My Family Found Me

Elon walks independently. He feeds himself and cleans up after his meals. He does not talk at this time, but understands what is said to him and follows simple instructions. He responds to his name. He interacts appropriately with adults and with other children. He attends to tasks and works well 1:1 and in a small group.

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

Updated May 2022: Zeek was recently moved from a large orphanage to a small group home, where he’s now receiving more interaction and attention. His language skills have started developing. He can now say several words. He enjoys interacting with staff and responds when he receives attention. He enjoys music.

Saber is a sweet little boy.  His main diagnoses/conditions are:  epilepsy – grand mal seizures. Infantile cerebral palsy – spastic quadriparesis, severe degree; ROP; cataract in the left eye – condition following surgical treatment; brain cysts; hypotrophy; mixed specific disorders of the psychological development; severely impaired general condition, with severe delay in all areas of development. He is fed via nasogastric tube. He needs constant care, active monitoring by a pediatric neurologist, an ophthalmologist and a physiotherapist.

Sweet Saber truly deserves a wonderful family!  He expresses emotional conditions through mimics. He understands when an adult is in the room and he looks for him with his gaze. He smiles when someone speaks to him or when he is jested. He does not interact with other children, but individual attention by an adult brings him pleasure which he expresses through smiling.

Please help us find this smiley little boy his forever family!

Please meet Alden.  He is quite a smiley boy from all his photos we have received.

Alden responds positively to teasing and simple games with an adult. Interactions with him are at the level of simple games. He accepts teasing and shows his enjoyment by perking up and expressing positive emotion. He reacts emotionally when he is around other children.

He does not utter meaningful words.  He has no established habits and skills for self-care. He is fully cared for by staff.  He sleeps and wakes calmly.

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.

5-year-old Julia has made wonderful progress with her speech and developmental delays!

Julia has been diagnosed with autism, speech and developmental delays. Since receiving rehabilitation services at her preschool, she has now met her gross motor skill goals. She has good fine motor skills, including wonderful handwriting for a 5-year-old. Her speech has improved since starting preschool and especially since receiving speech therapy. She can now express her thoughts, wants and needs in complete coherent sentences, and her social skills are improving as well.

Julia was in the same foster home from the time she was 21 months old until September 2024 when her foster mother could no longer care for her due to personal reasons unrelated to Julia. Julia was used to going to respite care and that has helped her ability to settle into her new foster home. She has expressed her care for her new foster mother by telling her “Auntie, I like you very much” and has been able to show affection to the new foster mother. She has also felt able to share her opinions and concerns with the new foster mother such as when she felt the assistant caregiver was not treating her the same as another child.

Symptoms of autism have been mild as Julia is a lovely, cheerful, friendly and talkative child.  She can be stubborn at times. She has a tendency to be repetitive in her play such as writing the numbers 1 to 10 repeatedly. She also shows so egocentrism, as well as a lack of concern for others. For example, during a social worker visit, the foster mother accidentally fell from her chair and Julia did not show any concern about this matter. On the other hand, she reciprocates the love and concern that the foster mother shows her at bedtime. She enjoys playing with her foster mother, and also has a good relationship with her foster father.

Due to the country’s unique child/family matching process, a family with a valid home study for any country can be considered for this child. The agency will need to review the country’s process as well as ensure the home study agency is willing to complete additional paperwork needed by the country. It is important to note the agency does not match children and families in this country, but rather submits a family’s information for consideration if they meet eligibility to be submitted.

Dakota was born into a nuclear family with both parents and two older brothers. Sadly, her family’s history is marked by instability, with frequent relocations between two neighboring countries. Dakota was admitted into protective custody at just two months old along with her brothers due to unsafe conditions and negligence. Due to not having a significant bond with her brothers, who were placed at a different location due to their needs, Dakota is being placed as a single child. She has lived in foster care since coming into care.

Dakota requires significant medical support and monitoring. Her primary diagnosis is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and a genetic test confirmed she is a positive carrier for the condition (chromosomal region xp21.1, DMD gene), similar to her older brothers. This is a progressive muscle-wasting disorder that will require lifelong specialized care; language development disorder. Diana currently receives therapeutic support from a speech therapist.

Despite her medical diagnosis, Dakota has met several key developmental milestones. She is 3 years and 10 months old and has the motor skills to move independently. She can grab objects, dress herself, and use pencils or crayons without difficulty. She experiences some difficulties with language, particularly in completing simple sentences and expressing complex words. She is actively working on this in speech therapy. She is largely independent in her self-care routines. She can dress, undress, and use the bathroom correctly on her own but may need occasional help. Dakota attends a Child Development Center five days a week. She enjoys school and participates in all activities without difficulty, maintaining good relationships with her peers and teachers.

Dakota is an expressive and engaging little girl with a sweet personality. She is described as a tender, affectionate, and expressive child who enjoys both giving and receiving affection. She is generally happy and cries only when situations are genuinely uncomfortable or sad. She can experience jealousy with authority figures when their attention is shared with other children, which is typical for her age. Diana is sensitive, attentive, and empathetic toward other people. She shows age-appropriate autonomy and independence but still benefits from guidance in certain areas.

Dakota has a vibrant personality and a variety of interests that bring her joy. She enjoys group activities and is known for being collaborative. She has a great imagination and loves role-playing games, particularly pretending to be a doctor, mother, or teacher. She also enjoys playing with dolls, cooking sets, and building blocks. Dakota loves to draw, color, and work with play-doh. She has an established routine that includes school, playtime, and rest, which helps her thrive.

Dario is a sweet and gentle two-year-old boy who greets the world with a warm, kind smile. He’s actively exploring his environment including walking and standing while holding onto support, turning over in bed, and sitting up on his own. Dario’s curiosity shines through as he uses a palm grip to explore objects, bringing them to his mouth to learn more about their textures and shapes.

Beyond his physical achievements, Dario is a bright and engaging little boy. He’s communicative, actively seeking attention and focusing intently on things that pique his interest. His memory is impressive, especially for the location of objects, and he readily connects people and items with his past experiences. Dario loves to play and interact, showing his joy with smiles and laughter, and he uses sounds and gestures to connect with those around him.

Suvi came into care at the age of 2 years old when she was found to be severely malnourished in her remote village where she had no access to medical care. It was determined that Suvi suffers from a rare condition known as Cutis Lax, which is a group of conditions that result in loose connective tissue including muscles, joints, skin and other organs. Children with this condition appear to be prematurely aged as Suvi does. To learn more, visit the National Organization for Rare Disorders informational page on Curtis Lax. She is not currently on any medications. She sees the several specialists, and it is known that Suvi will need surgeries in the future on her spine.

Suvi is a calm child who lives with a foster mother that has fostered children with disabilities for many years. She attends a special school and has made progress since starting there. While she does do her school work, it is not with much academic skill and her teacher believes she will not make cognitive progress in learning and memory. Suvi’s foster mother reports she is obedient, affectionate, more autonomous, knows where her belongings are and is concerned about her self-care. While she is autonomous in some ways, she is dependent in others. For example, she wears diapers as it is not expected she will ever be able to use the restroom on her own, and while her motor skills have improved to the point she can walk (with difficulty) and crawl, she uses a wheelchair for long trips. She can take off and put on her shoes and clothes with assistance, washing herself in the bath, as well as some other tasks. Suvi does not have verbal language, though her foster mother reports she says things such as “I love you” and “thank you” though she would not speak for an assessment. However, she is able to express her emotions and needs to those who care for her. She is said to have many friends at her school and interacts favorably with others.

Suvi is a girly girl who loves having flowers and other accessories in her hair. When her hair is combed, she smiles. She loves pink and purple clothing, and enjoys playing with her baby doll she has named Baby. She enjoys playing with Barbie dolls, paint, dance and sing, watch Bluey, eat ice cream, and listen to music. Suvi needs a two-parent family who can commit the time and attention she needs to help her develop to her optimal abilities and who can ensure she receives the ongoing medical care she requires.

Down syndrome. Condition after surgical correction of a persistent ductus arteriosus. Convergent strabismus. Atopic dermatitis. Severe mental retardation

Fletcher’s speech was undeveloped but since last report it has been tremendously improved. He is able to establish and maintain a conversation and ask questions. His caregivers described him as a curios child who is interested exploring his surrounding and seeking contact with kids and adults. He is calm, cheerful and polite boy with pleasant manners. He loves to cuddle and demonstrates the ability to bond.

The baby sits longer without support but is not yet fully independent. He has learnt to crawl when placed on a soft surface, he successfully crawls around the room, reaching toys or objects that interest him. He holds toys firmly in his hands, passes them from one hand to the other, explores them curiously, and tries to grasp them with two fingers: thumb and forefinger. Examines toys closely, touches them for a long time and explores them. When he sees a toy with his eyes, he reaches for it with his hands. He has become interested in mirrors: he picks them up, examines them and makes different sounds as if he were talking. Recognizes the caregiver: if picked up by another person, the baby looks for the caregiver with its eyes. Reacts to people close to him/her, smiles at them, expresses emotions: if he/she does not like someone, he/she shows dissatisfaction or gets angry. Recently, he has started to make more sounds, clearly repeating the syllables “ba ba ba”, “ma ma ma”, “da da da”. The child’s sleep is restful, with no exceptional awakenings. During the day, he smiles a lot, starts to ‘gurgle’ when spoken to, loves to play and watch the toys on the play mat. He spends some time in the swing (bouncer), but this is not his favorite place. He rolls over on his tummy and has a little more difficulty holding his head up, but according to the doctors, he is doing well.

Every morning, he does exercises, which has become a daily ritual that he likes very much. He spends a lot of time outside. The doctor visits him every month and says that he is gaining weight well, he has no developmental delays yet, and he just needs to strengthen his neck muscles to hold his head more strongly. The boy is active, curious, emotional and very social, happy to socialize, explore his surroundings and enjoy his daily discoveries. The diet is becoming more varied every month.

Margo
Polymalformative syndrome: Congenital internal hydrocephalus and brain malformation with atrophy of the cerebral lobes and cerebellum; Implantation of the VPS. Hydronephrosis IIIst. on the right with renal calculus; pyeloplasty. Persistent foramen ovale and arterial duct. Symptomatic epilepsy Grand mal seizures. Spastic quadriparesis. Microcephaly. Severe neuropsychiatric development delay

Gabi
Short bowel syndrome. Abnormalities of absorption after surgery. Small bowel insufficiency. Condition after necrotizing enterocolitis. Condition after surgical intervention – termino-lateral ileo-colic anastomosis. Allergy to cow’s milk protein. Cavernous hemangioma on the right side of the face. Condition after: Prematurity IV degree. Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Retinopathy of prematurity. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Retention in the neuropsychological development. Hypotrophy II degree

Silas has had genetic testing to rule out various genetic conditions. It is believed he has Pfeiffer’s syndrome. More extensive genetic testing that is not currently available in his location is needed to confirm the genetic diagnosis.

He walks independently, runs, climbs and descends stairs with support. He is interested in toys and will reach for them and play with them. His attention span with completing tasks continues to increase. He imitates syllables and words. He follows verbal directions and participates in games with peers. He is familiar with his environment and daily routine and interested in everything happening around him.

He is 1.5 years old with a neurodegenerative disease called Huntington’s. We hope to find a qualified adoptive family to be Scotland parents.

Scotland has a gentle temperment. He lives with a foster family and each morning begins the day by giving a hug and kiss to his foster parents. From there, the day unfolds typically – with all kinds of playing!

Prior to submitting an inquiry to review Scotlands file, we ask you to learn about his genetic disease. The Huntington’s Disease Society of America website can be found here.

Katy is a very intelligent and curious girl.  She loves going to the pool on sunny days.  Her favorite foods are soup and smoothies.

Date of the report: 10/29/2024

Elijah was born to a teenaged mother who tried her very best to take care of him and his medical needs. She moved to a city where he could have daily dialysis and even continued studying in school. However, it became clear to her that she could not provide him with everything he needed, especially given his medical needs. It seems both Eli and his mother went into protective care together and she would take care of him and accompany him to dialysis, with the foster mother caring for him while she continued her schooling. When she graduated, she knew she could not provide for him the way he needed, and she made the hard and selfless decision to allow Eli to be declared adoptable. Eli has no relationship with his biological father and has no siblings in care.

Elijah thrived in the specialized institutional setting where he received round-the-clock medical care and developmental support during the time his kidney was failing. There he blossomed into a happy, social, and resilient little boy who formed strong, loving bonds with his caregivers. During the time he was receiving dialysis at the institutional setting, he received peritoneal dialysis during the night so that he could be a normal of a child as possible during the day. Even during his illness, Elijah was meeting most of his age-appropriate milestones at the time of this report when he had just turned 3: He walked independently, was learning to run, and had a blossoming vocabulary; he formed simple sentences, communicated his needs, and loved to learn new words. He was receiving ongoing support from a team of therapists (occupational, physical, speech) who helped him make incredible progress.

Elijah is a social butterfly! He is described as loving, expressive, intelligent, and active. He easily forms strong bonds and shows his affection through hugs and kisses. He has a great sense of humor and loves to make people smile. While generally happy, he can become frustrated or sad when his favorite people aren’t near, but he is easily comforted and redirected. He is sensitive to loud noises and chaotic environments but feels secure in a calm, structured setting.

Elijah is all about fun and play! He adores playing with cars, balls, and building blocks. He has a passion for music, and his favorite characters include Mickey Mouse and Gallo Bartolito. He enjoys being active, whether it’s going for walks or playing “chase”. He also loves coloring and watching children’s videos. He shows a budding sense of style and has a particular fondness for his shark-themed sandals! Eli loves being around other people, both children and adults. He interacts easily, shares his toys, and has a generous spirit. He is learning to navigate social rules and follow instructions, showing a strong desire to please the adults he trusts. He forms deep attachments and thrives on positive attention and praise.

Elijah is an extraordinary little boy whose medical needs are/were just one part of his story. Could being your son be in the next part of his story?

Lennon is a cheerful, active, and loving child. He always responds with a smile to those who take care of him. He sleeps well at night and takes a nap after lunch. He is a good eater. Some of his favorites are watermelon and beans. He likes to listen, sing, and dance. It is evident that Lennon relates to music. He follows the rhythm with his hands by clapping. dancing, jumping, and singing. He likes to feel the volume of the songs in a regulated way, paying careful attention to the beat. He loves to play with balls, specifically throwing them. He also likes to role play. He likes to feel well-dressed and receive compliments on his fashion.

So many pictures and videos are available for this darling boy, with the agency!  The agency also offers families a reduced fee / grant for families.

Matt, who agency staff met in October of 2022, has a bright smile that is infectious! Matt recognizes animal sounds. He can wash his hands and face by himself. Matt interacts well with his environment, peers, and adults. He adapts well to changes in routines and plays well with his peers. He can play by himself for short time periods. He can focus his attention on different stimuli. Matt has advanced considerably since entering the care of his current care center. He can move his hands spontaneously and hold a pencil correctly. He can move himself with the use of his wheelchair. Matt is right-handed. His speech is well developed, and he can express himself well.

We hope his forever family sees him while he is still so young! Contact the agency to learn more about Matt and his special needs!

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

Ruby, a beautiful 15-month-old girl from a west African country, is waiting for a family to call her own. Ruby has big brown eyes that sparkle with curiosity and an infectious bright spirit. While Ruby was born without legs, her lack of limbs doesn’t define her; instead, it highlights her incredible resilience and an inspiring determination to explore the world around her. She’s a child who will teach you more about strength and joy than you ever thought possible.

Bringing Ruby into your home means opening your hearts to a child who will thrive on love, encouragement, and the opportunity to reach her full potential. She’ll need a family committed to providing her with the specialized care and resources that will allow her to navigate the world with confidence and independence. If you are ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure of parenthood and provide Ruby with the secure and loving home she deserves, we encourage you to learn more about adopting this incredible little girl. Ruby is ready to share her bright spirit and boundless curiosity with a family who will cherish her, just as she is.

Kitt is a 14-month-old baby boy in Asia who needs a family! Despite being born drug addicted with various medical diagnoses, all of his birth conditions resolved with good prognosis. His foster mother has raised concerns of possible seizures previously, but nothing showed on the tests. However, he was hospitalized last month for possible seizures for which he is being monitored. He does have a small Atrial Septal Defect/Patent Foramen Ovale which will require monitoring. In November, it was observed that his developmental condition was catching up and the occupational therapist assigned some exercises to further assist. Kitt is starting to walk unassisted.

Kitt is a cheerful and responsive baby that loves interacting with people when his foster parents are present. He is attached to his foster parents and shows signs of separation anxiety when they are away. His foster parents and their adult daughter dote on Kitt and are very attentive to his needs.

Due to his country’s unique matching process, families with a current home study for any country are able to submit for consideration of Kitt.

Family history: mother with thalassemia minor 

Josie currently lives in a group home. She is very small for her age. She can turn from her back to her stomach. She tracks objects with her eyes and reacts with smiles and positive movements/expressions when an adult interact with her.  

 

Update 9/2024:

From a staff member who visited her: “I see some progress from the last time I visited her in October of 2023.  She can hold the bottle by herself while eating or drinking from it.  She can keep herself upright for quite a long time.  She is trying to say syllables.  The little girl is an extremely gentle, fragile creature who needs lots of love and cuddles (which are definitely in short supply at the moment), activities and the chance to find her forever family.”

Pip has overcome more in her 9 years than many do in a lifetime. Due to circumstances in her family of origin, Pip came into care permanently in 2019 after being reunited with her birth family for almost a year after being in care from the time she was a baby until then. However, it was determined that Pip was again being abused by her family and she was removed from their care.

Despite being born testing positive for methamphetamine and suffering physical abuse, Pip has overcome many of the effects of her life circumstances. For some time, she struggled not only with a diagnosis of global developmental delay (19 months), but also behavioral difficulties that resulted from the emotional turmoil she was experiencing. CHI has two reports on Pip, the first of which gives a lot of detail regarding the behavioral responses to her inner emotional turmoil Pip experienced and the process by which she has worked through them over time. With regard to her developmental delays, by the age of 4, she was on target with regard to fine and motor skills, but behind on language comprehension and expression. However, with continued therapy and starting nursery school, by the time she was six she had achieved normal speech development. Once she was in second grade, it was determined she had learning difficulties in reading and writing with difficulty with attention an behavior control. In light of these difficulties, Pip was assessed and diagnosed with ADHD.

Once the correct medication for her ADHD was determined in September 2024, the difference in Pip’s motivation to learn and ability to stay on task has improved dramatically.  She can now read textbooks and full passages independently when she previously relied on adults for assistance to get through academic tasks. She receives tutoring and with encouragement from the important adults in her life, she is able to complete her homework with confidence. While she used to have trouble sitting still and even remaining in the classroom, this is not longer the case which her school staff members attribute to not only the medication but also a stronger relationship with the new teachers. Additionally, while Pip used to have temper tantrums and even had physical conflict with her classmates, since starting medication, there have been no similar instances. When she has become upset at school, she is better able to cope and calm herself down. It is believed that many of her previous behaviors were related to a lack of confidence in school and her academic abilities, and now that she is gaining confidence in these areas, her behaviors have become positive in nature. In addition, her current caretakers and teachers are careful to explain rules and establish boundaries, while also taking time to explain why these rules exist, and also have established a reward system.

It has been observed that Pip is caring toward other children, often sharing snacks or encouraging them when they are upset. She has also taken the initiative in the group home to care for the younger children and even took it upon herself to walk another child to the bathroom during the night who was afraid of the dark. Her psychosocial team has discussed adoption with Pip. At first she was hesitant due to fears of language barriers and also missing her houseparent and friends, but she has gradually embraced the idea of overseas adoption and has a positive attitude toward it. She welcomes the idea of having caring parents and even siblings to play with. She has expressed how she would imagine it would be with a new mother and father.

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.

Theo follows moving objects with his eyes and turns his head to look at people. When a toy is placed in his hand, he holds it. He is not yet sitting up independently, but enjoys being in a sitting position when staff places him propped up in the corner of his crib. He reacts with laughter and smiles when familiar staff interacts with him.

Monica

She feels safe at the orphanage now and she is open and happy girl. She was shy and withdrawal at first dealing with her childhood trauma and depression. She is a cheerful girl who is loved by her caregivers and peers. Her hobby is horse-riding, and she is passionate about it.

Ross

The boy is calm, polite, and friendly child. His intellectual level is above average according to the testing. He does well in school and only needs help with math occasionally. Soccer is his favorite sport, and he is a part of the local soccer club.

Joey

He is cheerful and obedient child who is very curious about his surroundings. His development is delayed but he is progressing well and becomes independent in everyday situations.

——-

They are healthy and intelligent children. The orphanage director and caregivers couldn’t praise them enough and hope the family will be found for all three of them by the end of this year (2024) and if not, the youngest will be separated from them so he will have a chance of finding family. According to the records, they went to the care in September 2023.  Their biological parents’ home wasn’t a safe place, more likely they witnessed their parents’ bad behavior, unhealthy environment and bad choices. There is a strong bond between these siblings, and they want to be together and have a forever family who will love and support them.

Perri May’s lip has been surgically repaired, but she still needs surgery on her palate. She is also missing two toes, which does not impede her ability to walk. She is in first grade in school.

Mary Anne walks, talks and does well in school.

The agency has photos and a video of her.

Jocelyn is missing both of her arms, but that does not stop her! She loves to paint and makes beautiful paintings by using her toes! She has gifted her artwork to the Ambassador from France and other government officials in her country.

While her country does not allow photos to be shared publicly, the agency does have photos and videos of Jocelyn to share with qualified families.

Grana is missing both of her upper limbs. She does not have any known cognitive delays.

The agency has photos and a video of Grana. In the video, she is talking and singing.

Updated bio from Feb 2023:
Robert is much more easy going and independent now. He’s made a lot of progress in the last couple of years! He’s honestly such a happy boy who loves people, hugs, and music. He’s quite good at taking selfies on cell phones too.

He loves to play on his own, not in a way that he doesn’t play with others but meaning he doesn’t need someone to entertain him. He builds with magnetic tiles and enjoys creative play with his dolls/stuffed animals. Sometimes he sets up his stuffed animals and babies to pretend to feed them or do school. Other nights he’s hanging his sheet across the room to make a hammock swing. He makes his foster family laugh a lot!

He’s independent with getting dressed, showering, changing his sheets and etc. Occasionally, accidents at night but they are few and far between. He eats and drinks on his own but he doesn’t chew well. He could use OT for this.

He is such a kind helper and aware of routines or tasks needing to be done. For example, if his foster mom is getting another child ready, without prompting, he will go get clothes and socks/shoes for them too.

He LOVES his big bike! 3 years ago he was scared of a bike but now he rides around on his 24inch bike, no problem! He enjoys jumping on the trampoline and going on walks. He is still drawn to trees and shadows for sensory input.

He may cross his arms and refuse to cooperate. Sometimes shakes his head or cries. This used to happen frequently but it is not frequent anymore. We can work through it much easier now though. He mostly does it when he is trying to express something he needs/wants or doesn’t want. So he is using it to try to communicate where his speech is limited. He makes noises or talks with the handful of phrases he can say. He is learning to expand his vocabulary.

His natural response used to be to run when he was scared but very rarely does he do that now too. For example, medical appointments were always difficult for him, needing days to prepare ahead. Now he is fine to go and doesn’t need much prepping.

He’s such a joy to live with and he would flourish even more in a family!

School update: Robert loves school! He is such a fun student to have because he is excited about everything he does, and other kids too. He is constantly cheering for himself or for his friends and wanting to help them out in any way! He has transitioned to a full day of school easily.

He is very good at sorting. He can match or sort any colors, letters, and numbers. He has delays but we are continuing to work with him. He likes sensory play like kinetic sand, shaving cream, and water beads.

He has so much potential to learn so many things if he were to have access to more services!

Update June 2024: Lollie is the sweetest, most easy going teenager ever! She has been waiting for a forever family since she was a baby. She would thrive in either a big family or small one. She loves swimming, going for walks and bike rides, cuddles, and getting her hair and nails done. We have yet to find anything that she doesn’t like! She recently got a g-tube which has improved her quality of life greatly. She can eat safely and enjoys eating, but benefits from the extra calories and hydration. Although she has a dislocated hip and gets pressure sores easily, she is a very courageous little girl and is almost always smiling or happy. Her happy noises can be heard from a long way off and her smile is very contagious. She has CP, CVI, and epilepsy well controlled with medication. Her teachers say that they see her responding more to the sensory activities that she does in school. Videos on request.

Update October 2022: Lollie is a sweet, easy going 11 year old that has been waiting for a family since she was a baby. She has CP, CVI, and epilepsy well controlled with medication. She doesn’t have purposeful movement in her body and it is very difficult to know exactly how much she can see so it is very difficult to tell exactly how much she understands. She has preferences of what she likes to do, but doesn’t really ever get upset or cry unless she is in pain. Her favorite things to do are sensory input activities like going for walks and in a bike trailer on bumpy roads, and using the sensory materials at school. In therapy she is working on range of motion and other stretches to help her muscles be less tight. Recently her contractures have gotten a lot worse and she has had some other skeletal issues like a dislocated hip, and getting pressure sores a lot easier. She is a joy to be around and is loved by all her caregivers! She would thrive in a family! Lollie has videos on request.

Updated August 2019: Lollie is a sweet girl who is almost always happy. She is adored by everyone she meets, and has been the favorite in our house since she arrived! Her favorite thing to do is go for walks and car rides on bumpy roads. When she is happy her laugh can be heard from quite a long way off! The only thing that makes her mad is standing in her stander at therapy. Her nannies love to dress her up and fix her hair. She has a vision impairment, and does not have a lot of purposeful movement.

In school she is working on responding to different stimulation and focusing her eyes on one object at a time, and at therapy she is doing range of motion stretches, standing, and several other things.

Nyla was also listed as “Nancy” — their grants have been combined.

 

Nyla resides in a professional foster family.

She has delays in all areas. She shows some autistic activities and interests – playing with rags, alone, with repetitive movements and stereotypes, sniffing and tasting objects. With a high level of dependence and need for support and care at all levels. Served with help from others, fed by an adult, does not use utensils; does not control pelvic tanks, she is afraid of water; lacks autonomy in dressing, eating, toileting.

Per a January 2025 report from the psychologist, in general, the diagnoses which Nyla has are called “working diagnoses” because nothing seems to be solidified. She does not have even autism as a diagnosis, but she shows some signs of it. It seems that a neurologist put the diagnosis for her as delays, however she has not been seen additionally by mental specialists.

In terms of attachment, Nyla reacts to her name only when she hears it from her foster mother. The foster mother shared that since Nyla is very active, she always goes around and touches things, she needs to constantly be looking after her, and that is why she is often put in a play and fold crib where she can stay inside and to limit the possibilities she may harm herself in some way. We observed that Nyla spends a lot of time in that crib doing nothing. She also goes to a daily care center where she has some individual time with specialists such as the speech therapist and psychologist. However, even there we think she just requires a lot of personal attention which the people around her cannot dedicate entirely to her.

Nyla shows curiosity and she also establishes some eye contact, and our psychologist thinks that she may benefit a lot if the therapy she receives is focused on improving her concentration span as she may be able to start learning.  She thinks that her delay is around the lower borders of moderate delay, not severe.

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.

Cory was born premature. He has cerebral palsy, paresis of the limbs, with a predominance of the lower limbs. He moves in a wheelchair, has a vision defect, convergent strabismus, amblyopia, cryptorchidism. Cory moves on his fours or in a wheelchair. The boy tries to be independent – he feeds himself, uses the toilet, gets dressed. He has therapies every day and can walk with adult’s help.

Update 2024: Unfortunately, the siblings were separated; the sister was adopted domestically.

Update April 2024. His health condition is good. The child can be in a straight sitting position and can do a lot of things without help, independently moves around in a wheelchair and independently gets in and out of a wheelchair. He is developmentally delayed, and his motor skills are undeveloped in some areas. His speech is at a good level. He is willing participating in group activities, he interacts well with peers and adults.

Marla was born with a congenital cleft of hard and soft palate, which was surgically corrected at 8 months of age. She has strabismus, which is being corrected with glasses. Her report states, “Atactic cerebral palsy – under discussion”. She is now walking short distances. Her report also states, “An initial diagnosis of moderate mental retardation is not confirmed.”

Marla has made tremendous progress, according to her foster mother. From the foster mother, “Marla distinguishes familiar from unfamiliar people, but is no longer afraid of unfamiliar people. She allows the people who take care of her to hug her; she gives a kiss with her hand to those she likes. She has started to communicate with other children and share her toys with them. However, in general, she is distrustful – she carefully examines every person and everything she does not know. She takes independent steps, stands upright, sits steadily, walks holding hands for a longer time. She is afraid of cars. She loves dogs.”

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

UPDATE August 2022: He pulls to a stand in his crib. He crawls using his arms to drag his lower body (“army crawl”). He has a lot of upper body strength. He participates in group activities. He plays with toys. He pushes the buttons on toys, “dials” a toy phone, etc. He follows simple directions. He says a few simple words. He responds to his name. He enjoys listening to music. He eats from a spoon and drinks from an open cup. He tries very hard to be more mobile, despite his lower paralysis. As a result, he has broken a bone in one of his legs. The staff tries to keep him sitting in a chair where he can see everything going on in the room and participate in activities, without risking further injury to his leg. He interacts with other children sitting around him.

We are excited to introduce siblings Nila and Nikki!

Nila enjoys playing with toys and playing outdoors. Nila is known to be strong willed, not timid, and gets along well with her peers. Nila resides with a foster family and has a close bond with her 8 year old foster brother.

Nila has mild cognitive developmental delays. She is a second grader in elementary school and attends resource classes. Nila attends an afterschool program where she can receive extra assistance with her school work. When asked about her favorite subject in school, Nila stated music class because she loves to sing!

Nikki’s favorite activity is playing games like Red Light, Green Light and Hide-and-Seek! Nikki also enjoys playground slides, drawing, watching cartoons, and anything involving Princess Elsa. Nikki’s foster mother describes her as outgoing and passionate. She isn’t shy and will excitedly approach new people.

Nikki has global delays and suspected ADHD. She attends weekly physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Nikki made notable improvements since starting these therapies. She can identify colors, count to 20, draw pictures, and speak in full sentences. Nikki attends kindergarten and stated she likes school. Each day, Nikki eagerly shares about her day with her foster mother.

Nila and Nikki live in separate foster homes. They have had the opportunity to spend time with each other at events sponsored by their social welfare agency. In a recent outing, the girls spent time together enjoying the sights and activities at a dinosaur theme park! The sisters have a 9 year old brother who was adopted to a family residing in Denmark.

Vaughn, boy, age 8

The boy is charming, smiley, and sensitive child. He is active and likes to play soccer and participate in other activities. He is learning without any problems in school, but his intellectual development is disharmonic according to the testing. He doesn’t have any behavioral problems but would forget about safety sometimes and needs a reminder. He is a popular child who equally enjoys the company of his sisters and other children.

 

Hadley, girl, age 5

The girl can be shy at first but adjusted really well. She is a happy child who eager to participate in the activities and play with her peers. She is potty trained. She enjoys art, music and cooking. The child is seeking contacts with adults.

Madeline, girl, age 9

This girl is open-minded, calm and cheerful child. She doesn’t create any conflicts and her behavior is normal. She can be sad sometimes. There is definitely grief and loss, and she seeks adults’ support and conversation. Her development is up to her age. She adapted well and willingly participated in the activities. She likes to cuddle.

Axel is 5 years old. Gross motor skills are on target for his age. He can walk, run, jump, climb, kick a ball, throw a ball, etc. He is toilet trained. His fine motor skills are well developed. He holds a pencil correctly and is learning to trace and copy objects. He’s right handed. He uses both a spoon and fork when eating. He can nest objects and build towers out of blocks. He knows the names of every day objects and how to use them. He can identify animals, food items, etc. He knows the difference between bigger/smaller, up/down and can follow basic directions. He can identify body parts by pointing to them when asked. He makes eye contact and has age appropriate attention span. He knows children’s songs and memorizes short actions. He can find hidden objects and will walk around the room, point, and identify objects that he’d like to have. He has pretend play skills and will pretend to cook and clean, mimicking actions that he’s seen others do. His expressive speech is delayed. He speaks using single words and short sentences, but the words are often pronounced incorrectly. He is being raised in a bilingual environment and this may be contributing to the delays in expressive language.  He’s described as “curious, social and energetic”. He plays appropriately with toys and gets along well with other children and adults.

Gwen is 2 years old. She runs, climbs and slides down the slide on her own. She can jump with both feet at the same time. Goes up and down stairs without assistance. Kicks a ball by swinging her leg. She flips through the pages of books, sometimes pointing and recognizing the pictures but not naming them. She likes to flick the switches to turn the lights on and off, open the door handles. She has age appropriate attention span and memory skills. Her imagination is developing. She demonstrates age appropriate pretend play skills (feeds a doll and rocks it to sleep). Her language skills are delayed. She says a few single words. She mimics actions and follows simple directions. She responds well to familiar adults and seeks help when needed. She is learning to feed herself.

Silas is 3 years old. Diagnoses: Mild mental disability; considerable behavior disorder requiring care or treatment. Grand Mal seizures (with petit mal seizures or without them), unspecified. Other unspecified seizures: affective-respiratory seizures. Expressive speech disorder.

Silas had affective-respiratory seizures in his infancy (from the age of 2 months he often had seizure states when crying assessed as affective-respiratory ones). He had a fever induced seizure (febrile seizure) while sick when he was a year old. A CT at the time noted “focal paroxysmal activity found on the left side”. Convulex (medication) was prescribed. He has not had any seizures since August 2022. Follow-up testing in March 2024 found “no indications of epileptoform changes of focal or generalized character found in the areas free of artifacts.”

He has age appropriate gross motor skills. He walks, climbs stairs, throws a ball, hops on one foot. His fine motor skills are also well developed for his age. He feeds himself, washes his own hands, can take off his jacket, clothes and shoes,  uses both hands equally, builds towers with blocks, can hold a pencil and draw a sun. He responds to his name, knows the names of familiar people, follows simple directions. He has age appropriate attention span and play skills. He enjoys playing pretend in the toy kitchen. He identifies familiar objects and uses them for their purpose. He can find hidden objects. He has a well-developed imagination. He enjoys listening to music and dancing. His expressive speech is delayed. He can say his name, but some of his expressive speech is hard to understand. He is still using limited single words and not yet communicating in sentences. He says “bye” when leaving and waves his hand. He can name some animals and make the animal sound. His receptive language is very good. He understands everything said to him and follows simple directions. He can show when he wants or does not want something. He attends preschool and is doing very well. The school does not have any concerns with his development nor his behavior. He eats a variety of foods and has a good appetite. He’s toilet trained.

Merl was moved to a group home in late 2022 and began attending school.

He can sit independently and crawls using his upper body. He independently navigate his environment in a wheelchair. Since having the opportunity to attend school, he has begun to process in his development. He is beginning to “catch up” to same age peers in several areas. He talks very well and understands what is said to him. He is described as, “positive, lively, sociable, compassionate, caring, and considerate to others.” He enjoys listening to music. He can navigate a tablet independently. He enjoys being around other children and being outside. He can name his friends and shows empathy toward the children with more severe disabilities that live in the home with him. He seeks out attention from adults. His report notes that he currently lives in two “different worlds”, as he attends school where he is exposed to a stimulating environment full of peers he can converse and interact with, but he resides in a group home where all the other children have much more significant disabilities.

This little boy came into care at two months of age after being born premature and spending time in the hospital. Current testing is showing he has expected cognitive and motor development for his age. He seeks to learn and relate to his environment. He is sociable and communicative and expresses joy and affection. He requires medical attention and monitoring in the areas of cardiology, ophthalmology, and traumatology. This child needs a family so he can reach his full potential. He deserves a family willing to support his physical and ecotonal needs. He deserves to experience permanence, family closeness, security and belonging.

He has a medical diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis and is behind in all areas of development. Gabe was recently placed in a foster home, and the one-on-one attention combined with proper nutrition has helped him make gains in all areas. He is presently non-verbal and does not yet walk independently. Gabe needs a family of his own and access to the therapies that will help him develop to his full potential.

Leighton resides at the foster family since she was 5 months old. She can drink from a cup and learning how to eat without helping by using a fork.

She enjoys playing with toys. She likes to look at the books, especially the sensory books. She can put objects to the box and take them out.

He lives in a center of family type placement for children and youths. He has a diagnosis of Hydrocephalus external, a condition after meningoencephalitis. Accompanying diseases: Transient intolerance to cows milk protein, bronchial asthma with a predominant allergic component.

The child has limited general motor skills. He can sit independently, stands up with a fixed support. He can’t walk independently. Poor support of lower limbs. His fine motor skills are not age appropriate. He can hold a toy which is placed in his hand and moves it in front of his face. The child takes small steps with assistance.

He smiles often. Sometimes sulks for no reason. He catches, picks up toys of different sizes and shapes and manipulates with them. Most of the time he is calm and follows with sight what is happening around him. Reacts to sound stimuli. The child has delay in the neuropsychological development. Lack of language development. The child makes and pronounces sound combinations. He understands verbal instructions given to him. He enjoys speech from an unfamiliar adult, reacting lively and making sounds. Willingly interacts with adults and children. He shows interest and seeks contact with other children and the staff in the center, he touches them and looks at the toys they are holding. He picks up toys and plays with them in his own way. He likes musical toys. He likes to have other children around him. Colin plays independently with an adult. He is not enrolled in an educational institution.

The child does not control his bladder and uses diapers. He needs assistance from the staff in the center in his everyday life. He has a daily routine adequate for his age. He eats with appetite and is gaining weight. He eats five times a day pureed food, he is starting to eat with a spoon. He spends the day in the playroom or other rooms in the Center. He also goes out in the yard and for a walk.

Roric was born prematurely with low birth weight. He resides with a foster family. He has cerebral palsy which mainly affects his legs. He can stand and step to the side but cannot walk independently. He is very attached to his foster parent and is easily comforted by her if upset. His speech is delayed but he knows several words in Turkish and can understand many phrases spoken to him. He tries to eat independently. He works with a psychologist, speech therapist and Montessori specialist to develop speech and cognitive skills. He plays with toys but has difficulty grasping small objects. He likes bath time. He has a good appetite and sleeps well.

 

Update 6/2024

April was born with anal atresia, resulting in a colostomy which was closed in July 2022. She was treated in a rehabilitation clinic last year for an eating disorder, but currently eats and digests normally. She has a good prognosis for bowel function & nutrition. She is slightly developmentally delayed. She does interact with people, smiles, listens when spoken to and respond to staff smiles and speech with sounds. She concentrates not only on people’s faces but also on other parts of the body and their movements.

This sweet child can focus her gaze on pictures and objects in front of her, shifting her gaze from one object to another. She reacts with her whole body to someone she knows by using facial expressions, arm & leg movements, and sounds.

She tries to attract the attention of the staff by smiling, making noises, and moving around. She lays on her stomach and can raise up, keeping her head and chest elevated in addition to rolls from side to side and is able to roll over from her stomach onto her back and vice versa.

When placed in a walker, she can walk a couple of steps, but her favorite activity is bouncing. She concentrates her gaze on pictures, toys, and objects in front of her and she sleeps well at night.

Julia was born prematurely at 34 weeks with Down Syndrome. She is described as calm & seeks human contact. She responds and is interested in her surroundings, sounds, and people. This sweet baby laughs or smiles when her tummy or sides are tickled and responds by cooing when she is spoken to. She always reacts positively when her hair is brushed and listens with interest to stories read to her. She is learning to roll over, sit and hold her head and sleeps well.

She has had atrioventricular septal defect surgery in 8/22 and another heart surgery in 3/23. She may need a repeat operation on her heart and tricuspid valve as she grows. She is monitored by a cardiologist every 3-4 months. She also needs to be monitored for inward deviation of the lower thoracic spine, as surgical intervention may also be needed in the future.

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.

 

Update 2023:

He has a very strong need for communication, is friendly, accepting, happy with all people and very attached to those who reciprocate. His mood is mostly good and he is described as cheerful and positive.  He has lived in a community foster home since 3/21. Jacob spends the day attending nursery school/kindergarten since 3/21. He has become much more independent in kindergarten and is also more active in the group although he usually plays alone. He likes to watch the children and throw toys to make a sound. In kindergarten, he responds to gestures, facial expressions and pictures. He interacts easily with new adults and children. Jacob walks independently, although he cannot coordinate his muscles at will, and keeps his balance when walking. He gets tired if he has to walk more. He is fed by a member of staff at the kindergarten, does not eat on his own, can hold a bottle, cannot yet drink from a cup but is learning to do so. Jacob reacts positively to all children and reacts almost the same way to adults. He received early rehabilitation services from March – August. The rehabilitation was comprehensive: psychological counseling and developmental assessment using DISC methodology, speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, and team discussions on the child’s situation. According to the doctors, the boy is adapting quickly to his new environment, making brief eye contact, smiling, and being active. He makes sounds but does not form words, has difficulty understanding speech and no hearing impairment has been detected. Jacob’s attention span is short and he often throws things. He needs continuous motivation to continue the activities he has started. He walks independently with a wide stance but does not yet climb stairs. His language and motor development is delayed. Jacob is interested in his surroundings and toys and puts everything in his mouth.