<a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/kohen" rel="bookmark" title="Details for Kohen">Kohen

Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents

Spina bifida

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

Zion

Boy, Age: 13

HIV or Hep

HIV I, N II. Hepatitis B. Atopic dermatitis – remission. Allergy to the cow milk products; low physical development. The consequences of the prenatal defect of central system of nerves, the delay of psychomotor development.

Listed: Oct 2017

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

Zion has blue eyes, light hair, and is very joyful. Zion likes to ride bikes, play soccer, play with Legos, eat ice cream and wants to grow up to be a Policeman! Sounds like most little boys, doesn’t it? This little guy has other dreams, too: to come to America, to have a present at Christmas, and to have a brother and a mom.

Zeke

Boy, Age: 11

Cerebral palsy

FAS; complex developmental disorder and autism features, CP ataxic form; mixed developmental disorder, low height, hypermetropic astigmatism, functional heart murmur

Listed: May 2012

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

From a family who met him in 2015: “Zeke is seriously one smart cookie!! He is walking GREAT now and was even jumping from a play mattress to join in the fun. He actually knows a few words in English as well, and I taught him to fist bump (and blow it up, ha ha) when I came in and he remembered it when I left and hour and a half later. I was blown away by his attention to detail in the books we were reading — he will excel academically. He was very attached to the American volunteer who is regularly in his groupa — all of the kids love her and are lucky to have her attention.”

From a family who met him in Summer 2015: He appears to be of normal size for his age. He He can focus for pretty significant amounts of time if the activity interests him. We are now able to sit and flip through entire books together, taking time to figure out what is going on from the pictures on each page. He has become very good at identifying the characters’ emotions from their facial expressions and makes reasonable guesses as to why they feel how they do. He is pretty stable when sitting. He’s not falling out of chairs or off of benches or anything. Sure, he falls sometimes when he runs, but the kid is running! He has been walking and running for a few years now; the boy dances! He might be slightly cognitively delayed for his age, but he is a very quick learner and strikes me as very intelligent. We have as normal of conversations as I imagine are possible with a 6 year old. He has impressed me recently with some clever remarks that are evidence of him thinking quickly and independently, rather than just just parroting what his caretakers say. His emotional control has improved vastly. He just needs a calm presence when frustrated. For example, we were working with buttons the other day, and when he started getting frustrated and saying he couldn’t do it, I just calmly told him that it’s hard, that he’s really close, and that he’s totally capable, and he was able to complete the task. Although he does still enjoy some solitary games, he’s becoming a lot more social. He always takes me around the yard to introduce me to people and knows everyone by name. He’s a pretty calm, happy guy, especially when there are calm, warm adults to help him get over little obstacles.

December 2014 UPDATE: A U.S. mom had these observations about Zeke: He’s a doll! He’s cheerful, helpful, and very friendly. Every time we entered the room he was the first to greet us (Labas!!). Zeke has a little issue with following directions. I don’t know him well enough to be able to distinguish if it was a willful issue or a cognitive issue. As far as I know he has FAS and possibly very mild CP effecting his legs/ Achilles’ tendon. Zeke is a very likable kiddo!

Update from a volunteer who spent extensive time with him: I met Zeke in the summer of 2010 while volunteering; in the years that I’ve known him, Zeke has made considerable physical, cognitive and emotional progress, and has become an active, curious, quirky, good-natured, and nurturing young boy. As his physical abilities have improved, he has become much more independent, both dressing and feeding himself. He does, however, need some direction and encouragement with these endeavors. Zeke best completes such tasks when given positive reinforcement and clear sequence of events to follow. For example, if simply given a pile of clothes, he often has trouble focusing his attention. It is more effective to ask him what he needs to do first, second, and third, and to tell him how quick/good he is when he has completed a step in the sequence. If he is feeling unmotivated, it can be helpful to tap into his nurturing side (ex. “Put your socks on! Your feet will get cold and wonder why you didn’t dress them!”) or to incentivize him with tickling—his favorite activity in the world. In the past year, Zeke has become an avid performer, bravely singing in dancing during musical lessons and performances in the children’s home. Even half a year ago, he would need a bit of coaxing to get up and join the other children in song. During this year’s holiday show, however, when the music teacher asked for volunteers to stand up and perform, Zeke was the first to rise to the challenge. He also really enjoys musical children’s films, often performing the routines from memory during playtime. One of his favorite toys is a little piano with a microphone into which he sings his favorite songs. Zeke has a few other favorite games, which mostly revolve around caretaking and repetition. For instance, following the examples of the caretakers, he feeds, bathes and swaddles dolls, making sure to lovingly and carefully execute these tasks in the correct order each time; when waiting for the thermometer to show the doll’s temperature, he pets her head, rocking her back and forth. Another current favorite of his is petting me and telling me not to cry in a concerned, soft voice. After establishing that he has comforted me, he gets in his toy car, wishes me all the best, drives around the room, and comes back to take care of me again. Zeke has also grown to love animals, and when given the chance to be with a dog or horse, he always pets them, sweetly telling the animals that they are good and that he loves them. Zeke is an incredibly nurturing, loving child, and delights in physical affection. He loves to be petted and hugged, and gladly returns the favor. He is very concerned with maintaining good relationships with the adults in his life and is sensitive to admonition. If he is beyond the point of being motivated by positive reinforcement, a serious look and stern voice usually suffice. If he sees that he has accidentally hurt me, he becomes quiet and sad, and seeks reassurance that everything is ok. Zeke is less sensitive with respect to the children around him, as he is possessive of his favorite toys and the other children habitually seek what another has. In the last few months, however, Zeke has made a great deal of progress expressing his emotions and restraining himself when he gets upset. Whereas he would previously go after the child to repossess his toy, I have consistently responded by wrapping an arm around him, telling him that we will all gladly help him if he calmly explains to us what is wrong, and he is now much better at seeking our help and articulating his feelings. When he is agitated, it’s best to take a calm, light-hearted approach to ease the tension; he thinks it’s hilarious when adults copy his little squeals and shenanigans, so he usually laughs if I playfully copy his whining, which gets him out of his rut and allows us to calmly seek a solution. All in all, Zeke is a joyful, enthusiastic, loving child who responds to physical affection, positive reinforcement, and clearly established expectations. He has a friendly attitude towards new people, and seeks a great deal of hugs from the adults in his life. I have the utmost confidence that with patient, gentle and loving guidance, Zeke will continue to grow into a capable, kind young man who will enrich the lives of those around him. In the five years that I’ve spent with Zeke, he has certainly filled my life with more love than I could have possibly imagined.

Terry

Boy, Age: 9

Medical diagnosis – condition after brain contusion. Post-traumatic tetraparesis, hypotension and muscle dystonia syndrome. Language development disorder. OD Astigmatism mixtus.

Listed: Oct 2014

He has grey eyes and brown hair. He is smiley, positive, recognizes his name, he enjoys individual attention, he responds to contact. He likes to catch toys, bring them or to move them aside. The boy likes water treatment.

Summer

Girl, Age: 8

FAS and mixed development disorder, premature birth

Listed: Feb 2016

Sizable Grants $2,500+

Summer is quiet, friendly and always smiles when she is seen by an adult. She almost eats without help – but she eats slowly. She almost goes up and down the stairway by herself. She does not want to always participate in all activities and needs extra motivation. She expresses her feelings with mimics and movements. She has started to speak and pronounces some words. Summer loves music, reading, books and swinging on the horse.

She wants adult’s attention and likes to lean on an adult, sit in their lap, and give hugs. Her fine and gross motors skills development are adequate. She is friendly with adults and children.

Riley

Boy, Age: 12

mixed developmental disorder, FAS, light level of hearing disorder, body carriage disorder, hypertrophia, low height.

Listed: Sep 2013

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

Update as of January 2013: He has no preferred activity; his play is chaotic and he is easily distracted. Child can name and show his body parts, recognizes objects in the pictures, knows and names colors, but needs help in putting correctly the pyramids rings, but if he is helped – then achieves the task, puts together puzzle out of 3-5 pieces.

Riley is very emotional. He seeks contact with other persons and obviously expresses joy when he is provided with individual attention. He most often communicates by mimicking, but he has started to speak – still his articulation is not correct, his language comprehension still has some limits. Sometimes he has difficulty during the eating time, and needs assistance with hygiene/self-care. His balance and coordination is disturbed. Riley has difficulty to follow the rules and order in the group. Riley’s behavior sometimes distracts other children’s activities. He has been observed to have self-aggression. His mood changes often.

Noelia

Girl, Age: 10

Cerebral palsy

Early antenatal central nervous system defect, microcephaly, cerebral palsy with a spastic feet paraparesis. Speech development delay. Lack of protein energy. Received primary latent hypothyreosis.

Listed: Jul 2015

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

UPDATED 2016: Noelia has blue eyes and light brown hair. She is friendly, helpful, likes joking and laughing, strong will, adequate emotions and overall positive mood. She likes games with singing, she remembers and repeats movements. She has great interest in what is happening around her. She really likes individual consultations with specialists, enjoys walks – she walks with the help of walking frames. She has a good appetite and tries to talk, expresses interest in board games, but her focus is not firm, she has difficulty concentrating; speech delay, self-service skills like eating are well developed, but dressing up and going to the bathroom is problematic, probably due to the overbearing care of adults. Social worker says that she is doing much better than her diagnosis sounds.

Updated: Noelia is a tiny bit shy upon meeting strangers, but quickly loosens up. She smiled non stop during our whole visit, and loved playing with my phone to look at the pictures I took of her. She seems very bright! Noelia proudly showed us her bedroom, where she sleeps alone. She loves ponies! We brought her a “my little pony” type toy and she was thrilled. She took us upstairs to her room and put the pony with another one she already had there.

She walks alone without help, unless on stairs where she needs to hold on. She was not wearing any kind of leg brace. She is left handed and can write her name! When I picked her up, she gently pushed my hair back from my face.

Nelly

Girl, Age: 3

EE-6

Genetic Condition (non-DS)

adrenogenital disorders, congenital anomalies, anemia, small weight at birth, chromosomal anomaly, syndactyly, developmental delays

Listed: Aug 2019

We don’t know a lot about sweet Nelly yet, but the agency does have videos of her they can share with inquiring families. Nelly can crawl and can do so well. She loves scooting her way to toys she finds interesting. Nelly can sit up on her own. She enjoys attention and will sometimes interact with other children.

Nehemiah

Boy, Age: 5

FAS, Hypermetropic astigmatism. Protein energy malnutrition. Changes of retinopathy and retinal blood vessels. Moderate mental delays with significant impairment of behavior requiring attention or treatment

Listed: Jan 2020

Nehemiah has grayish-blue eyes and brown hair. Nehemiah is very active and moving, generally in a positive mood. He likes to walk a lot, walks hand in hand with adults willingly, can do it independently, but in long walks can also use the walking frame. There is no sense of fear in his movements, can climb on different objects (table, windowsill). Nehemiah likes to exercise, to do backbends and plays alone often. He has short-term steadiness while playing with the toys. He still puts toys in his mouth. Nehemiah likes to play with the toy car, to page through the picture books, but only for a short moment. His attention can be attracted by musical toys. He sometimes doesn’t sleep during the day, he likes to play while he falls asleep, sometimes has difficulties to fall asleep in the evening, but sleeps well at night. Nehemiah often expresses his feelings with gesticulation and mimicry. He says different sounds, syllables “ta-ta”, “bu-bu”, but doesn’t pronounce words. The boy eats independently, but has to be looked after, drinks unwillingly.

Mathis

Boy, Age: 6

global developmental delays

FAS and delayed development. Mathis recently had surgery to repair his cleft palate. He has physical and psychomotor delays.

Listed: Feb 2016

Mathis has a problem eating and is fed with a tube although he has learned to suck a bottle and can eat mashed food. He still receives liquids from a tube. His language skills are weak. He can walk holding on to something and is crawling. He has started to walk, climb, and manipulate toys and objects. He is doing very well and his development in general is very optimistic.

Description from a visiting family: peaceful, gentle, and enjoys adult attention. He understands the language and is very observant. Mathis is calm, quiet, crawls, responsive, content, alert, survivor, easily comforted.

Maddie

Girl, Age: 14

Congenital Heart Defect

Moderate mental delay; congenital heart defect, has had surgery to repair; developmental delays; farsightedness. She is currently receiving speech therapy and physiotherapy.

Listed: May 2012

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

From 2010 report: Maddie is alert and likes to engage. She is helpful, likes to help with the younger children. Her walking in unsteady and is described as “crooked”. Understands simple orders, but in various activities she does not fully understand what is being asked of her. Maddie is determined to be independent and tries to perform everything herself. She enjoys helping others, likes to clean up when she sees a mess. Her fine motor skills need improvement. She seeks out attention. She likes to observe and then imitate. She is protective of her toys. Speech is significantly delayed at this time. She says few words (thank you, bye, this, no, uncle, mom). She enjoys singly loudly in her own little language. Isn’t Maddie adorable? She would fit right in as “Mommy’s little helper”

UPDATE SEPT 2013: The girl is well disposed towards school: she already can sit by the table with help completes the tasks, for a short time started to concentrate her attention to the task she is interested in. She is able to complete the task if proper motivation is provided. Still the girl’s activities in general are chaotic, non-meaningful and in consecutive order. She understands short instructions. General knowledge about herself and environment still are limited. She can show some items in her surrounding environment. Speaks in sounds/words, short words which needs the correction; is able to express her wishes, emotions, understands when misbehaved and comes close to a person and touches saying sorry and expressing her apology. She always asks when need to go to the bathroom and walks accompanied by the teacher‘s assistant. Her hygiene skills needs to be improved, but they are in place. The school bus takes Maddie from care institution and brings her back.

Lena

Girl, Age: 6

Listed: Oct 2020

*** I am eligible for an additional $5,000 Grant! Through June 2021, children with Down syndrome ages 6-9 are eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant! ***

This little girl with Down syndrome is described as brave, loving and interested in activities. She adapts well to a new environment and enjoys coloring, painting, musical activities, singing and playing with toys and dolls. She is developmentally delayed and needs a loving family to help her reach her full potential.

Klay

Boy, Age: 9

Sleep disorder. Other childhood emotional disorders, Anoxic brain damage, not elsewhere classified, aftereffects of perinatal hypoxia. Tracheostomy. Protein energy malnutrition. Language development delay. At nights boy uses artificial lung ventilation machine.

Listed: Jan 2017

Klay has brown eyes and dark brown hair. He is joyful, communicative, understands the everyday situations. Differentiates persons and calls them by their names. Accepts all kind of activities, wants individual attention. He has a small vocabulary, unsustainable attention. Positive and active in communication. His gait is stable, he eats and drinks independently. Is interested in what is happening around him – in things and environment. Boy’s reactions are stereotypic but there are positive features in the development of the boy.

Jovan

Boy, Age: 13

mixed developmental disorder and FAS

Listed: Sep 2013

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

Update from Dec 2012: After arrival the boy had attachment difficulty to the other children, had hard time while sleeping, was angry and upset, would not play with other children, his language was not clear, would cry without reason, would not eat and only chew the food, had difficulty walking. Now Jovan’s language is clear, he has learned to dress himself, and washes himself without help. His walking skill improved very much, his walk is good, runs, walks up and down the stairway, but due to the delayed development he sometimes makes movements with his hands and it seems that it is hard to control this.

Jovan is a very good boy, likes to be closed to a person, communicates with social worker, is sensitive. He has good memory, likes to tell stories and is very happy when the care giver is listening to him and asks questions as he likes to answer the questions. Is able to learn a short poem by heart, likes to play and participate at the musical activities. Has a very good sense for rhythm, dances. Likes to work with puzzles, and coloring books. Can name animals, colors, knows letters and numbers, is very noticeable and polite. But sometimes is upset and stubborn, it is observed if communication with him is gentle his stubbornness disappears and he becomes of a very good mood.

Jaylen

Boy, Age: 6

mild mental delays. Early organic CNS damage. Physical development delay. Other disturbances in speech and language development. Malabsorption syndrome

Listed: Jan 2020

Jaylen has blue eyes and light, blond hair. Jaylen walks steadily, eats independently, also solid food, can speak 4-5 words sentences, is active – loves to ride a push-car, run, play with other kids, wants to get to know everything new around him. Jaylen has successfully started his pre-school education, he attends kindergarten from Monday to Friday. He has adjusted well, he is very happy and eager to go to the kindergarten every day. He studies according to a specialized pre-school education program for children with mixed developmental disabilities. In everyday life a child is able to employ himself constantly. On a daily basis Jaylen needs assistance with changing his diapers as he still continues his potty-training. He needs a little help to get dressed and undressed.

Jaylen has learned to caress a doll or someone from adults or children. In the beginning Jaylen did not know, how to react out his emotions – he threw things away, he was hitting adults and children, also when he was happy to see someone. At the moment Jaylen by movements imitates caresses, gives kisses. Jaylen gets on well with other children, especially with children of his age. Jaylen helps in small daily chores, can collect his toys and put them in places. Jaylen has started to eat hard food; he bites and swallows biscuits, bananas, apples. He shows interest about books, especially about the ones that are with sound. Jaylen starts to show and demonstrate independence. He reacts calmly to new events. He has high level of energy.

Heinrich

Boy, Age: 12

Down syndrome, specific mixed developmental disorder, features of autism, farsightedness, atopic dermatitis, functional heart murmur, hydrocephalus. Due to a difficult birth, he was born with pneumonia, and intubated for a few days.

Listed: Jul 2013

*** I am eligible for a $15,000 Older Child Grant! For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

From a family who met him in 2015: “Heinrich ran right up to me and asked to go up, and then enjoyed a play session full of jumping. He definitely has a lot of energy, and I was amazed at his gross motor skills. He loved the play area’s rocking horse!”

UPDATE as of June 2015: Heinrich continues to make great improvements. He is communicating and asked to be picked up. He is strong, happy, and loves attention.

Update as of April 2013: His development is delayed; he recently started to walk without help, but not yet steady. Emotions are weak, play activity is primitive, throws away toys, turns them around, puts into the mouth, sucks his fingers, makes stereotypic movements with his head, swings. He’s not yet speaking, and it’s possible he has a hearing delay. He eats with help, does not yet holds a spoon or the bottle, still it is hard for him to chew a hard food. The level of understanding is low, does not have motivation to make an activity.

Iggy and Aggy

Sibling Group

Ages: 9, 7

Aggy does show some signs of ADHD “type” behavior; Aggy had plastic surgery to correct a cleft lip in 2014. Aggy has a type of scoliosis and wears glasses.
Iggy has a diagnosis of nearsightedness and astigmatism and he also wears glasses.

Listed: Sep 2019

Sizable Grants $2,500+

These adorable brothers are active, fun, rarely sick, interested and curious. They have never had anything that resembles a family so they will need structure. Aggy attended Kindergarten and will be in a first grade class this year. His challenges are in the light range. If you did not read his diagnosis, you would not notice any differences between he and his brother. Even in a group of kindergarteners he does not stand out as handicapped physically or mentally. He does show some signs of ADHD “type” behavior but many of our children present as ADHD until they are in a stable family environment. He had plastic surgery to correct a cleft lip in 2014. He has a type of scoliosis and wears glasses. Iggy has a diagnosis of nearsightedness and astigmatism and he also wears glasses. Both boys have general good health and good teeth. The boys are in a wonderful orphanage that is structured in family groups.

Hayden

Boy, Age: 15

Autism

Listed: May 2012

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

January 2010: Psychical and physical developmental delays. He cannot name colors, geometrical shapes, and he does not understand the concepts of size and amount. He is not interested in toys and does not play with them. He gets agitated when someone lightly provokes him. He does not participate in general children activities. Stereotypical movements are noticed (swinging, swaying, rocking). Phonemic hearing is not developed, his audio perception is delayed, speech pronunciation delays, and his vocabulary is narrow. His balance and coordination are delayed.

Hayden is active and curious, he is interested in his surroundings. His comprehensive language is limited, he speaks using the sentences of two-four words. He often repeats the heard word several times. He likes active games and active activities, however he prefers to play alone. He likes singing, dancing, and enjoys musical activities. He struggles to communicate, collaborate, and play with peers. He has trouble paying attention. He has no interest in toys and prefers playing with things like a tape-recorder, tv, electrical switch, etc. He does not know his colors. He could be characterized as quite impatient and impulsive. Independence skills are under developed. He eats independently, he needs help from an adult to dress and undress and to do all hygienic tasks. He seeks out attention from adults in various manners. He likes helping in daily chores by dusting, wiping off the table, and tidying the toys. He cannot express his opinion.

Garrett

Boy, Age: 15

Down syndrome, mixed development disorder, low IQ, and is nonverbal

Listed: Oct 2015

*** I am eligible for a $15,000 Older Child Grant! For more information, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***

Garrett is very active, attachable, and helpful. Look at that beautiful smile he has! He loves to jump on the trampoline and ball and swing. He loves to go for walks and enjoys cartoons and shows about nature and animals. He attends a special school and is in the 4th grade. He has difficulty communicating with other children.

Elena

Girl, Age: 10

Elena has been diagnosed with specific mixed developmental disorder, FAS, language and speech developmental disorder, functional heart murmur, hypermetropic astigmatism, and sub-atrophia of the visual nerve. Her cleft palate was repaired.

Listed: Aug 2015

**** I am eligible for an Older Child Grant! Grant funding is dependent on a completed application and available funds. For more information, visit: Other Angels Older Child Grant ****

Elena is very smart and collects all the information about what is going on around her. She knows all the details about every child. She is speaking a lot, asking questions, and can explain situations. She follows directions and redirection and knows the routine. She eats by herself and does need any help, drinks from a cup, asks when she needs to go and use the bathroom and dresses herself without help. Speaks in 2-3 words sentences, her speech becomes more clear as the speech therapist is working with her. She recognizes objects in pictures, knows colors but does not yet count. She likes educational activities very much. She is friendly with children and plays with them well. She is always seeking attention from adults and likes to come up and to complain about things just to get personal contact. She gets upset when she does not get attention when she needs it and scratches herself when this happens.

Daniel and Donald

Sibling Group

Ages: 9, 8

Older brother has been diagnosed with effects of neonatal central nervous system hypoxia in a state of diffuse muscle hypotonic syndrome, psychomotor delays. OU astigmatism, hypermetropia, OU nystagmus, esotropia. Language development delay.

Younger brother has been diagnosed with OU Nystagmus horizontal. OU Astigmatism mixtus. OD Esotropia. Psychomotor development delay. Speech development delay. Muscle tone imbalance.

Listed: Oct 2014

Older brother has blue eyes and light brown hair. He crawls, he also walks around if being held by both hands. He stands up by sticking to something. The boy makes a longer eye contact with an adult, he plays with toys, responds to his name. His appetite is good, he does not try to eat with a spoon, needs to be fed. Sleeps well, sometimes swings before falling asleep. Sometimes has a tendency to swing and beat his head against the floor.

Younger brother has blue eyes and light brown hair. The child crawls, he does not eat independently, needs to be fed. The boy is emotionally labile, often cries, plays alone, likes musical toys.

Daniel

Boy, Age: 4

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Listed: Oct 2019

Daniel is a boy whose cognitive and physical development is close to his expected age. He is described as very curious, sweet, gentle, outgoing and has good relationships with other children. He makes good eye contact, speaks in words and sentences, implements instructions and has a sweet personality. Diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and mixed development disorder. Pictures are available from the agency.

Branden

Boy, Age: 8

Down syndrome, speech delay

Listed: Jul 2017

*** I am eligible for an additional $5,000 Grant! Through June 2021, children with Down syndrome ages 6-9 are eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant! ***

Sizable Grants $2,500+

Branden has bluish-green eyes and light brown hair. He is sunny, inquisitive and very active boy, who likes attention and communication. Branden was placed in an out-of-family care institution (from foster care) at the age of 3 years and 5 months. The adaptation period in the orphanage was successful, the boy was friendly and cute, the attention span was sustainable, physical development corresponded the age, language development was delayed.

Branden’s overall development progresses well, although the development of language is without change, attention span is less sustainable, he is more careless. General movements are free, the boy freely moves, runs, climbs up and down the stairs. Branden is very active and inquisitive. He shows interest in the surrounding area and events, as well as activities of adults and other children. He is friendly and builds contact gladly also with less known people. The boy is interested in toys, but often the interest is unstable, he plays a little bit and then looks for another toy. Needs to be motivated to continue and finish the started play. The boy tends to be inattentive, has unstable attention, wants to rush everything. Language development lags behind age norms and progress is very minimal. The boy responds to his name, he comprehends and reacts adequately on daily instructions. Uses few words in short form in his active speech, but in most occasions uses inarticulate exclamation sounds, vocabulary has not progressed. Passive (receptive) vocabulary is wider. Keenly observes and leafs through picture books, but he cannot show the asked object or name it himself. Self-skills well trained, independent eating and drinking, knows his cot, is able to dress himself partially, can undress, is not yet able to fasten clothes with buttons or zips, goes to toilet after reminder, sometimes goes independently.

Branden does have older siblings, but they have been legally separated by the courts.

Bentley

Boy, Age: 9

Encephalopatia due to mother’s alcohol use, Inborn hypotrophia, CMV infection (citomegalovirus), Specific mixed developmental disorder, Bilateral Neuritis cochlearis, Low weight and height growth, Heart murmur

Listed: Sep 2013

As of June 2013: Bentley is mostly passive, his muscles are weak. He can not sit, stand or walk on his own. He does not like to have a close contact with a person, cries when is picked up. Bentley likes to sit in a special chair and rock. Sometimes the boy pronounces accidental sounds. Does not picks up yet toys in to his hands, when is talked to – does not react. Sometimes when he sits alone it was observed that he started to smile. He needs help while eating and drinking. Child’s motor development is delayed, compared to his age.

Beckham

Boy, Age: 8

autism syndrome, severe mental delays

Listed: Jan 2020

Beckham builds contact slowly, insecurely, he needs time to trust. He has signs of autism. Emotionally closed, tense and impulsive. Beckham has begun to make eye contact, responds to adult’s call. Demonstrates wish for physical contact. No interest or initiative in displayed items or games. Stucking in action observed. Does not engage in contact with other children, but is able to roll a ball if adult suggests, but only temporarily. He likes to throw a ball (can do it for a long time), jumps very well, keeps his balance. Beckham enjoys to be in water – dabbling and splashing. He also enjoys working with communication board. Understands adult’s instructions on self-service skills – eating, washing, sleeping, going to the toilet. He is able to eat and drink independently. He can put on and take off his shoes. Studies according to specialized learning program.

Barric

Boy, Age: 6

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

hydrocephalus

significantly premature child, post-haemorrhagic obstructive hydrocephalus, chronic bronchitis, psycho-motor and physical development delay

Listed: Jul 2017

The boy has greyish-brown eyes and brown hair. The boy smiles a lot, he likes contact with other people, is interested in toys, likes to be outside, enjoys taking bath. When the boy lays on his stomach, he tries to raise his head and hold it for a short time. He eats well porridge or root vegetables with meat, he is spoon-fed. Mostly is seated in a specialized chair with head positioning.

Physiotherapist: tone imbalance. Slight spastic distally, active reflexes, weak torso; Weak head and torso control in all positions against gravity. In lying down on the back position the head is turned to the right, turns to the abdomen without lifting his head from the surface. The head in comparison to body proportionally large. Poor attention and motivation persistence. Interested in flashing, scintillating texture items. Emotionally labile. The development dynamics is minimal.

Aiden, Ainsley, and Aimee

Sibling Group

Ages: 12, 15, 17