Other Special Needs Boys, 6-9

Isaac is a sweet little boy living in an Eastern Europe orphanage. He cannot sit without support or turn between his stomach and back. There is little support in the legs. Isaac doesn’t have an attention span and doesn’t focus on his surroundings. He reacts to touch but doesn’t when verbally addressed. He doesn’t understand speech but sometimes makes sounds. Isaac is mostly calm and smiles. He doesn’t interact with the children and adults around him.

There is little reaction with toys and no playing when in his possession. Isaac is completely dependent on the help of the staff.

Condition after a brain hemorrhage. Cyst in the left cerebral hemisphere. Microcephaly. Spastic quadriparesis. Cryptorchidism. Anemic syndrome. Behind in his neuro-psychical development. When put on his belly or held, he keeps his head up. He slightly turns to one side but doesn’t turn independently from back to stomach and vice versa. He doesn’t try to sit up and doesn’t get up to a standing position. He doesn’t have good support in his legs. He starts after loud sound but doesn’t turn his head to the direction of the sound. He listens to the speech of adults. He doesn’t look at an adult leaning over him. He doesn’t follow with a look moving objects or people. He reacts to touch. He is calm and doesn’t cry without reason. He reacts positively to interactions and laughs loud. Photos and videos from June 2015 are available through the agency.

Josiah moves in space by turning from back to belly and vice versa. He has started forming some of the perceptions about objects from his constant surroundings and everyday life. He connects some objects from his surroundings with the actions performed with them.

When awake, Josiah is mostly calm. He would laugh out loud when jested. During active interactions with adults Josiah pronounces various sounds and random syllables. Josiah follows a specific dietary regime and has food individually prepared for him. He is fed with a spoon by an adult and has a picky appetite. He is calm during dressing and bathing. Josiah’s sleep is calm.

Julian enjoys playing with toys. He is well attached to his caregivers and responds to them when they talk to him. When he is happy, he responds by making noises and clapping his hands. His report indicates that when held by the hands, he will take steps.

Update Jan 2020:

Julian sits on his own while supporting his weight on his hands. He uses his hands to change his posture and move his body. He stands in the walker. He actively grabs and manipulates toys and objects, tries to use them as intended – shakes to produce sound, pulls the string of a musical toy. Visual-motor coordination is slightly impaired.

Scotty has little support from his legs. His head control has improved and he can turn from his back to his belly. He sits independently by holding on to the bars of his crib and also makes attempts to stand up. Scotty can hold toys in his hands and tries to clap! He maintains eye contact and recognizes the faces of his caregivers. Scotty expresses appropriate emotions to happiness and agitation and will laugh out loud when teases. He imitates and pronounces combinations of sounds and syllables. Scotty interacts with all children and caregivers. He likes music and toys. Scotty is fed by a spoon and receives additional nutrition from a bottle.

The child is calm and rarely cries when he’s upset or protests. Single demonstrations of stereotypical shaking of the head right-left have been observed. He reacts with cheer and liveliness to the presence of familiar adults and accepts their presence and contact; he smiles to tender speech and laughs loud to teases. He likes close physical contact. He is distanced with strangers and is distrustful with them not showing activity in play interactions. His attention is difficult to attract and keep. He has support in his legs. His motor development is at the level turning from back to stomach and vice versa and moving by crawling. He is steady in the walker and makes attempts to move around in it. His grip is palmar and he manipulates for long time with toys put in proximity, with alternation of the hands. He picks up a toy put in proximity, makes attempts to evoke sounds from it or puts it in his mouth. Currently, he plays with toys manipulating with them for a long time. He rarely pronounces syllables or other combinations of sounds.

He readily enters into play interactions with adults. He spontaneously pronounces syllables and other combinations of sounds. He eats well, with appetite. While bathed, he’s calm. His sleep is calm and long. He sucks his thumb while sleeping. He eats blended food from a spoon.

Ashford enjoys the presence of adults and emotionally expresses himself with laughter, crying and sounds. He laughs when tickled and smiles when he sees familiar faces. Ashford is unable to sit, stand, nor does he have head control. He prefers to be on his stomach. He does not have coordinated movement of his arms or legs and has little ability to hold a toy. Ashford’s diagnosis is Microcephaly. He was born prematurely and received intervention at the hospital at birth. Some history of convulsions, controlled with medication. Suspicion of left nasal atresia.

Archer is living in an Eastern European baby home. Short, smiling and calm, Archer’s main diagnosis is atypical childhood autism. He does not speak, but he pronounces sounds and syllables, and he performs stereotypical movements. Archer loves to be alone, and her prefers angles, areas near the window, mirror or door.

Physically well-developed, Archer’s height and weight are normal for his age. He walks by himself, improving his balance. He also climbs, going up and down stairs held by a hand. He can easily open doors.

Archer eats with a spoon, drinks from a cup and goes to sleep by himself. He is not potty trained. Archer makes short-term contacts with the children he knows by touching them with a hand or pulling their clothes gently. He prefers to play with music toys that have buttons, which he pushes to release the music by himself.

Anthony is an adorable, sweet 1 year old! Anthony has a lack of development physically and neurologically. In late 2015, a ventriculoperiteneal shunt was placed and he has been free of seizures since then. He cannot sit upright by himself and does not talk, but responds to sound. Anthony is tube fed due to lack of suck reflex. He does not react well to teasing or tactile stimulation by smiling but by irritation and crying.

Aidan has delays in his psychomotor development. He has a potential and if he receives special cares, he will be able to achieve progress. His interactions with others are on an elementary level. The child feels calm in the presence of familiar adults. He is curious and walks around in his walker reaching for different items. The toys which stimulate his tactile sensors are more interesting for him than other toys and items, for example children’s books

Titus has a congenital cardiac malformation, specifically an intra pericardial septal defect with volume loading of right cavities. He has also been diagnosed with atactic cerebral palsy and a moderate mental delay. Titus enjoys holding toys and reaches for a toy if it is out in front of him. He is able to sit without support and stand up with support. He smiles and waves his arms and legs when excited and expresses excitement when he hears sounds he likes. Titus enjoys listening to children’s songs.

Bennett is a very social child. Whenever he sees his friends, he eagerly greets them with a smile, a hug, and a “Happy Birthday!” He had hydrocephalus as an infant that was treated with a VP shunt. The shunt was later removed but he still has macrocephaly. He does have a history of seizures which are very well controlled by medication. He receives physical therapy twice a week and has made tremendous progress over the past several years.

He is fully mobile, can feed himself, and go to the bathroom independently. Bennett wears a helmet to protect his head. He has become fond of his helmet though because he can show off his headstand. You will often find him enjoying jumping on the trampoline, playing on the playground or going on a walk. He needs redirection often because he is always on the move. Although he is generally happy, he can get frustrated when people do not do what he wants to do or if he is being asked to do something he is not ready for.

Bennett’s favorite part of school is circle time because he likes to sing songs and answer ALL the questions even if his answer has nothing to do with what was asked. He understands and speaks English as well as his native language. He is known for reciting the four seasons in English quite well. At home, he loves to ask other people to dance and sing with him too. Bennett loves to make people smile!

Landon is an amazing boy who came to a special home for the Blind in December of 2016. Landon had made so much progress with consistent love and care, but then he was recalled to his orphanage. When they took him back to his orphanage, they didn’t even have a bed for him. Staff went back the next day and donated his bed from their care center. They also recently visited him in the orphanage and reported: “It’s clear the staff is doing their best, but is very overwhelmed. In his room there are 9 children with just one nanny caring for them and one toy to share. When we first saw Landon, he was very distant and refused to even say our names. Even with his new nannies, he was much quieter and cold than he usually was … I can only imagine what’s going on in his little mind. I held him in my arms and sang to him and, even though he refused to sing songs that we used to sing together, he seemed calm and happy. We played for a while and when I gave him a piggy back ride, our old Landon came back to us. He was calling out “go” and “faster” in English and was calling our names again, with a big smile on his face. Leaving him hurt, especially because he started asking to go home with us. Landon needs the love and support of a family now more than ever.”

When Landon first arrived at the home, he struggled with transitions and always demanded to be held. However, he was able to work with a wonderful occupational therapist that helped him and he made great improvements. He still loves hugs, to snuggle, and is the biggest fan of piggy back rides! He especially loves singing and enjoys singing English songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “BINGO.” He was in an English immersion classroom and has a strong foundation in English to express himself. Thanks to having American volunteers providing an English immersion environment, he can say the days of the week, say left or right, use manners, and express his basic needs in English. His file lists him to have nystagmus and esotropia. Landon is blind. He had been making big improvements in his orientation and mobility classes. He had also been making wonderful progress with his cane. Make sure to watch his videos and see him speak English and use his cane skills! Landon finds music to be very soothing. He loves when you sing to him while holding him in your arms and when you run your hands through his hair. You can feel how much he just wants to be loved!

MANY additional photos and MANY videos available!

Kenny recently turned two years old. When he was about 4 months old, he was left at a safe haven drop spot at the local orphanage. Kenny has a heart defect (patent foramen ovale) but it is reported to be closing on its own and it’s thought that it will not require surgery. He may have bronchopulmonary dysplasia (abnormal development of lung tissue) which affects premature babies, who are born with underdeveloped lungs. [According to the internet, many babies diagnosed with BPD will recover close to normal lung function, but this takes time. Scarred, stiffened lung tissue will always not work as well as it should. But as infants with BPD grow, new healthy lung tissue can form and grow, and might eventually take over much of the work of breathing for damaged lung tissue.] Kenny received treatment for BPD in March, 2014 and now his condition is improved, with decreased incidents of shortness of breath.

Recently, the orphanage’s physical therapy team has been working on the right side of his body, which seems a little weaker than the left. He is not able to hold things in his right hand. Kenny’s mental development is age appropriate. His physical development is good – he can crawl, sit, and walk holding on. Kenny is very attached to his nannies and loves to play with the 10 children in his room. Can Kenny be the son you’ve been searching for?

Nathan’s spine is slightly lateral bending, but this does not affect his walking ability; he can hold the railing to go upstairs and downstairs; sometimes he can jump in place with both feet; can trot to chase us or toys; can also understand our orders to put the toys to appointed place. If there are new toys he will he happy to point them to us, and show us how to get toys disassembly and assembly; after he gets the toys disassembly and assembly he then hand us to look at his works. We will thumbs up and praise him, then he will laugh more happily. When we teach him to do new playing methods, he will play after watching once.

Nathan has a good memory. He is good at observing, and he is curious about new things. He likes to be noisy, and he likes to play with us, likes to play outdoors; not afraid of strangers; not afraid of dogs, seeing dogs he will follow dogs to walk. He also likes to watch artist programs, and ball games. Every time he will watch carefully. Sometimes he can imitate us to dance, and he can dance well.

He is curious about new things, and has a strong imitation ability; but he doesn’t have a good sense of danger. In this aspect he needs to be supervised. He has his own personality; sometimes he is obstinate. Nathan is lovely, optimistic, and clever.

Charlier is a cute one year old baby boy who was born with hydrocephalus. He was abandoned at the gate of the orphanage at three months old. He received surgery in July 2015. His fine motor skills appear to be on track. Charlier is now able to crawl, but not able to sit up, stand or walk yet. He eats well and babbles. He loves to listen to music and his favorite toy is a drum-shaped rattle. Can Charlier be the son you are looking for?

Rigby is a precious little one who is 22 months old. He came into care when he was about 10 months old…wheezing, and in need of help. After some TLC from the nannies, there was improvement in his health and motor skills. He was still behind his peers, but had become a very engaging and social baby. At 17 months of age, Rigby could roll over, sit with some support, and play with toys. Rigby was not able to crawl or walk at that time. He loves to be around the other kids. The more action, the better! The nannies have noticed he has high muscular tension and uncoordinated movements. There was no formal diagnosis made in his file which had resulted from a thorough exam. Rigby is an active, loving, happy little guy who really needs a family and some good therapy to help him with his gross motor skills. He needs to come home.

The child understands simple words, sometimes the child will follow aunt to speak. Braxton can play in the activity room every day, the child likes playing with other children specially. He likes the blocks especially, but he can not play, so he looks at other children to play blocks, and he likes circle toy. If he wants the toys or other objects, he will shake his arms.

He is shy with strangers. Once he’s familiar with someone, he will move to them, he likes praise, and then accompany him.The child is very clever, sometimes he can help aunt to close the door, knows to call the names of other children who are in the same room with him.

Brant is a cute little boy! He can sit and go from a lying position to a sitting position, but he cannot crawl. He can stand using objects for support. His general development seems somewhat delayed but he interacts and plays with other children. Brant smiles and laughs with those he plays with. He is not able to feed himself or cannot imitate sounds. Brant has still not received treatment for his hydrocephalus, but undergoes sitting and standing exercises. He also has partial hearing loss. We really hope Brant finds a family to love him!

Olaf is an adorable little guy. He has been hospitalized a few times due to heart arrhythmia (it is apparent when he runs a fever), and once with CMV (cytomegalovirus) from which he recovered. Olaf has strabismus (crossed eyes) which should be corrected; either with glasses, or an outpatient surgery.He is growing, and developing well. At 13 months he was crawling and standing with one hand supported. He could stand for long periods of time. Olaf loves toys, and he really loves his nanny! He could imitate words, and his favorite toy was a toy cell phone. (Note to prospective parents – guard your phones!) Olaf is ready to be loved by his own parent(s), and will keep you busy! Are you ready to give this little cutie some warm hugs?

Josh is a cute, very active and extroverted little boy. He has congenital optic atrophy of both eyes but he can still track light. Josh loves to play games with his caretakers and he rarely gets fussy. Josh can crawl around and even go in reverse too! He likes to sit up and play with toy balls that make sound. It he can hear it then he can follow it. Josh understands simple dialogue and can recognize familiar people by their voice. He is sensitive and happy most of the time. Josh likes to suck on his fingers when he gets tired and his favorite thing to do is listen to music.

Jonathan turned two in July. He was abandoned near a garden when he was about three weeks old and has lived in the orphanage ever since. Jonathan was born with a few challenges: a congenital heart defect which was repaired when he was two months old and is thought to be resolved, extra fingers on both hands, a small ear lobe deformity, and torticollis. At 10 months old, he had surgery to reconstruct his larynx and now has a tracheotomy, which is checked every 6 months and hopefully will be removed soon. At 11 months old, he had a feeding tube placed in his stomach (possibly due to the tracheotomy) which will be removed when he’s better able to eat and drink. Jonathan’s left testicle is under-developed. The tracheotomy prevents him from speaking or making any sounds.

Jonathan is described as quiet and shy. He likes listening to music, making others laugh, and playing with toys. He is cruising around his play area and on the verge of walking independently.

Jonathan needs a special family who can see past his current medical issues and help him reach his full potential. Could you be the family for him?

Huxley is introverted, fairly quiet, smart and obedient. He’s shy and doesn’t have great communication yet. He doesn’t like to share with others and he will cry to get attention; if someone grabs his toy, he doesn’t know how to get it back and he only cries there. He has normal sleep and mainly has nutrition porridge.

At the age of 4 and a half, his gross motor ability is increasing, such as riding children’s bike, walking in a line, jumping with one feet and bouncing the ball; he also can help the caretaker to finish simple tasks. His language, understanding and expressions are all increasing; he is able to imitate animal’s sounds and actions.

Simon is a very sweet little boy who currently lives with several older girls and is the last remaining “baby” in his home. He cannot speak, but does communicate through facial expressions and some noises.

A traveling family met Simon and said, “Within the three days we spent at the orphanage, we were able to bond with him to the point he would smile and get excited when he saw us. The older girls told us he can understand what they say to him. He enjoys being held and carried around, but spends most of his day sitting in a baby walker or high chair. He seems very easy going, as we didn’t see him complain about being put in his crib for nap time, etc. The caregivers are working on his motor skills. He can eat with assistance and enjoyed the ice cream we brought! It’s so easy to fall in love with this little boy! We are praying his family sees him soon!”

Simon has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and has had seizures. He takes 30 mg of Phenobarbital once a day. Simon has mild hearing loss of the left ear. Therapy has helped lessen the spasm and Simon can open and close his hands. Simon loves being around people and making faces! When praying before meals, he bows down his head and says “ahh” when everyone says “Amen.” We’re hoping a wonderful loving family comes forward for this special little boy! There is a $500 agency grant for Simon’s adoption with his adoption agency.

Praise is a sweet boy with lots of love to give! His story is sure to touch your heart! He adores his caregivers and has been very responsive to the therapy he has received so far. He has been diagnosed with global developmental delay, but has made great strides in his health and development since his arrival at the baby home. The changes in him are nothing short of praiseworthy! It is clear that with the love of a family and continued therapy, Praise will thrive in life. Could you give this precious boy all the love and care he deserves?