body. He can squeeze very tightly with his hands, and reach a full arm’s length with no problems even though his resting position is the one you see in the pictures. He does not talk, according to the caretakers but does make sounds to communicate. Cognitively, he has significant delays due to his history of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He is very much still an infant in many ways.

He may have a sister a few years older in a different region who possibly could also be available for adoption or he could be adopted separately. She also has special needs.

Brodan

Boy, Age: 8

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

lumbar spina bifida with hydrocephalus; Unspecified personality and behavioral disorder due to known physiological condition; Esotropia; Other acquired deformities of limbs; Flaccid paraplegia; Vasomotor rhinitis; Hypertrophy of adenoids

Listed: May 2018

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

sweet smile!

Todd #

Boy, Age: 14

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Good general condition, hydrocephalus with a shunt installed, spina bifida aperta, lower limb paraplegia, congenital anomaly of the excretory system – agenesis of the left kidney, hypotonic right ureter, osteogenesis imperfecta (which has not been genetically proven), convergent strabismus, logorrhoea, delayed neuropsychological development.

Listed: Sep 2013

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Todd can sit independently. He talks and easily carries on conversations with adults. His intellectual development is right at the “normal” level on testing. He has a caregiver that works 1:1 with him daily.

Families who have visited the orphanage where he lives report that he is a very smart and friendly little boy. He is able to carry on a conversation and answer questions appropriately and plays hand held video games.

Update, 2016: Todd recently turned 9 years old. He engages in symbolic and role play, which includes the activities and roles typical for his environment (how a doctor’s visitation goes; how one gets medical supplies; how one organizes a birthday party; what happens during the lesson with the resource teacher). He knows the staff members. He takes the initiative in meeting new people. Todd eats independently. He eats common food. He chooses his clothes depending on the season and the temperature in the building. Todd leads a dialogue and asks a lot of questions.He loves telling stories and improvising depending on the specific interests of the person he is communicating with.

Additional photos and videos are available.

Scotty #

Boy, Age: 7

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Lumbar spina bifida (surgically corrected), grand mal seizures, spastic cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus

Listed: Mar 2017

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Scotty has little support from his legs. His head control has improved and he can turn from his back to his belly. He sits independently by holding on to the bars of his crib and also makes attempts to stand up. Scotty can hold toys in his hands and tries to clap! He maintains eye contact and recognizes the faces of his caregivers. Scotty expresses appropriate emotions to happiness and agitation and will laugh out loud when teases. He imitates and pronounces combinations of sounds and syllables. Scotty interacts with all children and caregivers. He likes music and toys. Scotty is fed by a spoon and receives additional nutrition from a bottle.

Pacen #

Boy, Age: 9

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

spina bifida aperta-condition after surgical correction of the meningomyelocele region lumbalis; internal hydrocephalus – VP shunt installed; severe muscle hypotonia of the lower limbs; contractures of the ankle joints; lower flaccid paraplegia; convergent concomitant strabismus; esotropia and amblyopia of the right eye – glasses are prescribed and treatment is being conducted; neuro-psychological development – within the norm with regards to the expressive and receptive speech development

Listed: Mar 2018

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Pacen presents as a cheerful and calm boy who doesn’t cry without a reason. He doesn’t have any manifestations of aggressive or self-aggressive acts. Pacen uses separate words, as well as simple sentences in his communication with others. He understands when spoken to and people can have a conversation with him. Pacen uses appropriate social gestures for greeting and good-bye.

Julian #

Boy, Age: 7

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus: shunt placed: Slight paraplegia of lower limbs; Left kidney agenesis; Vesicostomy.

Listed: Dec 2018

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Julian enjoys playing with toys. He is well attached to his caregivers and responds to them when they talk to him. When he is happy, he responds by making noises and clapping his hands. His report indicates that when held by the hands, he will take steps.

Update Jan 2020:

Julian sits on his own while supporting his weight on his hands. He uses his hands to change his posture and move his body. He stands in the walker. He actively grabs and manipulates toys and objects, tries to use them as intended – shakes to produce sound, pulls the string of a musical toy. Visual-motor coordination is slightly impaired.

Harry #

Boy, Age: 5

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

spina bifida and lower flaccid paraplegia, hydrocephalus (has been addressed with no concerns), developmental delays

Listed: Sep 2019

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Harry is unable to walk due to being paralyzed from the waist down, but he’s such a lively little boy. Harry loves toys and crawls towards them with excitement. He understands commands and he has a pretty good vocabulary. If on his back, he can sit up with no help. Harry is described as radiant and positive.

Eastyn #

Girl, Age: 6

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina Bifida; hydrocephalus- shunt placed; vesicostomy

Listed: Feb 2020

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Eastyn had spinal surgery at 20 days old, followed by shunt placement for hydrocephalus. She had a vesicostomy performed at age 2 to prevent kidney infections. She crawls using her hands. She can sit up with support. Her fine motor skills are developing. She stack cubes, puts together simple puzzles, strings objects, and can assemble/disassemble constructed toys/structures. She holds a pencil and can draw lines and curves.She started talking at age 2. She can carry out a conversation, answer questions, etc. She waves and greets people appropriately. She understands cause and effect. She understands and follows directions. She knows her daily routine. She knows the names of everyone around her. She can identify items from photos. She can correctly use familiar objects. She can sort by color, understands direction words such as up/down, has a basic understanding of things like seasons, body parts, food, animals, and other preschool related items. She participates in parallel play. She demonstrates pretend play skills (feeds a doll, gives a doll medicine, talks on a toy phone, etc). She doesn’t like to share toys and will ask for them back. She is not aggressive. She is learning to feed herself, but still requires help from the staff.

Delaney #

Girl, Age: 9

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Hydrocephalus internal – ventriculoperitoneal shunt, Spina bifida, congenital anomalies of the urinary system, ventral hernia.

Listed: Apr 2016

*** I am eligible for a $2,000 Grant! ***
This grant is offered by Reece’s Rainbow, for children in this specific country. Grant funds are dependent on available funding. For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Update Jan 2017: Delaney is a beautiful, sweet, calm girl. She likes to be hugged and held. She likes it when someone takes care of her and to be outside, with her stroller and recognizes the people that take care of her. She feels most comfortable in her bed and during her walks with the stroller in the garden. She eats and sleeps well.

Delaney expresses her preferences to people and objects to which she is more attached. She has three favorite toys that are colorful and soft. She also enjoys listening to music especially children’s songs. She doesn’t like lying on her back and sudden and quick movements. She is able to sit independently and grab and hold objects she has very strong hands she uses well. She feels comfortable when around her there are people with who she is familiar with.

Delaney is able to express her opinion and preference with gestures. Delaney is very calm child with big potential for improvement with the needed care, attention and the feeling of the real family environment.

Ryan

Boy, Age: 11

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

meningocele (post-op), hydrocephalus (shunt placed)

Listed: Aug 2015

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Ryan is a sweet, shy little boy. He was abandoned outside a hospital when he was about 12 months old. Shortly after coming into orphanage care, he had surgery for a meningocele and also had a shunt placed to decrease the pressure in his head caused by hydrocephalus. The procedures were successful and he has recovered well. Ryan has good bowel and bladder control and his latest medical report says he’s healthy now.

We visited Ryan in his orphanage in late June and were taken in by his shy smile. He enjoyed playing with our iPad. Ryan demonstrated his excellent walking and running, and sang us a song. His video will melt your heart.

Ryan lives with a foster family. He sleeps with his foster mother and is very attached to her. Ryan is described as introverted and not very talkative. His motor and speech development are a bit delayed.

Could Ryan be the son you’ve been searching for?

Rory

Boy, Age: 9

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

meningocele (post surgery) / hydrocephalus (post surgery)

Listed: Nov 2015

Available to Single Mothers, MACC 2021

Rory is a handsome, engaging, and active boy who is 3 years old. He came to the orphanage at around 6 months old, and they discovered he had already received surgery for a meningocele, and had a shunt placed for his hydrocephalus. Rory was able to sit unassisted, and before long was crawling. He is having casting procedures to correct his club foot, so he is temporarily using a wheelchair. You can see in his video that being sidelined from the action is almost more than he can stand! Rory has undescended testicles, which need to be corrected as soon as possible. His shunt has been trouble-free. Rory (without the cast) is able to stand with assistance, but is unable to walk at this time. He is incontinent. Rory has no cognitive delays, is a bright and social boy. Before his recent cast, he would get around by crawling and moving with his knees in a kneeling position. Physical therapy would be so beneficial for Rory! He needs a family! Video is available from the agency.

Riley

Boy, Age: 9

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

tethered cord release (post surgery) / cystostomy

Listed: Dec 2015

Available to Single Mothers

Riley is an active, and incredibly adorable, little boy who is 3 years old! He came into care when he was about 8 months old. He was already crawling, and standing with support. Riley received surgery for a tethered cord in May of 2013. After his successful surgery,when they removed his catheter, they found there was an apparent urethral injury. They performed a cystostomy (a surgically created connection between the urinary bladder and the skin which is used to drain urine from the bladder in individuals with obstruction of normal urinary flow). Riley recovered well, and was returned to his foster family. He is a smart little guy who is very social. His fine motor skills and speech are on target. Riley is attached to his foster dad, and loves to play with the other children in the foster home. Riley needs a family of his own!

OCTOBER 2017 UPDATE: Percy is a very bright and cheerful boy. He has an adventurous personality, is eager to try new things, and has an open disposition that is friendly, but not inappropriately so. He is not afraid of foreigners from overseas and was immediately interested in learning English with American volunteers in school and was one of the first to master the alphabet song. He has a good ear for language and has soaked up everything he can learn in English and he retains it (colors, shapes, animals, clothing, parts of the body, etc.). He has a great sense of humor, loves to laugh, and gives a loud “Good Morning!” and hard high five whenever he sees his English teachers. He has learned to read some characters in his native language, knows his numbers, has started basic math and knows many songs and dances from school. Percy lives with an attentive foster family who would love to see him adopted as they know that he needs medical treatment from pediatric specialists. He interacts appropriately with peers, is silly and fun with his little friends, but not unkind.

Magnolia Mae

Girl, Age: 8

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida

Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus

Listed: Nov 2019

Available to Single Mothers

Magnolia is a precious little girl, who is described as being extroverted and sweet tempered. She is fairly active, talkative, and has quick reaction time. Magnolia enjoys singing and listening to music. She gets along well with others and likes playing outdoors with her friends and with toy cars. Magnolia lives with a foster family and though she likes to be cuddled by her foster grandfather, she is closest with her foster grandmother. She is a good sleeper and sleeps in her own bed. She is not a picky eater, though she has been spoiled by her foster grandparents who tend to hand-feed her and let her use a bottle to drink her drinks from. Magnolia’s favorite foods are meat, dumplings, noodles, vegetables, and fruits. Magnolia can walk independently. She was able to imitate words and say simple things like, “What is this?” Her intelligence was said to be delayed compared to her peers, but her orphanage also seems to say this about many children in their care.

In January of 2014, Magnolia received surgery for lumbar spinal meningocele and hydrocephalus. She had good recovery after the surgery, though she is not toilet trained. We are unsure if that is a result of her meningocele surgery or because she just hadn’t been trained yet, but a family should be prepared for her to be incontinent. An update from August (you can read the full update below) mentions that Magnolia has had a handful of seizures over the years. Magnolia has the sweetest little face with the cutest little voice.

Magnolia has a $2,500 agency grant for her adoption with a specific adoption agency. You have to watch her sweet videos! The agency has several.

London

Girl, Age: 9

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina Bifida, Clubbed feet

Listed: Nov 2020

Available to Single Mothers

London is a kind, smart, beautiful, shy, and determined girl, born in November of 2012, who interacts positively with her caregivers and the other children. London enjoys watching cartoons, listening to music, and playing with other children. Her favorite activities include singing and playing with dolls and stuffed animals. She likes to be near her caregivers and prefers they hold her hand when they go outside. London has normal cognitive and language development. She speaks in clear and complete sentences and can sing children’s songs. London was born with spina bifida and clubbed feet. She had surgery for her spina bifida, but has not had anything done with her feet/ankles. London is able to crawl, stand with assistance, and sit independently. Her report indicates she has good fine motor skills as she is able to pick-up small objects, play with toys, hold a pen to draw, and turn the pages of a book. This adorable little girl is going to such a blessing to a very lucky family!

Kyle Cole

Boy, Age: 10

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida

Spina bifida, hydrocephalus

Listed: Aug 2015

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Kyle has an adorable smile! Kyle was abandoned when he was only one month old. He had surgery for a meningocele and had a shunt placed for hydrocephalus when he was only 7 months old, but is now doing well although he does not yet have bowel or bladder control. Kyle is described as an active little boy who is walking and talking and has age-appropriate mental development. He likes to play with toy cars and to dance along to music! Could Kyle be your son?

Joe

Boy, Age: 10

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

postoperative meningocele on lumbosacral area; postoperative prolapse of rectum; strephenopodia of both feet.

Listed: Mar 2014

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Joe has a ready smile, he watches what his caregivers are doing and gets their attention by shaking his head and wiggle his upper body. Perhaps because of his body, he prefers to have motion of upper body, shake head, wiggle body and roll over to one side etc. At 10 months old, he could sit alone, say ba and ma, liked colorful toys; he liked to be close to others. He communicates with others with his eyes and has sweet smiles.

Halden

Boy, Age: 13

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Congenital meningocele

Listed: Nov 2014

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Halden really loves car toys that make sounds. Every time he picks out a toy, he will first take a big car, run wildly all around the room, and laugh happily! He is able to speak a lot and his ability to take care of himself is very strong. Before he goes to bed, he will take his clothes and neatly fold them in a pile. He will share his toys and food with other children. He is very sensible. When other children feel wronged, he will take the initiative to run to the other children, comfort them and say: “No problem, don’t be afraid!”

In his early education classes, he has completed many craft projects. He can paste simple pictures and color in animal coloring books. After class, he will tidy up his own learning materials. He is also very intelligent and can recite “student rules, three character words” etc., as well as children’s songs.

Aaron

Boy, Age: 11

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina Bifida- Mylomeningocele in sacrococcygeal region. He has not received any treatment for this condition at this time.

Listed: Feb 2013

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Aaron is a shy little boy who always has a ready smile. He gets along well with others and is very energetic. Aaron loves playing with his toys especially if they are stuffed and fluffy toys. He is closest to his caretakers and enjoys playing with others. Aaron’s mental development is good and he knows to cooperate when putting on clothes. Aaron can crawl and can respond when speaking to him.

Yanni

Boy, Age: 11

Country Code: Asia.1: This country is currently not actively processing adoptions, due to COVID.

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

meningocele and tethered spinal cord (post-surgery), Achilles tendon surgery corrected

Listed: Aug 2015

**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Available to Single Mothers

Yanni was born with a meningocele and tethered spinal cord and was abandoned when he was just two days old. Two weeks later, he had surgery to correct his meningocele and spinal cord and is doing well. Yanni also had surgery on his Achilles tendon. He now walks and runs, and even marched like a soldier when we visited his orphanage in late June. Yanni is potty trained but sometimes needs reminders when he’s tired. He counts to ten, knows his colors, and plays well with his foster mom’s grandson. Can he be your son?

Kohen

Boy, Age: 2

Country Code: EE-1

Region: Eastern Europe

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, MACC 2021

Sizable Grants $5,000+

Kohen has had surgery for his spina bifida. His mental development is normal.

Zack

Boy, Age: 7

Country Code: S.Asia.1

Region: Asia

Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Spina bifida of lower lumbar and entire sacral region. Hydrocephalus (with VP shunt) and Chiari malformation. Had operation to release tethered spinal cord. Is catheterized.

Listed: Oct 2017

Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers, MACC 2021

Sizable Grants $2,500+

February 2020 Update: Zack continues to grow healthy and strong! Ever smiley, Zack is the social butterfly of his home. He adores when visitors come over and he loves making new friends. When going on walks in the neighborhood, Zack will call people as he passes by with a friendly “hello” and huge grin. Zack’s caregiver and teachers often call him a “handsome hero.” He cannot get enough of it! Due to this fact he has begun brushing his hair to the side with his fingers and smiling up at people until they tell him how handsome he is. It is endearing. Zack is truly the sweetest boy. Anytime anyone is sick or seems sad he will ask to sit with them and attempts to cheer them up or offers prayer. He deeply desires to see all of his friends happy at all times.

In classes Zack is currently learning shapes, days of the week, numbers one through ten, and the first five letters of the English alphabet. In play time he often requests blocks in order to build towers. Once they are completed he will call his caregiver in order to proudly show off his creation. When he is not building blocks he loves coloring, making crafts and playing with toy cars. His new favorite sensory play is with shaving cream. On Christmas the staff in his home filled a plastic swimming pool with shaving cream so the children in his home could play with “snow.” Ever since he has begun asking for shaving cream daily in his sensory class.

Recently Zack was gifted a new wheelchair that allows him to more easily reach the wheels. He has begun learning how to push himself in his chair. He is thrilled! While he is still in the early stages of learning this skill, he is already showing amazing progress! Obtaining this skill will be huge in Zack’s independence! He loves practicing and will often request to be taken on walks. Zack often asks about his future family and is eager for the day that he is able to meet his mom and dad!

July 2019 update: Zack is the naughtiest and happiest boy in his home! He learned all his colours and is now learning his animals. He wants to be more independent! He can scoot backwards to get around by himself. He can make requests in both English and his local language and can translate English words to his local language for his caregiver! Zack loves his caregiver Ammama so much. He always scoots over to be near her and wants to be a part of what she is doing. One day he kept asking Ammama for a new shirt, so when she went on her monthly leave she brought him back a new blue shirt.