My Family Found Me

1,617.25 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Updated January 2022: Joey shows good attachments with the adults in his life but definitely is at his best when he has a lot of 1:1 time with those adults. When that time is not able to happen, he struggles more with regulation. Joey is a very friendly, active, and kind child who loves to play and be silly! You can most often find him playing made-up games, riding bikes, or running around with the other boys in his home. He has a very big imagination that he uses to draw and build, he loves to do crafts and be creative! His home recently got gymnastics rings and he loves going upside down and trying out new stunts. He got rollerblades for Christmas and practices with them every day, trying new tricks. In class, Joey has been working on multiplication, subtraction, reading books independently, and some basic money skills.

Joey is a sweet friend to the other boys in his home regardless of age or ability, and is especially fond of helping one of the younger boys in his home with cerebral palsy. Joey will help him walk or sit to play games, will help him color, and always wants to bring him along when they go out on walks or trips to the shop. Joey loves to be outside, jump on the trampoline, swim, explore parks, anything that keeps him active! Joey is known as the animal whisperer and he loves all animals. He got a fish for his birthday that he named Ben after Ben 10.

$376.50 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

*** Pearl has received an additional $2,500 Grant from Reece’s Rainbow! ***

Pearl is extremely small for her age. She only weighs 13lbs at 4 years old. She has been fed via a tube since birth. The staff at the orphanage have not attempted to teach her to eat via a bottle or spoon. She is not currently taking any medications and does not have any ongoing medical treatments.  She is alert, tracks objects, shows interest in what is going on around her and looks toward people and objects.

Finley is a lovely young boy with a bright smile! Finley is waiting for a forever family of his own! Contact the adoption agency to learn more about Finley!

VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-finley

Password: Adoptmaa

Adopted!

He keeps eye contact, is alert, happy, interested in everything and communicates with others. He likes to listen to music and play. He is interested in toys, objects and people. He is curious and interested in the environment. He is able to recognize people who spend most of the time with him, laughs and leans on them. He tries to avoid and is afraid of people he does not know. He crawls and sits without help, but is not able to stand in his crib and is not keeping a balance yet. He is able to pick up a cup, but cannot drink from it. He drinks from a bottle and eats soft food. He has 4 teeth, but does not know how to chew on food. He sits without help, is able to stand up holding support, but does not yet walk independently. He is starting to walk with support. He is able to pick up a cup, but can’t drink from it. He drinks from a bottle and eats soft food. His speech is not clear at this time. He is interesting in other people, initiates, reacts, and keeps eye contact. The child is alert, happy, is interested in everything and communicable child, likes to listen to music and play. Is interested in toys, objects and people. He is very loving child who would be able to live in a family.

He runs, climbs stairs with help, rides a scooter, plays with cubes and figures which he can nest. Ned recognizes animals and knows their places when arranging a puzzle. He plays with other children, preferring the older ones and copying their actions. He loves music and musical toys, and sometimes dances. He responds to his name, follows directions, is well-intentioned, does not get angry and is not aggressive at all. Ned pronounces various sounds and syllables such as “ma-ma”, “ba-ba”(gandma), “ka-ka”(older sister), “hop”(ups), “meow”(what the cat says), “bau” (what the dog says), “da”(yes), “liu-liu”(swing), “ku -ku”(what the cuckoo says) etc. However, the main communication is related to taking the hand of a familiar adult and bringing her to the object the child wants. He arranges things in his room, chooses his clothes, can put on and take off his shoes, washes his hands by himself, likes to bathe by playing with balls and watering himself with a jug. He’s learning to feed himself independently with a spoon, but still needs pureed foods.

Ned lived in an orphanage for the first 2.5 years of his life. When he entered foster care, he could not sit, stand, make any sounds or have any form of communication. He has made a large amount of progress in just one year, with the help of multiple specialists and his foster family.

Update April 2022:  The agency recently learned Addy’s, 3-year-old, brother has been approved for international adoption. He has developmental and speech delays.  Addy and her brother will be placed together.

 

Introducing six-year-old Addy! Addy’s foster family and social workers describe her as a gentle, quiet, and introverted young girl who is kind and affectionate towards familiar people. Addy enjoys working puzzles, making handicrafts such as origami and paper cutting, and skipping rope. We have videos of Addy performing all three tasks above and she really is quite talented! Addy has speech and developmental delays as well as suspected autism, although it is noted in a more recent medical update that she has made noticeable improvements in general knowledge, verbal language comprehension and abstract concepts. She is currently receiving speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy once per week, as well as physical programs to help increase her muscle strength. She can name daily life objects and their uses and respond to questions in complete sentences. Addy has much potential but lacks self-confidence.

Update Sep 2021:

According to her special education counselor, 7-year-old Addy has made remarkable improvements in self-confidence thanks to the support of her teacher and past learning experiences. Most recently, she is learning the concept of money through shopping activities and is training to enhance her muscle coordination and strength through arts and crafts. Addy has an intrinsic motivation to learn and doesn’t let her limitations of near sighted and borderline sensory integration disorder prevent her from trying new things. She is currently enrolled in gymnastics classes and focuses on four major exercises: horizontal bar, trampoline, balance beam, and floor.

Addy has an excellent relationship with her foster mother. She chats with people and laughs at funny things too. She likes to amuse a younger foster child at home and will protect her like a sister as well. Addy has been receiving extra visual training from her teacher at school. Her teacher reports that she is cooperative and will complete tasks that are required of her, even if she doesn’t enjoy them—like writing. She interacts enthusiastically and cheerfully with her classmates and enjoys taking part in activities with adults. When we asked Addy how she would describe herself, she responded beautiful, gentle, and introverted, whereas her classmates would describe her as a kind and generous person, who can be serious in class.

Jett:

Jett’s favorite activities include playing with building blocks, toy cars, and reading picture books with his caregivers!

Jett lives in a children’s home with 8 children of similar ages. He enjoys interacting and laughing with his peers, and he acts affectionately towards his caregivers.

We’re looking for a family for Jett and Addy who will be able to meet their diverse needs.  Jett is a toddler with language and social emotional delays.  While Addy is a grade schooler with developmental delays and possibly on the autism spectrum.

Feb 2022 Update: Muffy is a sweet little girl who has left side hemiparesis and developmental delay. She had an abnormal MRI which showed bilateral occipito-parietal region atrophy and thinning of the posterior periventricular white matter. She has left side hemiparesis but she can use her left hand well. She falls sometimes, which the neurologist attributed to spasticity so she recently started on antispasticity medication. She also has a bilateral squint and would benefit eventually from a surgery to correct this. She walks, runs and speaks. She has healthy attachments with her caregivers. She was late to begin speaking and walking but now walks and runs well and has grown in her language skills. Muffy speaks in sentences in her native language, including the use of past tense. Her language is delayed compared to that of a typically developing child her age, but she has made so much progress.

Muffy loves finger paints, playing with her fire truck toy, jumping on the trampoline and engaging in water play. She can often be found shrieking with laughter and running through the house as she plays chasing games with the other kids. She got a Barbie doll for Christmas and likes to play with it. She combs its hair and talks to it. As the youngest child in her home, Muffy has lots of “big sisters” who care for her. She has not yet started school due to her age and all the covid restrictions in her area, so she spends her days happily playing.

Brandon  walks, runs and climbs. His right side has some weakness, but he is able to use his right leg and right arm/hand. He does favor his left arm/hand and completes more activities using his left hand. However, he can use his right hand and has recently started completing activities with the right hand as well. Brandon speaks in sentences. He asks questions and cal also answer questions appropriately and follow verbal directions. He knows his colors and body parts. He’s currently working on learning to tell time. He is able to play and draw independently. He enjoys playing with cars/trucks and robots. He enjoys playing on the playground with other children. He can independently climb/play on the play structures. He is receiving academic instruction and therapy to help with deficits. He continues to make progress both physically and developmentally.

Abby is a beautiful little girl with big brown eyes. Her gross motor skills are good. She is walking with little assistance. Her non-verbal communication is good. She has a ready smile and will respond to stimuli with her eyes. She is speaking words and attempts to communicate. Doctors have recommended occupational, physical, and speech therapies. Doctors have stated, “Concerning her diagnosis one suggestion is that, the child has epileptic encephalopathy (suspect syndrome Dravet).” (This description was from August 2018)

An update on Abby dated May 7, 2021, states her situation has improved drastically. She has progressed in her motor, cognitive growth and social skills. She readily socializes with her peers and caregivers and follows instructions when given. She has developed a rich vocabulary while still having some difficulty pronouncing some of the words correctly. She imitates different behaviors and LOVES to sing her favorite songs. She is attending an individual program suggested by a therapist.

Abby needs an opportunity for family. Can you imagine what she could do with a family who loves her and supports her in all of these activities? Would you welcome this little girl into your home?

Stanley was recently moved into a group at the orphanage with older children. The staff reports that they believe this change will be good for him. He walks and can climb on/off of furniture. He is not saying any words or word approximations at this time. His teacher reports that in the past couple of weeks, he has started saying one or two syllables when he hears music. He has recently begun responding to his name and some simple directions. He examines and explores objects, but does not use them for their intended purpose. He will flip through the pages of a book. He enjoys opening/closing doors. He is interested in people and shows awareness of familiar adults vs unfamiliar adults. He smiles and reacts positively to interactions from adults. Due to the delays in his communication skills and development, he will undergo a comprehensive evaluation for Autism in November.

Medical report indicates that the birth mother is an alcoholic. While it does not state that the mother drank during pregnancy, prospective families should be prepared that Nahla may have FAS.

Nahla is physically healthy. She lived in a neglectful home for the first 4 years of her life, before being removed by social services and placed in foster care. She says individual words and some simple phrases. She has made progress in her development since being placed in foster care, but has had to work through behaviors and medical concerns as a result of the previous years of neglect. Progress is being observed in all aspects of her development.

Update Oct 2022:

Nahla’s behavior is characterized by impulsivity and curiosity. Her speech skills present with some deficits. She says the names and denominatives for people close to her – (grandma), (older sister), (uncle), etc. During interaction she uses mimics, gestures, points to what she wants and brings the foster parent to the respective object. She has started to express desires more often, ask questions or express an opinion with simple sentences or two or three words. She understands adults’ speech well and orientates in non-verbal means. She is gradually starting to adhere to personal boundaries and has started to be “shy” in unfamiliar places, as well as set boundaries in her communication with people outside her family circle. She enjoys riding a scooter and bicycle and playing with a ball and at the park. She is able to participate in some playing situations with the biological granddaughter of the foster family. The foster parents are helping her build her skills for independence, as well as self-service skills. The child is unable to eat independently or maintain personal hygiene habits, she is learning to tidy up her belongings and toys. She is able to announce her physiological needs.

Meet Norna!  If you have ever considered adopting an older child, we are very excited to tell you more about her! Norna is lively and likes to interact and converse with others. She is also described as agile and clever.  Her favorite foods are meat, she dislikes vegetables, and loves snacking on chocolates and candies. Norna told her social worker that she’s good at soccer. She described that she could juggle a soccer ball with the back of her foot and kick the ball over her head four times without dropping the ball! Norna also said that her favorite subjects in school are P.E. and science. She thinks that planting plants is fun! Norna is also musically talented. She likes to write and perform her own lyrics and melodies to express her feelings. Although Norna was born prematurely, she has good verbal expressions and can express her thoughts and feelings clearly. She also has age-appropriate development. Norna has been living with the same foster family for several years and her foster mother teaches her manners, good hygiene, and the importance of maintaining eye contact when speaking with others. Norna was diagnosed in June of 2019 with ADHD and currently takes medication to stabilize and maintain her concentration. She has since shown improvements.

Update 2022:

We learned some really neat things about Norna – and this was one of my favorites!  “Norna shared that she dressed up as Santa on Christmas to help the school principal pass out candies to students.  At that time, many classmates wanted certain colors of candies, and she was displeased because she thought having candies to eat is a very nice thing in itself already.  She does *not* like them being picky.  Norna also shared that the way she likes to celebrate birthday is to share her cake with everyone.  Anyone can join her celebration.”

Over the past few months Norna has been able to visit a theme park, which she enjoyed!  Norna enjoys PE class, playing on the computer and Calligraphy.  She has natural talent and appreciation for song and poetry!

Jesper’s favorite activities include kicking around a Jianzi shuttlecock, spinning a Diabolo, and watching his favorite cartoons, Pokemon and Mysterious Joker!  Jesper is a bit shy around strangers and when in new environments. but once he warms up to a person he really enjoys interacting with that individual! Those who know him share that he is a warm hearted child who likes to help others, both at school and at the children’s home.

Jesper lives in a children’s home with 12 boys of similar ages.  Math and Mandarin are his favorite school subjects. Jesper’s teacher says he is bright and cheerful with a strong ability to learn.  Jesper takes initiative and isn’t afraid to ask his teacher or caregiver questions when he doesn’t understand his schoolwork.

Jonah is described as a “clever” child who likes to explore new places!  Jonah enjoys hand crafts, such as origami and building blocks.  Jonah can be shy towards strangers and he takes time to warm up and feel comfortable around new people. Jonah has a close relationship to his foster family, especially his foster mother.  He is able to express thoughts about his day openly with her and express himself.

Jonah has a diagnosis of ADHD and is currently on medication to help with his concentration. Jonah is in 3rd grade and participates in his elementary school’s afterschool program.  He has an excellent academic performance and positive relationships with his peers!

Jonas is fond of music and LOVES to sway to the beat of the music! Jonas enjoys playing on riding toys and playing with toy cars.  He has a good bond with his foster family and acts affectionately towards them.

Jonas is receiving occupational therapy for fine motor delays and speech therapy for his language delays. Speech therapy has assisted him to build onto his vocabulary and he is now able to say two-three word phrases, such as “shui-shui” (water), “mama”, “fan-fan” (rice/food), and “wo-yao-chi” (I want to eat it.)! Jonas attends preschool where he has more learning stimulation and is able to work on his interpersonal interactions.

While Jonah and Jonas do not live in the same foster family, they have been able to connect on multiple occasions and had an overnight sleepover at Jonah’s foster home. Jonah enjoys taking walks with Jonas, and he is excited to help his brother when he can!

Aurora is a cheerful child who smiles a lot. She has no problems interacting with kids and adults. She enjoys her individual sessions with her therapists and is typically very involved. She learns how to dress and undress, comb her hair and wash her hands without help. She understands the language but doesn’t speak it yet. She is trying and they are working to motivate her to talk. She recognizes and repeats the sounds of several farm animals and recognizes them in the pictures. She can put together 8–10 pieces of puzzles. She recognizes the basic shapes and primary colors. She is eager to read the books; she flips pages by herself, points to the right pictures and enjoys listening to the short stories.

She seeks attention from her caregivers and can cry or withdraw if they focus on other children. She is physically active but not always participating and needs time to learn new exercises. She can’t jump, and her balance is unsteady. She isn’t afraid of water anymore, can relax and swim with support. She loves to be outside and play on the playground.

Zalynn lived with her birth family until after her 4th birthday. Her gross motor skills are well developed. She walks independently, runs, grabs a ball with both hands, kicks a ball, climbs and descends stairs with a railing support and jumps. Her fine motor skills are delayed. She can cut with scissors, but cannot accurately follow lines to cut items out. She holds a pencil and can draw a circle. She’s learning to trace her hand. She feeds herself and drinks from an open cup. She can get undressed by herself and can put her socks and shoes on independently. She requires assistance with other dressing tasks at this time. She responds to her name, follows simple instructions, and can indicate when she’s hungry. Her expressive speech is delayed, but she can communicate using a few simple words. She plays with toys and interacts with adults and other children. She has pretend play skills. She willingly participates in group activities with other children.

ADOPTED!

Nathan walks, runs, hops on one foot, rides a 2 wheeled bike, and goes up/down stairs independently. His wrists and fingers have some flexion issues, which cause delays in fine motor tasks. He can use both his hands, but still requires some assistance with some fine motor tasks. He can feed himself with a fork and spoon. He can indicate when he needs to use the restroom and complete the task by himself. He sometimes needs assistance with his clothing once he’s done in the restroom, due to the flexion issues in his hands. He talks, answers questions and can recite songs and poems that he has memorized. He plays with toys appropriately. He has an active imagination, and plays easily with other children. Cognitively, he demonstrates age appropriate reasoning skills, inference skills and can use past experiences and information during conversations, play and other activities. He easily transitions between activities. He makes cause and effect connections. He currently lives in a foster home where he is being worked with on all aspects of his development. He has not ever attended any type of formal educational environment. His foster parents have taught him his letters and he is now working on mastering numbers. They are actively working with him to increase his general knowledge base.

Nathan is aware that he lives with a foster family and has expressed that he wants to be adopted.

Owen walks, runs, goes up and down steps and has good coordination between his upper and lower limbs. He has well developed fine motor skills. He is able to manipulate with objects of different size, as well as with different writing utensils. He is able to thread, inlay and assemble with support. He can move objects with his hands. He has a well developed auditory and visual memory. His attention is stable when he is interested in an activity. He is able to memorize, retain and reproduce  information related to his daily activities. He is attending a day program and making good progress there. He is happy and interactive. He does not have any behavioral concerns. He speaks in sentences of 3 or more words, can communicate his wants/needs and answer questions. He enjoys playing with other children and participates in group games.

February 2020 update: Eden’s acrobatic skills have only increased over this past year. She has discovered how to climb out of her bed and into the bed of one of the older girls in her home. This cuddle bug loves any chance to seek out physical touch- whether it is sneaking late night cuddles or laying in the swing in her home with one of her friends. The disc swing in her home remains her favorite place, however she has grown fond of a plastic rocking horse as well.

Eden continues to take daily morning walks with her teacher to continue to practice her cane skills. Eden is now able to climb a flight of stairs while holding onto the railing and receiving promptings from her teacher. Recently, Eden has shown an increase in desire to explore her surroundings. Eden’s teacher has been working with her on spatial recognition and her ability to find new landmarks in her home. Eden is currently working on self-feedings skills. At first she was reluctant to hold her spoon during meal times, but now she is able to hold it with assistance for her entire meal. She is doing incredible! We are optimistic that this is a skill she will master this year! Eden continues to wear her processors daily. Recently Eden has begun attending speech therapy three days a week. She has begun babbling more. We hope that with speech therapy she will be able to begin to associate more meaning with the noises that she hears.

Jan 2019 update: Eden has started moving around the home with purpose more independently. She is now able to climb up 3 flights of stairs while holding onto the rail for support. She is also able to come down the stairs, also holding onto the rail for support. Eden has always been quite the acrobat and has now learned to climb on the sofa in the home and will stand while holding onto the back and jump and giggle. She has also learned to find a low hanging disc swing in the home and climb on it. She loves the swing and will vocalize sweet sounds as she enjoys the motion. Eden continues to work with her guide cane and still needs encouraging and prompting to use the guide cane throughout the day. She takes daily walks down the street with her teacher. She mostly enjoys the walks, unless she is tired, then she cries to be picked up and comforted. Eden continues to wear her processors allowing her to hear and she often responds to the sounds of toys falling on the floor, familiar voices, and music. She does require frequent prompting to complete activities in her classes. Eden also continues to demonstrate some aversions to a lot of textures. This is addressed in the home through a lot of opportunity for sensory play. She enjoys having lotion rubbed on her, sensory brush actives and water play.

One of Judson’s favorite activities is watching cartoons, especially Pokemon and Masha and the Bear!  Judson also enjoy singing along to his favorite nursery rhymes when they are played on tv or sung by his caregivers. Judson LOVES to take a ride on a bus and frequently asks his foster mom to go on rides!

Judson has a close attachment with his foster family, and affectionately refers to his older foster sisters as “aunties”. He’s curious in nature and likes to ask his foster mother questions.

Judson has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, speech and gross motor delays.  He is currently receiving regular therapy services. Judson is making great progress using his walker and holding onto the wall to steady himself as he walks!  His face lights up with joy as he moves around with his walker and explores new areas around him! Judson can count to 10 and he can recognize colors – with pink being his favorite.

ADOPTED!

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.

Precious Melly keeps waiting for a family of her own. She is cute and sociable girl who likes receiving individual attention and praises. Melly is a petite girl with dark and curly hair.   She likes books and puzzles, and she loves art!  She can eat and drink without help. She sleeps through the night and has 2 hours nap after lunch. She has PT, OT and speech therapy. With the right care and support,  Melly 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 from December 2020

The boy is active in motor development. He crawls for toys, climbs obstacles, stands up on its own and walks by furniture.  He manipulates the toys by tapping one against the other or on the floor, examining them in their hands, shaking them. He moves elements of manipulation boards, notices small details of toys, can press buttons of playing toys. He takes out and puts the blocks in the box. He is interested in the surroundings, explores the available space and actively participates in the proposed games.

Speech development is delayed but progressing. Kalvin reacts to his name, babbles, and responds with vocalizations to the speech addressed to him.

He is an active and social boy. He loves cuddling, tickling and early childhood games. He takes an active part in them, is able to focus on the activity that interests him and shares the field of common attention.  He falls asleep on his own and can sleep well through the night.

Compared to the population of children with Down syndrome, Kalvin functions very well. His development is constantly and dynamically progressing, and his active behavior and interest in the environment allow for a positive prognosis of further development. Placing him with a loving family will help with further dynamic development and satisfy his curiosity about the world around him.

Jesse is definitely a smart boy! He is nonverbal, but already recognizes a lot of letters and their sounds. He communicates by moving his hand closer to the letter or option he is choosing. He is working hard on these skills in preschool, which he currently attends two afternoons each week. He also uses his eyes to communicate. Sometimes I will tell him to look at someone to say please, thank you or sorry and he is always quick to comply, unless he is mad, in which case he will either shut or roll his eyes. If given two choices, I’ll ask him to look at one person for the first choice and another person for the second choice. He is quick to answer, especially if it’s something he really wants. For example, I will say look at Irene if you want your milk or look at Judith if you want more food and he will look at Judith to indicate he wants another bowl of food. Jesse knows the name of all his familiar people and will quickly look at them with a smile if I ask where they are.

Jesse loves to laugh and is quite entertained by the antics of his foster brothers and sister. Every night, I take Jesse into his bedroom to sit by his bed and pray together. Our one year old has a habit of following us in to the bedroom and sitting down beside us until another adult comes to get him. Jesse always anticipates this and as soon as I sit down with him, he watches the door and smiles, until the toddler comes in and Jesse wiggles and dances with joy. Sometimes after Jesse is in bed, his buddy will climb in with him and they both laugh at the craziness of bedtime.

Physically, Jesse can balance in a sitting position for several seconds, with his legs crossed and using his arms for support. He doesn’t do it for long at a time before he tumbles over, but he is always very proud of his accomplishments. He doesn’t roll over, but when he is laying on his tummy (his favorite position!), he can lift his head up and look around. Jesse loves to practice his walking, especially if he can “chase” the other kids around. I support him by holding him under his arms and then he lifts his feet and off we go. Jesse wears AFOs to use his stander every day. He really enjoys this time and rarely fusses while he stands. He has a musical light up toy that he likes to use during this time and he is quick to fuss if one of the other kids tries to take it. He also goes to physical therapy four days a week where he works hard on continuing to develop his skills. Jesse still wears a diaper, but he is working on potty training and sits on his modified potty every evening before bath time. He will usually use it and always smiles proudly when we praise him for this. Jesse eats well, with mostly pureed food, although he also likes to eat things like crackers or cookies. He does not self-feed, but if we give him the spoon to hold, he works hard to bring it to his mouth. Jesse drinks from a sippy cup and a water bottle with a straw – he especially loves milk and juice, but nothing too cold!

Jesse enjoys spending time being pushed in a supportive swing and fusses when it is time to get out. He also likes watching movies and going for walks in our stroller. Jesse enjoys story time and holding his baby doll or stuffed lamb. He is an amazing little guy who will definitely be a huge blessing to his family!

Meet Jasmine!  Jasmine is an adorable 5 year old born in 2016.  Jasmine has a happy disposition and loves to laugh! She is not shy and likes to interact and play with others. One of Jasmine’s favorite activities is spending time and playing with her favorite cousin, who is the same age as her. Jasmine also has a close bond with her foster parents and has an affectionate relationship with them. Jasmine has a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis with global delays. She attends occupational therapy and hydrotherapy once a week. Over the course of her therapies, she has made improvements with her mobility and can walk by herself. At home, Jasmine’s foster mother has her practice walking up and down stairs and using a kick scooter to continue with her exercises. Jasmine is currently in pre-kindergarten, and one of her major accomplishments was to memorize 1-30, and she can recite these numbers when quizzed! Jasmine’s speech skills have also improved throughout the school year, and she spontaneously requested a “glittery pair of shoes” recently. She has waited long enough. Could she be your child?

Additional photos and videos available from the agency.

Billy is described as having an affectionate bond with his caregivers and those around him. He smiles easily and often when shown affection or cared for, and loves to be held. He babbles and needs help walking. Billy is not yet two and imitates and interacts with others, shows initiative in walking, manages to hold more than one object at a time, grasps small objects and expresses pleasure in contact with different textures, he is learning to put figures in their corresponding place, however, with help they can carry out this activity. On the other hand, he is responsive when asked to hand over a toy, and is cooperative when dressed and fed. He likes to play with other children, interacts with adults, shows a social smile and is interested in having stories read to him.

Billy is alert and recognizes when he is called by name, maintains adequate periods of attention to different types of stimuli, both visual, tactile and auditory, and monitors them, responding assertively to environmental demands.

Although Billy is behind developmentally, he has and is making strides in his overall development. Billy is alert to his environment and recognizes facial features appropriately in terms of modo, and he cries or smiles appropriately. He recognizes things that bring his discomfort such as wet diaper, being hungry or tired, or  an injury, and responds appropriately.

He has diagnosis of Imperforate Anus, neurodevelopmental disorder and intellectual disability as evidenced in his intellectual and developmental delays. He has had previous urinary tract infections caused by E. Coli and Klebsiella Pneumonia, Imperforate Anus, possible Trigonocephaly, trend to microcephaly, may have other associated conditions.

Update 2022: He had surgery to repair his imperfect anus and his colostomy removed. Surgery was successful and he is eating and eliminating well. We also now have a brief video of Billy.

Pictures available from the agency — he is DARLING!!

Atlas has a diagnosis of Down syndrome, is not under medical treatment, has diseases typical of the climate, no history of infectious diseases.

He currently receives early care through physical and language therapy. He responds favorably to stimuli and interaction with its environment, responds with babbling, remains only standing. It is important to continue providing multidisciplinary care by the area of physical, occupational and language therapy for his proper development.

January 2022 Update: The first word that is always used to describe Zack is “naughty”, which in his country is said with love, meaning charming and funny. He is a social butterfly and adores 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. He also sits on his balcony and shouts “hello” down to the people walking on the street. 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. Zack loves fashion and really enjoys picking out his outfits. He makes the female staff giggle when he compliments their clothes or jewelry.

In classes Zack has learned all his colours and shapes and identifies many objects in English. He is working on identifying his 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 favorite sensory play is with shaving cream.

Zack is able to propel himself in his wheelchair. Zack speaks well in his first language and knows a lot of English as well. He speaks enough that he often translates between the languages for his caregiver. He moves around the home by scooting on his bottom. His core strength has improved and he is learning to balance on all fours. He is now working on rocking and crawling on all fours. It can be challenging for him to hold the weight of his head in this position but he’s very motivated. He is also practicing standing using orthotics.

Zack often asks about his future family. Many of his friends have been adopted and he longs for a family too. His favourite song is Daddy Finger and he asks so many questions about the different members of a family.

He is calm and communicates with other adults and children. He can follow people with his eyes, smiles and likes when someone talks to him. His development is in delay. He has no teeth yet, does not sit independently and has little interest in any activities and toys or social games at this time.

$1,120.00 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

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.

$1,938.10 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Bailey is a beautiful little girl! She attends kindergarten. Bailey is potty trained and is beginning to learn other self care skills, but she relies heavily on her caretakers for her daily needs. Bailey also has a congenital heart defect, which was repaired in 2017.

The agency has a video available of Bailey! There is a $2,500 agency grant for Bailey’s adoption with a specific adoption agency.

$10.00 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

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!

5,654.29 has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Johnny is a calm and affectionate boy who is happiest when he gets to play. He likes toys he can drag and building toys especially when they are colorful. He finds it very fun to build little towers and then destroy them. Johnny enjoys spending time with other kids, even though sometimes he might be shy at first. He relates positively to them but prefers it when they take the lead to talk to him. He is very receptive in his relationship both to kids his age and adults.

Johnny has a diagnosis of Down syndrome with developmental delay, a gastrostomy and thyroid profile within the normal upper limit for his age. He is a little late for his age on his speaking and would do best in a family that can help him work on this. His family must be very loving and work consistently on his development.

Video available.

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.

“Karen” is home!!

He is currently in 6^th grade. He is active physically and likes outdoor activities as playing soccer and biking. He is willing to help and enjoy gardening. He also loves puzzles and is very good with putting together hundreds of pieces. He is a polite and open boy. He knows what adoption means and very much wants to be adopted. He is dreaming about a family!!

He doesn’t take any medications.

Update August 2019: Maddie is such a sweet girl with an easy going personality. She has spastic cerebral palsy and microcephaly. Maddie prefers to keep her head tilted to one side, but has made a lot of progress in her ability to move it to look the other way. She tends to be very stiff but does great at tummy time and will lift her head up to look around. Maddie also loves to be held and can easily be soothed when you pick her up for some cuddles. Maddie does have a lot of muscle spasms, but we do not think this is seizure activity. Maddie takes a muscle relaxer medicine which seems to help her a lot.

Despite her delays, Maddie is very observant of her environment; she can often be seen looking at those around her and she has gotten good at tracking people and objects with her eyes. Maddie cannot yet sit on her own, but can sit supported on a chair or a bench with a little help in the right places. She attends therapy three days a week for stretching, exercises, and stander time. Sometimes she loves it and sometimes she hates it. Maddie is an easy going girl, except sometimes at meal time when she does not want to eat, but she will gobble down anything that has peanut butter in it. She smiles so big when we sing songs and will make herself known if she doesn’t get to see the pictures when we are reading books.

In December 2018 Maddie got a g-tube. She still eats blended food by mouth the same as she used to, but we use her g-tube to ensure she gets enough liquids and consumes all of her medicine. By mouth she has trouble swallowing thin liquids. Maddie is a petite girl, but has had a good growth spurt in the last year. Although Maddie does not talk, she knows how to communicate. She will smile when happy and will cry to alert discomfort or hunger. She has been working hard in school to learn so many things. Maddie can read and spell almost any one syllable word and her name. Every single week last year she came home from school with a 5/5 on her spelling test. She knows opposites, what happened next, and basic addition and subtraction as well. To show off these skills she uses magnetic letters on a magnetic board and will choose the next letter with her hand. Maddie also likes to use her yes/no board for simple questions and being able to be given choices like what movie she wants to watch that day. Maddie is so smart. With access to more communication devices she will tell great stories.

Maddie knows who her people are and prefers them over anyone else. She loves kisses and will instantly return the favor with a big smile. Sometimes when she really gets going she will let out a belly laugh that forces you to laugh as well.

Nora lived with her birth family until she was 3 years old. She was removed due to neglect and placed with a foster family. She lived there for 2 years. The foster family did not want to raise a child with disabilities, so Nora was moved into a group home. Nora likes listening to children’s songs and singing, watching TV, cartoons, playing with a ball and with dolls. During the summer, she loves playing on the swing. Nora walks independently while swinging her left leg.

Her fine motor skills are underdeveloped; she has not formed skills for writing. She has a poor grip in the left hand. She recognizes parts of her body – hands, nose, ears. She recognizes her reflection in a mirror. She interacts appropriately with both children and staff in the group home. She enjoys talking and speaks freely in conversation with the other children. She follows directions and can answer questions, though she often just smiles when asked a question (which may be because she doesn’t understand the question or doesn’t know the answer).

Photos and videos from March 2022 are available through the agency.

This active and affectionate little boy came into care at approximately two months old. He is said to have an easy smile and enjoys joking with his caregivers. He especially likes being cuddled, hugged, and being held before bedtime. His caregivers report that he often explores objects placed around him and finds hidden things well. Despite some developmental delays he is progressing; he sits unsupported, crawls, pulls to stand, throws a ball, knows his name, babbles, and keeps good eye contact. This little guy needs a loving family who is knowledge of his special needs who can provide an excellent access to medical care and special education.

Raymond is an adorable little guy with cerebral palsy in desperate need of a family who can provide better for his needs. He has so much potential but none of it is available to him due to his current living situation and lack of appropriate resources. Raymond follows simple commands such as “laugh”, “sing”, or “stick out your tongue”. He can stack three blocks and likes to play with toys where he can put smaller objects into larger ones. He is working with a therapist to learn to use a walker. He reacts with a smile to adults who are well known to him. He can babble and imitate animal sounds. Raymond likes to interact with other children and to play simple games. He chews his food well when he’s spoon fed and he drinks from a special bottle. Raymond has lived with the same foster parents since he was a month old. It is not clear from his documents the extent of his visual loss which may be complete or partial.

 

Kellan is a seriously adorable little boy, born in June of 2015 and diagnosed with congenital heart disease and down syndrome. He is monitored by a children’s hospital cardiologist and regularly takes his maintenance medications for his heart condition. Kellan loves to cuddle and though he doesn’t mind playing alone, he does have a special friend he likes to play with. He laughs when tickled and when being entertained. Kellan can grab toys, sit, and stand while pushing a walker. He sways his body when he hears music and will turn his head when his name is called. Kellan regularly smiles and loves to wave goodbye and blow kisses. He can babble two syllable words. Though you can’t see his pictures publicly, take our word for it- Kellan is one cute little boy! *

Photos and video are available for seriously interested families. Kellan is from a small Asian country. Per his country’s regulations, pictures and videos can only be shared with seriously interested families directly and are not allowed to be shared publicly. Kellan’s file is listed with multiple agencies with a sending program from this country and approval is dependent on the head of adoption in this particular country. There is a $2,500 agency grant for Kellan’s adoption with his current adoption agency.

Josiah can walk, kick and throw a ball, climb steps without support and drive a toy riding car. His fine motor skills are developing. He can manipulate toys and is beginning to work puzzle and make shapes on paper. He can identify his colors and basic shapes. He initiates contact with other children and plays well in a group. He follows verbal directions and responds to his name. He can speak using simple words and is starting to put words together to make simple sentences. He participates in organized small group activities. He loves to dance and will mimic dance moves/hand motions that go along with specific songs. He feeds himself. He can get undressed by himself, but still needs some assistance with getting dressed. He gets tired quickly, as a result of his heart condition. Josiah had his most recent heart procedure in March 2021. He is on a low fat diet and takes several daily medications for his heart condition.

Vaughn is a beautiful boy who has many interests. He likes to dance, listen to music, and play the maracas and drums. He also likes to look at books. Vaughn relates well with his peers. He recognizes and respects authority figures. Vaughn participates in many activities. During his free time, he likes to play with a ball on the court and run.

VIDEO:  https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-vaughn1
Password:  Adoptmaa

There is a $1,500 agency fee reduction for Vaughn’s adoption with a specific agency.

Lisa is a happy and sociable little girl. She enjoys meeting new people and interacts with them appropriately. She responds to her name and verbalizes using sounds and syllables. She follows basic directions. Her motor skills are developing. Videos of Lisa show her playing with a ball and manipulating it appropriately. She currently moves around by crawling. She can take steps when holding 2 hands of an adult and can also move using a walker. She is receiving therapy to help develop her motor skills.

Photos and videos are available through the agency.