Vivian is a gorgeous, joyful girl. Though she had a difficult start in life, she is an absolute fighter and has already come so far! She appears to have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at birth which has led to her disability. She also has cerebral palsy that affects all 4 limbs and uses a wheelchair. In her physical therapy she is working to keep her range of motion and improve her head control. Vivian appears to have both hearing and vision loss, although she responds to light and dark, and loves it when you open the curtains and turn on the lights to greet her in the morning. Her right hand was amputated as a baby, but she makes great use of her left hand, and enjoys holding hands/fingers and grabbing her favorite blanket and toys. Vivian is fed by a G-tube, but also enjoys occasional oral feeding for a tasty smoothie (not too cold please!) or a hot chocolate treat. Although she takes daily medicines to manage her epilepsy, Vivian is generally a very stable little girl and her epilepsy is well controlled.

As a result of her vision impairment and TBI, Vivian sleeps more than might be expected for a girl her age. For instance, after enjoying her breakfast Vivian often falls asleep until around lunch time when she wakes up for food and is then ready to enjoy an afternoon of activities (snuggles and playtime!) before falling asleep just after dinner with a bedtime story/cuddle. Once she gets to know her caregivers, Vivian learns the feeling of her favorite people (she identifies them by the feel of their bracelet, hair, or other identifying features) and responds happily when she knows they are with her!

Although Vivian is non-verbal she does express herself by facial expressions and vocalizing in response to what is going on or to get your attention. For instance, she loves being bounced around and will respond with her mouth wide open and a joyful noise. Once you get to know Vivian you will be better at recognizing how she communicates. She might let out a little noise, give you a sassy side eye, or open her mouth wide to let you know exactly how she feels. In the mornings she is normally very excited to see her people, and gives a big smile and an open mouth when you wake her up! Caregivers use objects of reference to let Vivian know what’s going to happen next, but our prayer for Vivian is that she and her caregivers will be able to find a comprehensive communication system that enables her to express her thoughts and opinions with the world.

Vivian has a gentle and lovely personality which you will quickly come to cherish. Some of the things that make her the happiest are picnics outside under the trees, walks, bubble baths, and snuggles on the couch. She is most at peace when she is close to the people she loves. With the right care and support, Vivian is capable of making beautiful progress in life. She is a treasure to have around and would absolutely love to join a forever family!

Update Feb 2021:

Shiloh is a wonderful little girl who is full of joy and loves to make happy noises. When Shiloh arrived at the children’s home, she was around 9 months old and was very underweight and unwell. He spent much of the next year in and out of the hospital and required multiple neurosurgeries to control her hydrocephalus. Despite her difficult start to life Shiloh is a fighter and today she is a very happy 8-year-old who has a beautiful smile and sassy personality. Shiloh’s health has stabilized over the years. She is a healthy weight and is not longer susceptible to infections. Shiloh has a shunt in place to treat her hydrocephalus that is working well. However, this did leave her with some significant disabilities. She has cerebral palsy which affects her right side more severely. She struggles with neck and trunk control, so she is not yet sitting unaided. She also has a significant visual impairment and epilepsy that is not yet fully controlled with medication.

Despite all this, Shiloh enjoys waving her strong side limbs with intention. In school she is learning to communicate using a picture system and communicating with her arm waves. Shiloh has good hearing and loves to listen to music. If given a shaker or bells she will join in the music. She is also able to investigate things that make noise and is working to grasp objects independently. Shiloh also enjoys physical touch and movement, such as being rocked or swinging in a hammock. Shiloh is able to recognize familiar people and has developed clear bonds with several caretakers. In a loving family she would quickly develop an attachment. The constant love and attention from a forever family is just what Shiloh needs to continue learning and growing!