Other Special Needs Girls, 10+

Donna desperately needs a mama.

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.

Melany is physically healthy with mild intellectual delays. She is in 7^th grade and has worked with a resource teacher online during the 2020-2021 school year. She is described as shy and introverted, though she communicates freely with familiar people. She enjoys talking about topics that interest her and is very friendly. She has friends at school and at the children’s center where she lives. She states that her dreams are to have a family, finish school and become a teacher. When asked what adoption means, she said, “to have a family, to live forever with these people who take care of you and not to be left alone anymore”.

Regina’s Apert’s syndrome does not prevent this curly-haired little girl from playing, learning, and living an active life! Regina is an intelligent and imaginative child who enjoys dolls, swings, slides – and watermelon! Could she be your daughter?

Regina needs corrective surgery for her hands, feet, and face, to help her be all she can be. A loving family would give Regina a future outside of a bleak institution.

Many additional pictures and videos of Regina are available upon inquiry.

These two sisters must be adopted together! Both girls are very good and friendly.

Gabrielle really needs a family of her own! She will remain bedridden for the rest of her short life if she is not adopted.

Peyton is in the 1st grade and enjoys computers, science and math. She is vocal with her opinion and her frustrations and wants attention from her caregivers. She likes to be different than the other girls in her orphanage and she participates in the orphanage group activities. She likes to save her allowance, loves cats, and enjoys playing ping pong. She is sad when the older girls in the orphanage pick on her. She has been to camp and loved to play in the swimming pool.

Peyton has been in the orphanage her entire life. This unique girl needs a prospective adoptive family with good educational, ESL resources, play therapy and have a good understanding of institutionalization and older child adoption.

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!! Dark brown hair and blue-green eyes. She has severe CP, but had started walking.

Jewell is the victim of parental physical abuse, and suffers from post-traumatic brain injury, which has further complicated her delays and struggles.

Updated medical 8/2015: She has after-effects of severe brain injury (brain bones fracture), subarachnoidal influence in the form of irreversable damage, hemiplegia with microcephaly.

She does have a sister with mild delays whom she can be adopted with or by herself.

VERY URGENT! * blind * beautiful * her health is declining for unknown reasons *

“Meet Kassidy! She is such a beautiful little love. Her health has declined since her last official medical report and she really needs a family. Our team’s PT feels there is a possibility she could improve so much with the love of a family and access to good medical care.”

Report from April 2011:  A pretty great report for a 19 month old, Kassidy is extroverted, active and restless, sometimes she is stubborn. She loves being cuddled by caregivers the most. Since she is smart and lovely, everyone loves her and hopes she could find a family of her own to enjoy a happy and lovely family life facilitating her healthy development. She is smart and is able to crawl, take steps while holding onto handrails, take steps with one hand held, imitate words, and speak 3-5 words. She uses thumbs and index fingers deftly and is able to pick up a pill with her thumbs and index fingers. She is a very cute baby with fair complexion. She is not a picky eater and eats every good we give her, therefore, she has a chubby face. She has a lovely mouth and she often sucks her fingers as if sucking a soother, which is very cute.

Report from November 2016: From an advocate who met Kassidy: “Kassidy did not interact with environment or caregiver to determine personality. Maintained fetal position sleeping. Did move her face and arms in response to cold washcloth on face. We observed no noises. She has low muscle tone, hyporeflexia. No contractures noted. Can’t stand or walk. Appears to be failure to thrive. She overall demonstrates severe delays in all domains. She appears to have declined in general health per report of previous function.”

Cassie is a beautiful little girl! She was found by a family when she was about 7 months old. They took her home and kept her until she was about 17 months old, then took her to the police station. Cassie was found to have cerebral palsy. She had a difficult time at the orphanage when she first arrived. She kept calling for her “neinei” (grandmother) and was inconsolable. After a bit, she warmed to the nannies and the other children. Through therapy, Cassie’s muscles are less tight, and she is able to crawl, sit alone, and can stand with assistance. She can speak (though not as well as her peers), and uses some sign language. Cassie can count, and has a good memory. She likes to sing, and loves to play with dolls! Reading about her progress with therapy at the orphanage, imagine what could happen with formal therapy once she is home! Sweet Cassie is waiting for a family. Please bring her home soon!

Andy (2009), Izzy (2010) & Kayla (2013)

Currently, Andy & Kayla are being raised together in a foster home, while Izzy is being raised in a different foster home in the same town. The children see each other often and want to be adopted together so that they can all live in the same home. The foster families do not speak the country’s native language in the home, so the children speak one language while at home and a 2nd language at school.

Andy tested at age appropriate levels on all psychological and emotional testing. He does well in school and does not have any behavioral concerns. He has age appropriate friendships, social skills, communication skills, and self-help skills. He likes to play football and eat french fries. When he grows up, he wants to be a policeman.

Izzy tested at age appropriate levels on all psychological and emotional testing. She does well in school and does not have any behavioral concerns. She has age appropriate friendships, social skills, communication skills, and self-help skills. She enjoys playing outside with her friends. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher.

Kayla has speech delays that make it difficult to understand what she is saying. She is working with a speech therapist and learning to make the correct sounds so that her words are more easily understood. She is very active and takes medication to control impulsive behaviors and to help her attention span. Her foster mother reports that her behaviors have greatly improved with the addition of medication. She is attending kindergarten and responds well to play based learning.

This little girl is wonderful! I have never met a child with so much personality and spunk. She absolutely loves people and she is so desperate for attention. I held her for most of our visitation time one day. If I tried to put her down she demanded that I pick her up again and then she would kiss all over me. She just wanted someone to be near her. Everyday when my husband would walk through the playground gates she would get a stern look on her face and point at him and then motion for him to come to her… NOW.  She would smile from ear to ear when he acknowledged her. You can not help but laugh when you are with her. Even the cold and distant nannies couldn’t keep a solemn expression on their faces when we interacted with her.

She is in need of urgent dental care! I have never seen such decayed teeth before. I am not sure why her mouth is so much worse than all the other children but her mouth is really concerning. She can stand on her own but struggles to lift and bend her legs when she is bearing weight on them. She has a little walker that she does wonderful with. She can walk along a bench by holding on to it but we never saw her walk independently. From what I could tell she does not have any limitations of her upper body.

We never witnessed her show any aggression towards any of the children. When I would sit on the bench holding my daughter she would try to climb in my lap as well, but she never tried to harm my daughter or push her out of the way. She is very hungry for attention and for the love of a family. She would make a wonderful daughter and I am sure she would provide you with a life time of laughter.

This child has significant facial features of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome).  This is a cautionary disclosure only.  Families should research the varying impacts of this condition.

She received hormone therapy, this is why she has sodden features. She does not receive it any more.

Aww sweetie! where is her mama and papa?!

old medical: Spastic Tetraparesis, right kidney hydronephrosis, extra finger on both hands

Oh Darina, how she has regressed — We had such a darling photo of her from two years ago, and to see her like this now breaks my heart. She could have come so far and been spared this.

Darina is facing the institution soon and will remain bedridden for life if she is not adopted.

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Trina just glows with positivity! She likes to participate in the activities carried out in the institution, mainly those related to the creative arts such as painting and dancing, she likes to play with her peers and sometimes acts as a leader in social groups. In the psychological report, they describe the girl as responsible, obedient, dedicated, organized and friendly. Trina has a tendency to withdrawal and mild depression, due to the presence of feelings of insecurity, low self-worth and low self-esteem.

Trina also projects a strong need for belonging, parental protection and a strong desire for firm support, these aspects are explained by her life history and have been worked from different approaches by psychology, overall a calm state of mind is reported.

We know that an adoptive family can greatly help Trina feel valued and loved, and will help her improve in these areas with love, security, acceptance and healing.

Photo available from agency!

Trina has Sickle cell anemia, and she was medicated with folic acid. Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of disorders known as sickle cell disease. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. While there’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia, treatments can relieve pain and help prevent complications associated with the disease. Many people with this condition live very normal lives. Learn more about the illness and living with Sickle Cell by visiting Sickle Cell Speaks.

High altitude risk: The air at high altitudes, such as in an unpressurized airplane or in the mountains at altitudes greater than 5,000 ft (1,524 m), has less oxygen than at sea level. The lack of oxygen can cause cells to sickle which is painful and dangerous for a carrier. For that reason, it is not advisable to place a child for adoption with a family living at higher altitude / mountains.

She shows her bad behavior only to people who are rude to her. She is very sensitive to pain. She is very good with young children, she can organize them very well. She takes a medication.

Carolina is such a beautiful girl; beautiful brown hair with olive skin. She has cerebral palsy, and does wear AFO’s on both feet.

From her medical records: Cerebral palsy, convergent squint, mental delay. She can walk by supporter or holding one hand. She says separate words, understands simple speech, is affectionate and friendly. Physical therapy and a loving family will bring MIRACLES for this little girl!

Carolina was transferred in 2011 to a boarding school (not an institution).

New pic January 2017!

UPDATE August 2013: Carolina is a beautiful girl! She is about 4ft tall and about 50lbs. Her CP affects her mostly from the knees down. She does have cytomegalovirus. This was reconfirmed last year, but we were not able to find out if it is active, or if she merely was exposed while her mother was pregnant with her. CMV does cause brain damage if a baby is exposed in utero, so a family needs to be prepared for that, or for the fact that is IS transmissible when it flares. She is very strong and she does make her likes and dislikes known. Her biggest love is candy…but not chocolate! She likes white chocolate a lot though. She likes dolls, and can undress them herself. She has good use of her hands. She gets around by crawling or knee walking, which is great. Knee walking shows her hips are nice and strong. She loves to “dance.” Dancing, to her, is an adult bouncing her up and down for as long as you can stand to do it. She gets quite unhappy when you stop to take a break. The nannies make her walk a bit while holding onto hands, but her legs and feet are just not able to line up with her being so tight. She is very strong. She loves cell phones and will try to snatch them at any opportunity. A toy cell phone that plays music would be nice for her. She speaks, though it is like a toddler. She repeats the same few things over and over, but she does say a couple other words and used them correctly. She understands much more though and the caretakers speak to her in complete sentences. She just loves to move and bounce and be twirled around. She likes BIG movements. She was very briefly startled by my husband, but quickly discovered he could bounce her around longer and higher than I could…and so she quickly preferred him!

Carolina does have some institutional behaviors that a family needs to be prepared for. Her moods change quickly, and when she gets upset, she can throw herself to the floor, even injuring herself. She will hit, pull hair,etc if she is upset. She will throw large toys as well. The caretakers love her, but did express that she would likely not engage or interact with kids bigger than her, and would be likely to assert herself over anyone smaller. That is just how life in these places is. Families without small children would be best for her. An involved, hands-on Papa would be ideal, and a trampoline would be out of this world for her.

Brinli has pretty eyes, and such lovely long fingers. She desperately needs a family to save her from a life spent lying in a crib.

Sweet Chantelle has a list of diagnoses, but her main need is a loving family! A family could help her reach her potential and save her from a life in a crib.

From a family who met her in fall 2013: Chantelle is mostly kept in a laying room although I did seen her out in the main groupa room laying down in a gated play area. I believe she can roll around. I saw her holding things in her hands as well. She has a calm, sweet spirit and I had her smiling in the first minute of seeing her. I touched her precious little face and told her I loved her and she smiled. The other kids seem to love her and they liked going into the laying room to take pictures of her with me. Chantelle so needs a family now! She won’t be kept at the baby house much longer. She is soooo beautiful, the pictures really don’t do her justice.

Charleigh has 3 healthy siblings living in a different orphanage: 2 brothers -13 and 9 years old; a sister of 11 years old. As long as all are available they will need to be adopted together.

It’s not right that this girl is waiting SO long for a loving family!!! She is always so sad with no Mama’s love and care. She needs a family ASAP because she is going to be transferred very soon.

From the orphanage: The girl needs a family asap. She is a kind child surviving with no parents. She requires much individual care because her educational ability is very low. In her orphanage she does not follow instructions; her vocabulary is very poor; she is severe speech delayed. She does not like to play with other children in her orphanage, she is on her own. She wants more attention than her caregivers are able to provide her with.

Gretchen is a sweet little girl with giant blue eyes! She is officially diagnosed with FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), and was *previously* a carrier of her mother’s Hep C antibodies. She is testing negative now. She does have strabismus as well. She is able to stand on her own, but is not quite walking yet. She is cognitively delayed, but is affectionate.

Gretchen is a beautiful little girl who deserves a family of her own.

Look at sweet Edith, all dolled up for the New Year’s party at her orphanage!

She has had a broken nose because when she lived in the family her mother’s boyfriend pushed her and she fell and broke the nose. Two foreign families have visited her but did not end up adopting her.

One of our adoptive families has met her, and has video of her for inquiring families. “Edith was was much in need of one on one attention but did not even know how to be held. She was whiney, but very willing to share her chocolate with anyone and everyone. Edith played with the other girls and was sociable. You could tell, however, that she was emotionally somewhat fragile. She would do really well, in my opinion, as the youngest or only child (or in a family where the other children are grown). She really needs an experienced adoptive family who can give her lots of one on one attention and help build her trust in humanity back”.

Daphne was born with CP. She is not able to walk and is significantly cognitively delayed. She is described as an affectionate and responsive child, and she would so benefit from having a loving family of her own.

She is facing transfer very soon, and will remain bedridden if she is not adopted. More photos available

NEW PIC JUNE 2016! FAS, cleft hard and soft palate. She has many facial features of fetal alcohol syndrome, please research this condition as a preparation for her needs.

From an adoptive family who visited with her in Jan 2012: We saw Harriet today. She has the thickest, dark curly hair and beautiful eyes! She snuck out of the groupa room to come see us. I got to hold her for just a moment. She’s really tiny.

From a volunteer who knows her in August 2016: “Elinor is a sweet little girl who craves attention. Elinor is non verbal and she hardly makes sounds at all. She seems to understand everything that is being said to her. She reacts strongly on body language as well. She shies away from people that have negative/aggressive body language and she comes closer to people with positive/loving body language. Elinor is the smallest child in the group. She spends most of the time sitting on the ground or a chair, not really doing anything. She does not play with toys that are offered to her. She loves to sit on someones lap and it makes her calm when someone sings to her. She would take every chance to cuddle. The nurses said that if she had a chance to be cuddled all day, that she would. Elinor does have some protective behaviors. When she feels threatened she will bite people. It will not stop until that person creates space between them. If she is still upset them, she will continue to bite herself. She does not purposely harm others and she doesn’t seem to bite any of the other children, only adults. Because she is the smallest child of the group, she is an easy target for the aggressive behaviors of the other children. Elinor seems to be potty trained, she knows how to eat and drink by herself. She also knows perfectly how to navigate a smartphone an play easy games on it or swipe through pictures. She loves all electronic devices, such as phones, cameras, etc.”

NEW PHOTO December 2016

What a cutie! And what a world of different a head of hair would make for her, she needs to be in pigtails!

Update March 2014: Very sweet and energetic little girl, eager to play and interact. She definitely has cognitive delays, and does not speak but functions within the preschool type setting classroom of her groupa. She communicates by pointing and making sounds. She appears to have something like hemiplegia CP affecting the right side of her body, causing a bit of a drag in her leg as she walks, and causing her arm to be stiff on that side as well. She’s a happy little girl and very cute.

NEW PHOTO!! Brandi is listed with bilateral hearing loss, but can definitely hear, as she will turn around and look for the person calling her name, and does respond to commands given if she chooses (if she doesn’t, she screams/attempts to run/swats at the caregiver). Cognitively, she is very delayed, more like a toddler, in ability to understand what’s going on around her, and in her responses, and appropriateness. She also has strabismus in both eyes, and has both a heart condition and anemia. She does NOT have CP, nor microcephaly. She does have brain malformations, significant developmental delays, and many stimming behaviors that are typical of lower functioning autism. She is completely nonverbal.

Families interested in Brandi should be aware that she appears to have autism, and that it impacts her significantly. She is a “runner” and will bolt and run unless contained or restrained and potential families need to be aware that this is common in autism, and that they will need to take appropriate measures to keep her safe in a home and family. She has a history of aggression when changes occur, such as a move, or unexpected event, which include biting peers and adults, and she struggled for at least a year after her last orphanage change four years ago, but is doing better now. However, as many with autism thrive on routine and predictability, families need to be aware that she may handle a transition poorly, especially at first. She has excellent mobility, and is very typically sized for a normal 7 year old in weight and height, and when she resists, it is challenging for a grown woman to hold her back. She has been in a school for the deaf, however, she knows no sign language nor does she read lips. She is very much in her own world in many ways. She enjoys music and will sometimes clap, but remains disconnected from the group and does not interact with adults (was not seen with peers).

Brandi attempts to smell/lick everything that is handed to her and when she realizes it isn’t food, she is not typically interested. The nannies report that she has an excellent appetite, and that she enjoys eating. She stims by rocking, throwing herself back and forth, sucking all four fingers on her hand, grunting, and moaning/shrieking. She walks with a lurching gallop. She flaps her hands often. A potential family should be aware that she has no awareness of danger, no fear of strangers and is very much like a very young child emotionally and cognitively, but physically is strong and very mobile. She currently takes psychiatric medications to assist in sleep and behavior.

She is a lovely little girl, with beautiful blond hair and clear complexion. She is in a good orphanage where she is well cared for. Families need to research autism, and be comfortable and familiar with caring safely for a child with the issues mentioned above, in order to provide Brandi with a safe, loving home.

These girls will age out soon!  An I600a MUST be filed by 11/27/2021!

Samantha (the oldest), on the right:     Microcephaly, mental delays, crossed eyes, physically capable, friendly and affectionate girl, will do well in family environment.  High likelihood of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Kristina, on the left:  Microcephaly, Moderate intellectual disabilities, ADHD (hyperactive), Esotropia, Hypermetropia, Cardiomyopathy (unspecified), Scoliosis

Kristina is cognitively delayed, physically capable, helpful, friendly, likes to play, good girl.

The girls are NOT in the same orphanage, but are in the same region and need to be adopted together.

Kanani has been transferred!

Lovely Kanani needs a family to help her reach her full potential.

From a family who met her in May 2012: Kanani is very sweet girl. She is well cared for in a good orphanage by caring nannies. She gets lots of outside time when it’s warm out but this time is spent lying down in the stroller as she can’t sit on her own. She can hold on to your fingers and seems to just love to have attention although with her eye troubles it is difficult for her to respond. She likes to have her cheek stroked and her hand held. She is quite stiff and in need of physiotherapy and most of all love and attention.

Katerina has been living at an institution for quite some time.

Improved nutrition, and a loving, encouraging family will make a big difference for this little girl!

New pic May 2019!

From a volunteer in August 2016: “I was happy to see that Leena is still the same strong willed young girl as last year. She is available for adoption now! She was a little calmer than last year, but she would still take every chance she got to run around. Just like last year it was obvious that some nurses have a very hard time with her and others love her. She’s much calmer when the nurses like her and she’s easier to handle. It was unclear if she was totally potty trained this year or that she’s still working on it. It was also unclear if she got the diet she needed, but her delays didn’t look worse. Leena is such a wonderful girl! She should be in a family where she has the chance to be who she is, all days of the year.

From a missionary who met her in 2015: “Leena is a strong-willed young girl. She is stubborn and funny. She loves to explore the world (within the concrete walls she lives between). She has been transferred to this facility in May and she is obviously still getting used to the circumstances of living. She had a lot more freedom in the baby orphanage she came from. Leena can walk (so don’t be fooled by the picture), she can run, she is very energetic. She can drink from a cup. This summer (2015) she was being potty trained. She doesn’t talk. She squeals when she is very excited. She is probably the size of a 3 year old at the moment (summer 2015). She probably understands what is being said to her, but she has a hard time following orders. Due to her PKU she needs a special diet and medicine. The baby orphanage she grew up in, didn’t provide the proper care. So (part of) het mental delays may be caused because of that. The facility she lived in right now, tries to provide the proper care. They do not receive funds for it, so they raise it themselves with a charity fund. They really try to take good care of her. Some nurses really like her. Other nurses have a hard time dealing with her, because of her energetic ways. She likes to move and run around all the time. As soon as you let go of her hand or take her out of her wheelchair, you have to chase her. As soon as you give her an opportunity she’ll take it. Some days she was tied up in a wheelchair and we thought she might have been drugged. She didn’t react, she didn’t smile, she didn’t interact. Until the moment my fiancé pulled her from the wheelchair and it was as if she came alive again. I have not seen any selfharming behaviours and I haven’t seen her hurt other children. I have also not seen her interact with other children at all. The nurses don’t like it when she gets all excited, but for me it was a sign that she was not so institutionalized yet. There was so much fight in her. I hope she finds a family before she loses the strength to fight and before her delays will get worse, due to a lack of a proper diet and medical care.”

This beautiful, brown haired, blue eyed angel was born with a lot of strikes stacked against her. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve a voice or a chance to have a family who loves her and can help her be all she is able!

Lorena will remain bedridden for life if she is not adopted.  A family would need to begin the adoption process prior to NOVEMBER 2021 to adopt Lorena.

Sweet girl has a laundry list of diagnoses; she needs a family, or she’ll spend so much of the rest of her life in a crib. She’s got sparkle — a family could help her truly shine!

Nana is a precious little girl with sunshine blonde hair and blue eyes. Her medical records indicate prenatal alcohol abuse, resulting in severe CP and hydrocephaly.

More photos available, please inquire.

You can see a marked difference in Rhonda from her time at the baby house, and now at the institution. It is heart-wrenching for us here at Reece’s Rainbow to witness this neglect. Please share Rhonda so we can find a family for her quickly.

Scout is a pretty little girl! She came to the orphanage when she was about 3 years old, and they found she had CP affecting her lower legs. Scout also had club feet, and was unable to stand or walk. She received surgery in 2011, after which she was able to stand up straight, and walk with assistance! Scout’s fine motor skills are very good, and she is quite a talker. She is very helpful and able to care for herself. Scout is a very spunky little girl, who is ready for her own family.