My Family Found Me

Megan is an adorable little girl, born with Down syndrome and CHD- VSD, PDA, PFO, and moderate-severe pulmonary hypertension. She underwent the ligation of the arterial duct and the VSD repair in August of 2017.

Megan is described by her caretakers as active and smiley! She likes playing with toys with sounds and participating in outdoor activities. Megan has a good appetite and she is not a picky eater. She has rehabilitation training with a therapist everyday. Megan turns and smiles when her name is called but, at the time her file was prepared, she was not yet saying words. Megan likes when the caretakers tease and talk with her. As of the fall of 2017, she could crawl, stand up from a sitting position, and walk in her walker. She has good fine motor skills. Megan is very much adored at her orphanage. We are hoping to get an update for her and find her a forever family that will continue to adore and support her as she grows up!

There is a $1000 agency grant with for Megan’s adoption with her current adoption agency.

Yager loves the company of the adults. He likes to be engaged in play and laughs when interacted with. He has a special relationship with one of the staff members, who always accompanies him for operations and for check-ups. While lying on his back, he can turn on his abdomen, he pulls himself up with his arms. The muscles above the waist are very well-developed. He will reach for an adult and when you extend your hands, he immediately pulls himself to the sitting position. He eats from a bottle while holding it himself. When he sees toys, he reaches for them and tries to get them. If he gets upset he easily calms down if cudded.

He repeats syllables and pronounces sounds. He holds toys in his hands and knocks them together. He can follow simple directions.

Photos and videos are available through the agency.

Are you ready for some cuteness?! Check out Liviah, so fancy in her red dress with her hair in a little ponytail! Bows would be a hit!

Her file describes her as active, cheerful, smart and clever. She is loved by teachers and caretakers. Liviah’s communication and cognitive development has progressed since coming into care at age 1.5 years. She is now ale to ask for help, express her needs, respond to simple questions, and although not potty trained she can express herself when she needs to use the bathroom. She enjoys therapy and learning about facial features, playing a clapping game, and imitating sign language.

Liviah likes to ride on the scooter, go down the slide and explore, taking walks inside and outside! She likes can build a 5-6 block tower with blocks, loves balls, listening to Opera music and match shapes in a puzzle. Her file reports that she has fallen in love with “painting” and “going to the theatre”. She loves dancing and when she sees a cell phone, she gets excited, starts dancing and in her own way, asks for Opera music to be played!

Liviah has many videos available!

Kora can eat solid foods, she can eat all foods suitable for children. But because it is an institutional setting, we give the children little fish to eat. All bones are removed from meat and fish by nannies before serving to the children for safety. We usually give her softer foods. She can grab things to eat herself. She also will break off and share snacks with other children.

*What she means is that they give them soft foods usually mixed with rice to prevent choking, to help the children eat faster, and so they don’t have to distinguish from children with stomach or eating issues. All the children who have come with this diet have had stomach issues because of it and have needed time to adjust to eating harder foods but recovered fine. Each day after eating in the morning and night she will drink a little milk.

Kora can understand almost everything that is said to her. She also can respond using actions, she just cannot communicate with spoken language, she can only speak a little. She did not show any problems with the heart after her heart surgery. Previously her eyes often had tears. In December 2019, an eye examination was performed. She had a Nasolacrimal duct narrowing + nasolacrimal duct intubation. She has recovered well from this.

There is a $1,000 Agency Grant with a specific adoption agency to help a family bring Kora home!

Update from Oct. 2020: Our most recent updates on Magnolia have shown her making significant improvements! Magnolia has the sweetest smile and seems to always be in a happy and content mood. It’s been two years since we last met Magnolia and she is now able to feed herself snacks, put small objects into containers, identify pieces of clothing, match animal sounds to the correct animal, identify familiar adults in photos, and recognize a daily schedule. There is a bright and happy future for little Magnolia. She deserves to spend it with a caring and loving family. Photos and video are available from the agency.

Original post from 2018: Sweet, sweet little Magnolia! Her little smile was worth every bit of effort it took to coax it out of her. She was a little shy at first when the agency’s team met her, but warmed up with a little effort on our part. And her little face lights up when she sees someone she knows. Magnolia has cerebral palsy. She is 3 years old. She turns when her name is called. She cannot yet speak but obviously understands what is said to her. She can sit propped up if placed in a sitting position. She uses a wheelchair to get around. She goes to a special education preschool and loves toys with music. She enjoys playing peek-a-boo and obviously anticipates that you are going to uncover your face.

Trent is receiving ongoing medical care for his heart condition. Doctors in his country have determined that the surgery he needs is too risky to be performed there. Trent’s full health condition is listed as: Complex congenital heart malformation – Pulmonary atresia with interventricular defect. Hypoplastic confluent pulmonary arteries. Multilateral pulmonary circulation. Congestive heart failure. Chronic therapy with ACE inhibitor, diuretic. Treated with antibiotics. Prevention of bacterial endocarditis.

Developmentally, Trent is reported to be developing cognitively at a normal rate. He does not have any known cognitive delays. His gross and fine motor skills are well developed for his age. Due to his heart condition, he gets physically tired easily. He has good concentration and pays attention to details. He plays with toys and interacts with people appropriately. He talks in simple sentences and understands everything said to him. His memory is well developed and he’s already demonstrating higher order thinking skills. He sings children’s songs that he’s memorizes, can answer questions about objects in a book, and can also form questions, ask them and wait appropriately for an answer from someone. He does not have any known behavior issues. He interacts appropriately with other children and with caregivers. He’s described as calm and friendly.

Violet is a very petite girl, born in September of 2010, who appears much younger than her age. She is very shy and afraid of strangers, but is extroverted and cheerful around her caretakers. In fact, this cuddly girl loves to be held by her nannies. She gets along with the other children and likes to play games with them. Though she is behind other children her age, Violet continues to make progress in her development. She now speaks in short sentences, such as “I want to eat that” and she can answer yes or no questions. When she became scared of a stranger visiting, she told her nanny “I want to leave.” Despite Violet’s tiny size, she can run very fast and is able to go up and down stairs by holding the railing. Her self-care is good. She feeds and dresses herself and can climb up into a bed that’s taller than she is. She can point to body parts when asked and can do simple counting. She is also able to follow basic directions.

Violet is diagnosed with developmental delays and a congenital heart defect-VSD, that she has received surgery for. Though she was previously on a medication for pulmonary hypertension, she is no longer taking any medication. She was not re-tested for PH. Violet also had a test that showed a ring abnormality of chromosome 15. You can read more about that here.

Agency staff who met Violet said that it appears to be understaffed based on observations and conversations with caregivers, with a higher than typical child to caregiver ratio. As a result, most of the children do not receive any rehabilitative services or therapies. Most of the children do not attend school and do not receive any lessons within the orphanage. Many of the children spend most of their time in their crib. Due to this, these children may have delays more significant than typical institutionalization. This could potentially be part of why Violet has developmental delays. Though she is behind other children her age, Violet continues to make progress in her development. She needs a patient, gentle, and loving family to help her adjust and provide the stimulation and nourishment she needs to learn and grow.

A family that traveled more recently said: “The children in this orphanage are in a group of 13 (ages 6-13) with 3-4 nannies. They were happy and loved, excited to see us and all smiles. My daughter has been home since 1/28/20 and learned English words and how to write her name in country. They watched Paw Patrol and other cartoons and have learned preschool skills from the shows. They do not go to school, but do have craft classes. My daughter can cut with sisters, paint, draw, and color in the lines, so I know someone worked with her. I met Violet and she is very sweet and social.”

There is a $1,500 agency grant for Violet’s adoption with her current adoption agency.

There is a $5,000 agency grant for Quinnlee’s adoption with her current agency!

Update below from August 2019 & a video from September 2019!

She is behind normal kids, but much better than other kids with Down syndrome. She has a very strong self-esteem. She’s not potty trained yet, but will ask when she needs help. She is active, busy, sometimes shy, and likes playing with kids of the same age. She is well behaved and obedient. She can walk, run, jump, and go upstairs and downstairs. Her fine motor skills are fair. She can draw, write, and pick up tiny objects.

Quinnlee is attached to her caretakers. The person she is closest to is her foster mother and she knows to care about others. She likes interacting with other people. She gets along well with adults and kids. She has been in a foster family since July of 2013. She gets along well with her foster family. She has experienced two foster families, but can get used to it quickly. She can express her needs well. Her language is a little behind kids of her age. Quinnlee likes dolls, and blocks, and bright colors.

 

Marielle is a sweet girl who is rocking an extra chromosome. She plays happily and babbles when playing. She likes to be held and pays close attention to her nannies when they hold her and talk to her.

Marielle’s file shows no heart defect. She would do so well in a family! And look at that hair!

Update Oct 2017: She likes to play in the activity room at the orphanage and especially enjoys toys that make sounds. She loves to be held. She can speak several words like “xie xie” (thank you), “bu ke qi” (you’re welcome) and “chi” (eat). This sweet little girl enjoys music and smiles often.

Update from Feb 2019:
Marielle is generally healthy. She can feed herself & dress herself. She is potty trained, and considered “high functioning”. She can climb, run, jump, go upstairs and downstairs by herself, string beads, button clothes and so on. There is a$1,500 agency grant for Marielle’s adoption with her current adoption agency. They also have MANY additional videos of her!

Video, photos & update available from summer 2020!

Watson is a precious little boy. He can roll over and sit alone. Watson loves hugging! When he’s upset, Watson will calm down when his caretaker holds and pats his back. Watson’s caretaker often takes him to the garden to enjoy the sunshine and get fresh air. He has a good appetite and doesn’t have issues with swallowing. He is currently in diapers and is noted to be a sound sleeper. Watson lives in an area with about 40 other kids, two and under. We have requested an update and are hoping that Watson’s family sees him while he is still so young! What a precious son he will be!

Update August 2020: Watson can stand up by himself, walk by holding a hand, recognize people, and speak “Mama and Nainai (granny), etc.” Watson has been living in a foster family. He doesn’t go to school yet. Watson doesn’t take any special medication or receive any surgery. He sometimes catches a cold, gets a fever, and receives proper medical treatment.

There is a $1,000 agency fee reduction for Watson’s adoption with his current adoption agency.