Other Special Needs

Mia is a cheerful and smiley girl. She has been diagnosed with spastic diplegia, severe mental grade intellectual disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with no current medication needed. She is currently taking sleeping and vitamin supplements. Mia has divergent squint, hypertropia and astigmatism. She is recommended to wear glasses but she shows resistance as she does not like anything to be put on her face or head. Nevertheless, her vision seems not to be affected significantly during classes. Mia was assessed to have severe gross motor delay with dystonia but her walking was commented to become more stable.

Mia is currently attending a special school children with severe intellectual disability and multiple disabilities. She has made steady progress in her development and shown an interest in interacting with adults and peers. She is well loved by her school teachers and caregivers and is one of the brightest students in her special school. She enjoys listening  to children’s songs, playing with spinning and musical toys, watching cartoons, playing with the swing during leisure time. Regarding her self-care skills, Mia needs assistance in teeth brushing and washing up and she does not like these tasks. She wears diapers all day long. She receives regular potty training and can urinate on the potty occasionally. She needs assistance in dressing but is able to take off her clothes, shoes and AFOs. She is also learning to put on her shirt when being prompted.  She sits in a chair with a safety belt when her caregiver helps her to take a shower.

Liam was born December 2011. He was found to have multiple health and development issues, including a history of Infantile Spasm, left temporal arachnoid cyst, severe low vision, and moderate to severe grade mental retardation. He received training from different therapists and maintained steady improvement all along. Although he has a history of Infantile Spasm, he has a stable health condition with no records of any epileptic attacks since his admission to the present school. Due to his parents’ inability to take care of him, he was placed in a orphanage at the age of 3.

Liam is observed to be a lovely, easygoing, and well-behaved child, who is well loved by his teachers and caregivers. He is described as a happy child with stable emotions, and expresses enjoyment through his lovely smile which is heart-melting. He enjoys one-on-one interaction with his main caregiver.

Hope is a bright, assertive, and courageous girl with many endearing qualities and undiscovered traits. She is highly active and enjoys a range of sports activities, including running, swimming, and hiking. In her spare time, she loves engaging in craft work like origami. Her recent obsession with Sudoku has highlighted her strong logical thinking skills.

Despite facing challenges such as eczema, ADHD, and ODD, Hope is managing with her prescribed care routine. She thrives better with individual attention and consistent, firm, yet gentle care. She has shown significant improvement since being moved from an orphanage to her current foster home where she is adhering to rules and routines, and slowly learning how to live in a family atmosphere.

Hope was previously approved for adoption overseas. However, due to concerns the family had regarding her psychological/mental health once in-country, they withdrew their petition to adopt. A further report about Hope’s emotional development and readiness for adoption after the previous withdrawal will be ready by September.

Now, Hope is seeking a loving family who can provide the consistent, gentle care she needs to flourish. Hope’s institutional upbringing has shaped her attachment and emotional needs, but with the right support, she has the potential to thrive in a family environment. Given that adoptions from her country take approximately two years to complete, while Hope is entering her pre-teen years now it is important to realize she will be a teenager when adopted.  Interested families need to be willing to learn and be well aware of the challenges of adopting an older child so her family will have the capacity to support her emotional and behavioral needs. It is also recommended that the family be well-equipped with trauma-informed care and understand issues related to delayed adolescence and the impact of long-term institutionalization. This includes understanding family roles, including those of a father and mother, and sibling relationships.

CHI has given this child the pseudo name Hope because we and her social service staff in HK believe that with the right family who understands her past and can provide her with and affection with proper rules and routines, Hope can overcome her difficult past and achieve great things. We look forward to finding a family that can offer her the stability and care she deserves. CHI has past child studies to provide to seriously interested families.

 

Pah is a lovely little 4-year-old boy in need of a permanent home. He has been with his foster family since he a little baby. He is bonded to his foster family as well as another foster child in the home who is 3 months younger than him.

Pah currently is in good normal health. However, when Pah was 22 days old he showed peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis, small patent foramen ovale (PFO), and secundum atrial septic defect 1.5 mm. On the follow-up echocardiogram in April 2022, the results showed normal heart anatomy and function. As of his August 2024 child checkup, his hearing and vision were reported to be normal. While Pah’s physical health remains good, he has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in August 2023, for which he attends Child and Adolescent Psychiatry therapy. During the same evaluation, he was assessed to have a mild delay in gross motor skills as well as a mild delay in oral language. He had been previously diagnosed in 2022 with Borderline Developmental Delay. As observed, he can speak clearly, except that he may mispronounce some words.  He is able to hold conversations with adults and express his needs and feelings in sentences.  He can also follow instructions. Pah receives speech therapy about 2 times per month, and physiotherapy and occupational therapy 3-4 times per year at school. Pah can walk and run confidently.  He can jump forward 12inches with both feet, stand on one leg, walk upstairs and downstairs with alternative feet by holding onto the handrail, throw and catch a ball, and kick a ball forward 5 feet away. He can also climb up the rope net.  In terms of fine motor skills, Pah can build a tower of 9 blocks, remove bottle caps, hold a pen to draw, turn pages one by one, and thread beads.

Pah is described as a happy, outgoing but also stubborn child who has shown improvements in his emotional expression. He has become more accepting of reasoning as he gets older. Due to his ASD features, Pah has a set way of doing things. He also tends to cry easily over trivial things such as when he cannot find a toy or complete a task on his own. Pah shares a normal relationship with the other foster child in the home. They have typical sibling-like rivalries and will sometimes fight over toys. He shares a close relationship with the foster mother and accepts her guidance and follows her instructions. Overall, Pah is generally an easy child to take care of. He is well-behaved and manageable most of the time except that he tends to cry easily and can also be quite stubborn at times.

Pah performs well in his self-care tasks. Being able to drink from a cup and a straw, he can feed himself with spoon and a fork. He can wash and dry his hands with a towel; put on and take off his clothes, shoes and socks; brush his teeth and wash his face. He has finished toilet training and does not need to wear diapers. He can go to the toilet by himself. He only needs assistance in bathing, washing his hair and cleaning after a bowel movement.

Pah is attending pre-kindergarten at a nursery school.  As described by the teacher, Pah has some close friends at school and enjoys a satisfactory relationship with his teachers. He can follow school rules and routines.  Being attentive in class, he enjoys participating indifferent activities.  As described, Pah is sometimes sensitive to the teacher’s reminders and sometimes is emotional about this. Pah knows lots of colors, shapes, fruits, animals, food and body parts. He also knows some concepts such as “big-small,” “up-down,” etc. He can recite the numbers from 1 to 50 and recognize some letters and numbers. He can tell others his name and age.

Families with a home study prepared for any international country can submit for consideration of Pah. The agency program specialist can explain the child/family matching process in his country.

Sophie is a gentle, cheerful, and agreeable 8-year-old girl. She loves listening to music and is attracted to various sensory toys and materials. When her caregivers and teachers play music, she becomes attentive and smiles. Sophie has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy with multiple medical conditions. She requires daily medications and intensive medical follow-up in various specialties. She needs support and assistance with mobility and daily living activities. In the face of her challenges, Sophie works hard to participate in different training sessions and therapies including physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Sophie loves people. She can be easily comforted by hugging, gentle stroke, and comforting words. Sophie expresses herself nonverbally. She nods or smiles when she likes something, and pouts or frowns when she does not. She joyously participates in the activities the caregivers and teachers give her such as sunbathing outside and sensory activities. Her caregivers and teachers report that she is easy to care for and manage because of her calm nature and generally stable health condition. She also adjusts to changes quickly and easily.

It is believed Sophie will continue to make progress in reaching her potential within a loving and caring family. Due to the unique child/family matching system in her country, a family with a current home study for any country can submit to be considered to become her family.

The boys lived with their birth family until they were 22 months old. They were removed from the birth family and placed in foster care at that time.

Adam has been diagnosed with an intellectual delay, but he continues to make progress in all aspects of his development and learn new skills. His gross motor skills are developmentally appropriate for his age. He can walk, run, climb, etc. His fine motor skills are slightly delayed. He nests nesting boards according to the principle trial and error. He can build a tower with 10 blocks. He can draw a circle but he can’t draw an emoticon. He can string and sort small figures. He cuts with scissors, forms worms out of playdoh and cuts them. He currently cannot copy shapes and letters according to a pattern. His attention span when working on tasks continues to increase. He has a well-developed visual memory. He will imitate gestures and movements. He can group objects by color and shape, but cannot currently identify colors and shapes by name. He understands what is said to him and can follow one step directions. He has pretend play skills. He can easily navigate in familiar environments. His speech is still developing. He can say some simple words and attempts to communicate using gestures. He is currently attending preschool, and has adjusted well to this environment. He participates in group activities and plays with the other children. He enjoys playing with playdough and participating in music and games. He helps clean up after activities. His self-help skills are developing. He is toilet trained. He is working with specialists to continue to develop his skills.

Vinny has been diagnosed with childhood Autism, but continues to make progress and learn new skills. He can walk, run, climb, throw and kick a ball. He can build a tower with 10 cubes, he strings and sorts small figures. He cuts with scissors and he tries to cut along a drawn line. He has difficulties doing puzzles. He has difficulty concentrating during certain tasks. He is more focused and attentive during activities related to language educational games and modelling with playdoh. He has a strongly pronounced mechanical memory. He has difficulties making the relation between a symbol and a word. He compares objects by color and shape but does not recognize or name them. He understands single-step commands. He participates in role games (he puts a doll to bed and tucks her in). When he sees pictures with objects from everyday life (a broom, glass, spoon) he shows the activities that he performs with them. His speech is delayed (he says very few words), but he attempts to communicate using gestures. He demonstrates attachment to his caregivers and gets along with other children at preschool. He enjoys playing with playdough and educational cards. His self-help skills are developing. He is toilet trained. He is working with specialists to continue to develop his skills.

Jordy and Mike are ready for a family.  Agency staff who met them said, “they are clinically healthy and very well behaved and raised children. They are doing great at school on many subjects which is rare in general for abandoned children. The fact that they have been raised in foster care by a nice family, is definitely helping them.”

Please consider bringing these boys into your family for the New Year.  The agency has a lot more photos and information and videos to see these great boys!  A specific adoption agency has grant funding in the amount of $2500 available.

Her caregiver described her as cheerful and happy girl. She has no issues with trust, open to new people and likes to cuddle. She is curious about her surrounding and asks a lot of questions.

She doesn’t always listen what is said to her and has some difficulties with rules and directions. She can be stubborn and needs help with her emotion’s regulation. She started pre-school in September 2024. She loses an interest quickly and has problems to finish her tasks. She enjoys looking at the books, stalking blocks, working with small objects and clay. She likes music and willingly participates in singing activities.  Her vocabulary increased and she learns how to ride a scooter. She likes walking and playing outside.  She still needs help with her physiological needs. She can dress without help and eats independently.

Mina is a beautiful little girl who likes to paint and play “sleepover” with her friends. Mina likes to go to the park and put together puzzles. She also loves to sing and listen to music of all genres, especially tango. Mina enjoys children’s stories and watching her favorite cartoons, which include Masha and the Bear, Puss in Boots, and Blue Shortcuts. Contact the agency to learn more about Mina and her listed medical needs!

The agency staff met lovely Mina in August 2024. She was very talkative and outgoing. She doesn’t allow her special needs to limit her. Mina, born in November of 2016, knows how to start and maintain a conversation. She is very observant and knows how to ask questions and engage in it and the context. She uses very sophisticated words for a seven year old – it was impressive!! She knows how to count in English from one to ten, knows some colors in English, and knows the colors in Spanish. She has a great memory and can remember facts. Mina can easily express her thoughts and ideas.

Mina likes to paint and play “sleepovers” with her friends. Mina likes to go to the park, put together puzzles. She also loves to sing, listen to music of all genres, especially tango. Mina enjoys children’s stories and watching her favorite cartoons (Masha and the Bear, Puss in Boots, Blue Shortcuts).

VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina2
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Password: Adoptmaa

Mina also has a $500 agency fee reduction, with a specific adoption agency.

We are so happy to have permission to share Dallas’s pictures!  There are also several videos of him available with the agency, as well!

Dallas enjoys going to the park and eating ice cream. He lives with a foster family. Dallas likes to spend time with his foster family. He likes affection from people who are close to him.  Dallas has been part of the summer hosting program- don’t miss all his videos!

JULY 2023 Hosting Update: Dallas is a calm, lovely, and talkative boy. He loves to learn new things and talk about different topics. His favorite activities are talking, playing board games, and playing soccer. Although sometimes it is difficult to keep his attention, he perseveres to achieve his goals and learn. He has a leisurely soul and a more incredible spirit. He also is cautious about trying new things that involve risk. In him is a big desire to find a family forever. He is very respectful and helpful in the household chores. He cares about the well-being of the people he loves.  The adoption agency program director said he is AWESOME and she’d bring him home herself if she had the room! Contact us to learn more about Dallas and his listed non-medical need!

There is a $4500 agency fee reduction for Dallas’ adoption with the listing adoption agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Dallas now has an additional $2,500 grant through Children Need Families; the listing adoption agency will allocate this grant.

Martin was born in 2018; he is a curious and playful kid.  He likes playing outside and loves to eat hot dogs and to drink fresh juice.  Martin has mild developmental delays and attends a regular school.

 

Older brother Rafael (born in 2014), likes being outside and jumping on the trampoline.  He loves chicken, rice, and cake.  Rafael has developmental delays and is currently attending a special education school.

Information in this report is from March 2024

Cheyenne, 12, came into care in 2020 when her mother left her with a woman and it became clear that she was not returning. In the child investigation, it was discovered that Cheyenne had been the victim of abuse by both a non-family member when she was young and a minor relative though there is not much information regarding the later situation. Due to being moved around so much and the chaotic environment of the biological family, Cheyenne was not consistently enrolled in school which has affected her cognitive development.  Cheyenne is now enrolled in school, and she is in 4th grade where she is respectful, responsible, and motivated at school. In 2023, she was given an IQ test and scored 63, which led to a diagnosis of mild cognitive delay.  At the age of 11 when the test was performed, it was estimated that she had the cognitive development and maturation of a 7-year-old.  She goes to cognitive therapy to overcome her diagnosis of mild cognitive delay due to the family environment she grew up in.

Cheyenne has adjusted well to her foster family and being in a positive family environment. For example, while she likely did not attend religious services in the past, she enthusiastically attends Catholic services with her foster family and participates in spiritual activities such as praying the rosary with the family. Her foster family has helped her work on her social development, interaction with others, taking responsibility for her actions in a positive way, etc. It is noted that Cheyenne had a habit of lying to avoid negative consequences; however, great improvements were made in this area. While she still gets anxious when confronted about any inappropriate behaviors, Cheyenne is no longer afraid to accept the consequences of her actions. It is upsetting to her when someone lies about her. She is cooperative and strives to be obedient, and she is getting better at managing her emotions, impulses, and frustrations. She gets sad when others positively talk about their biological families, and she just wants to find her forever family. She is afraid of feeling alone.

Cheyenne is very affectionate and sweet. She is friendly and has wonderful skills to be a leader inside and outside her foster home. Cheyenne interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Cheyenne is quiet and feels good when she finishes the tasks assigned to her. She is independent and fulfills her daily routines on her own.

Cheyenne enjoys participating in recreational or playful activities with her peers. She especially likes riding her bicycle and playing soccer. She also likes to draw and dance. Cheyenne loves to eat spaghetti, rice with chicken, and oatmeal, but she does not like to eat broccoli. Cheyenne has stated that she would love to become a Chef to express her love through food.

Deacon, born January 2017, is a cheerful and loving little boy, who is often smiling! He interacts well with both children and adults and likes to give and receive hugs and kisses. He enjoys all kinds of play, especially musical activities, and his favorite toys include balls, cars, and blocks. Due to the pandemic he is receiving educational instruction at the orphanage. When he was found at one month old, Deacon was admitted to the hospital immediately due to sepsis. While there he was diagnosed with left club foot, malformative syndrome, and possible spina bifida occulta due to a pit on his sacrum. He began weekly casting for his club foot, then received a tenotomy in April 2017, and wore a harness to keep his feet in correct position. However, he needed casting again in 2020, and then began AFO therapy. Later he was diagnosed with dorsolumbar scoliosis and moderate bilateral hearing loss. Deacon is reported to be moderately delayed for his age, but at four years old has achieved many milestones! He can kick a ball, and go up and down stairs while supervised by an adult. He is able to build with blocks, scribble, shape play-dough, and hold a glass and a spoon to feed himself. He can communicate basic needs through short phrase such as “give me water” and “let’s go” and is reported to speak well. When presented with a picture he can identify elements by name, and recognizes several body parts and animals.

Deacon has seen many specialists, but has not received a conclusive diagnosis tying together his needs yet; they feel the most likely diagnosis is Klippel-Feil syndrome or Jarcho-Levin syndrome, but have also considered arthrogryposis and mucopolysaccharidosis. He needs a family open to his orthopedic needs who will get him the care and treatment he needs as he continues to grow!

Mae is a precious little girl, born in September of 2021.  Agency staff met Mae in August of 2023. She is an adorable little girl! We’ve been told she is doing well in her current care center since our staff visited her. Mae is described as a sweet, affectionate, and cheerful young girl. She is always smiling! Mae has managed to adapt to the routines around her required special care. She has made great progress since entering her care center, and she learns quickly through repetition She is a girl who likes to move forward and shows interest in learning new things. It is evident that she manages to bond with her caregivers. Contact us to learn more about Mae and her listed medical needs from her placing agency!

NEW VIDEO:

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mae20

 

Update: 10/24

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mae21

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Password: Adoptmaa

Robby is delayed in all aspects of his development, but has begun to make small gains in learning . He will interact with caregivers and other children if an activity is interesting to him. His attention span when working on tasks has begun to increase. He enjoys playing in the sensory room. He learns best with multiple repetitions of a task.

His current agency has videos and pictures that can be shared with interested families

Agency staff met Jay in October of 2022. They said they love his smile! Contact the agency to learn more about Jay and his listed medical needs!

There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Jay’s adoption with a specific adoption agency; additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Sally had one seizure at age one. She’s been on seizure medication since that time and has not had any additional seizures. She touches and grabs with her right hand and moves her right foot. The left hand is almost clenched in a fist. Her muscles are very tight, but she can sit up when placed in that position. She will reach and grab toys with her right hand. She tracks objects that are moving in front of her face. She laughs when adults interact with her. She makes sounds and produces syllabes when imitating someone. She enjoys musical toys and will scoot to get to a toy that is near her when on the floor. She is fed by an adult and can eat from a spoon.

Information in this report is from March 2023 when Jana was 5. The adoption agency has medical records and pictures for Jana dating back to 2019.

Jana entered care at one year of age due to abandonment and negligence. Within her foster home, it is evident that Jana likes to interact with others. In her own special way, Jana is able to share and receive affection. She communicates with others through body language and eye movements. The foster mother has learned to read her body movements to identify if something is bothering her. Jana responds to stimuli generated through loud voices. Due to her medical diagnoses, she needs constant supervision and guidance to fulfill all her daily routines. Jana´s gross and fine motor development is delayed. Her cognitive development is severely damaged due to her medical diagnoses. She wears diapers all day. Jana spends her days seated in her wheelchair or laying down in her bed when she sleeps. She receives therapy and medication through her gastrostomy.

According to the foster mother, Jana loves to receive massages. She likes when people speak to her in a soft voice. Jana enjoys going outside for short periods.

Anders currently lives in a small Eastern European country. He is happiest listening to soft music or playing with toys that make sound! Anders is described as a happy, calm child. Tests show that Anders has learning and motor delays, as well as occasional seizures.

Information in this report is from July 2024:

Dezi lived with his biological parents and older sibling until he was almost four years old. While his parents tried to take care of him, money was always lacking and ultimately, his parents knew they could not meet Dezi’s healthcare needs. In order for him to get all the help he needs and to have a better life, his parents relinquished him to protective care services in July 2022.

Due to the child´s medical diagnosis, he is not enrolled in school. There were two times were Dezi attended a special school, but his needs were much greater than what the teachers could manage. Dezi´s adjustment to a foster home was challenging but his current foster mother has done a great job with him. He has developed a strong bond with his foster mother and regulates his emotions in accordance with what she is doing or how close she is to him. He is now able to give and receive affection, which is a great achievement, and he even sometimes gets jealous when his foster mother pays attention to the other children. Dezi’s language is almost nonexistent, but he says a few words such as “ma.” He communicates mostly through facial gestures and by pointing at things he wants to grab or do. When Dezi gets upset, he cries and has “tantrums,” throws objects, and lays himself on the floor. Dezi is not comfortable being around people he is not familiar with. If he likes somebody, he will usually pull that person by the arm to start a game. Dezi likes to play with other children for short periods, and he is not aggressive towards them. He gets anxious when he is not familiar with an environment. He gets upset when he is not allowed to do something or eat at different moments throughout the day.

Dezi is very active, he changes from one activity to another in short periods, it is very hard for him to focus his attention on one specific thing. There are no concerns regarding his gross motor development, he is still working on his fine motor skills. He needs guidance and support to fulfill his daily routines though there are some activities that he can do on his own, such as eating with no help and dressing up. He sleeps throughout the night without any inconvenience. Dezi does not wear diapers during the day as he can go to the bathroom alone but needs help to clean himself up; he wears diapers during the night. He does not like animals.

Dezi’s favorite show is Paw Patrol. He gets happy when he gets new toys, especially cars even though toys do not usually last a long time because he plays roughly with them. He likes to wear clothes with Superman logos or drawings. Dezi has a good appetite and eats every kind of food. He likes to play with water.

(Information below is from March 2023 when Nicolas had just turned 4 years old.)

Nicholas was placed in a foster home when he entered protective care as a newborn due to familial issues. He is now enrolled in pre-k. Due to his complex medical condition, his academic development is limited. Nicholas tries to be independent in some daily activities, such as dressing himself, but for the rest of his care he needs constant supervision, support, and guidance both due to his age, his developmental delay and suspected autism.

Nicholas is a loving and affectionate child toward people he knows and he expresses his love through kisses, hugs, and by clapping. He has a strong need to be near his foster parents and sometimes gets jealous when they are holding another child. He does not like to be around too many people or in places where the noise is too loud. If he is interested in interacting with an adult, he will find a way to call for attention. He communicates through sounds, screams, and some syllables. Sometimes Nicholas gets upset when toys or objects are not organized or placed in the same spot he left them. Nicholas needs an adult to supervise his behavior while he is interacting with other kids, as he needs someone to remind him to behave positively and be patient with others.

Nicholas is constantly moving around and loves to explore his surroundings. He gets easily frustrated when his daily schedule changes. He is very interested in water and on many occasions, he has submerged objects or documents in water. It is reported that his body movements appear to be tough and not well coordinated. He is able to follow simple instructions. He can play with toys and other objects and his fine motor skills are still developing. He spends his time organizing toys and objects by color and size. He is afraid of climbing up and down the stairs. Nicholas still wears diapers but is currently being potty-trained. He goes to bed around 10:00 pm and wakes up at 6:30 am. It is important to give him his medication in the evenings before bedtime. Nicholas loves to listen to music, eat, and explore cell phones.

Two sisters in Mexico who have a close bond. They are described as healthy, calm, do well in school, have no behavior issues and have been out of their family’s care since 2019.

The older sister tends to be self conscious and shy when meeting new people or in new environments. The younger sister is described as extroverted and participative and needs some academic support.

Theodore was born prematurely at 25 weeks; he will need ongoing support from doctors as he continues his development.

He is described as being very cheerful, curious, positive, interested in everything, expresses positive emotions and smiles a lot and responds when spoken to. He listens attentively to adults and can distinguish between a stern and pleasant tone of an adult. Makes single sounds, says words and waves his hand to those leaving. When asked, shows where his nose, eyes and mouth are, claps his hands.  He is eager to play with toys for his age and likes toys that make different sounds. The boy is very affectionate and very active. Since March of this year, he has learned to walk independently using a walker. He needs to wear orthopedic footwear at all times. He walks short distances, has an irregular gait, and staggers. He eats a wide variety of food and has no allergies. The child eats on his own, is learning to sit on a potty and is a good sleeper. He can’t hear in one ear as it is undeveloped so he wears a hearing aid and attends checkup appointments for his hearing. He responds when called by name. He enjoys kindergarten and being around other children. He completed a rehabilitation program in 2023 that was very effective and has shown positive changes in his development.

Everett resides in a center for children. He is a healthy, good-looking boy who has autism with severe delays in intellectual functioning. He makes sounds but has no speech skills. He shows stereotypical mannerisms of rocking, hand fluttering, and hyperactivity. He plays by himself and does not interact with others. He seldom reacts to his name. Sometimes he self-harms or shows frustration. He does not sustain attention for very long. He needs assistance in feeding, clothing and self-care. He needs close attention. He needs a loving family.

Videos are available.

Bless was born in June 2019. She resides in a Home for Medical and Social Care.
Bless was born from a pathological pregnancy, 3rd degree premature, experienced fetal asphyxia and congenital measles infection with subsequent spasticity of the 4 limbs, oral automatisms, severe retardation in neuro-psychic development, blindness as a result of retinopathy of prematurity.

She does not respond to sound signals. She does not blink. She often suffers from respiratory diseases. Bless turns from her back to her stomach and vice versa but prefers to remain in a supine position. From a supine position, she pushes herself up with her legs and shoulders and moves into space. She obliges herself in a passive sitting position in a walker. She has control over her head. She steps on her toes, but there is no support for her legs. The child holds a toy placed by the adult in her hand, puts it in her mouth, but for a short time. Undeveloped impressive and expressive vocabulary. Increased sound sensitivity. Spontaneously utters vocals and guttural sounds. She does not pay attention to her surroundings. The child is fed by an adult. She falls asleep on her own. She is completely dependent on the adult.

Jordan is an affectionate little guy with a beautiful smile and bright eyes. He loves attention. Jordan also likes to spend time in his walker and being massaged.

Contact the adoption agency to learn more about Jordan and his special needs! We sure hope someone brings this cutie pie home while he’s still so little!

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

Sal and Monty are eager to go to a family as soon as possible! These brothers from Latin America are currently 8 and 7 years old.

Sal and Monty came into care in late 2020 after their teacher reported noticing repeated physical injuries with one of the children. At that time, protective services investigated and found that the children living with their mother who had previously lost custody of them due to abuse when Sal was only a year old.

Sal

Sal is currently 8 years old. He is predominantly affectionate, sociable, and respectful. He likes to play and interact a lot, and he is very interested in learning new things and being accepted by his peers. He shows autonomy and confidence to perform routine activities by himself, and he only asks for help for the things he cannot manage. He is well bonded with his younger brother. He expresses affection toward Monty, plays with him, and is attentive to his well-being. Sal is currently enrolled in a Montessori school and is in the 3rd grade. He continues to work on following the rules and order within the environment. Sal has a tendency to downplay incidents where other children have been aggressive or abusive toward him, and he often does not report such incidents to adults. He tends to normalize these types of negative rough or violent interactions and does not remove himself from the situation. However, the caregivers have been working with him on this situation and he is improving as well as learning measures on how to protect himself from any abusive situation.

Sal has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for which he is taking medication. He suffers from atopic dermatitis, has dry skin on his cheeks, currently treated with symptomatic management with the use of moisturizing creams. The child has compound hypermetropic astigmatism and currently wears glasses.  He also has a low weight and height for his age.

Monty

Monty is 7 years old little boy who is described as kind, giggly, and playful. Monty is also enrolled in the Montessori school with his brother and he is in the 2nd grade. At school, he is polite and cordial as he is at home, establishing effective bonds with his classmates and guides. He has a stable mood and is affectionate with his caregivers and most people at the foundation where he lives. He is also able to communicate things that bother him and stand up for himself. He has a good relationship with his older brother Sal, trusts him, and likes to be taken care of by him. His favorite activities are playing soccer with his brother, drawing, and playing video games. His favorite characters are Hulk and Spiderman.

Monty was evaluated by neurology after presenting motor coordination with lag and decreased strength in his lower limbs. A decrease in the strength of both legs with frequent falls was identified, with no apparent alterations in sensitivity. Sensory and motor neuro conduction velocity studies and electromyography of bilateral tibial and peroneal nerves were performed, resulting in a diagnosis of severe sensory-motor polyneuropathy for which he requires follow-up by neurology and rehabilitation (to read about this condition, visit this site:  Sensorimotor polyneuropathy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. He has also been diagnosed with mixed astigmatism and low weight/height for his age.

Jeremiah is a young child who finds great joy in the simple pleasures of childhood. He delights in playing with his toy cars and balls, rolling them across the floor and watching them zip and zoom. Jeremiah also loves to watch the adventures of the Paw Patrol pups, their heroic rescues and amusing antics, capturing his attention whenever the show is on. On weekends, Jeremiah’s foster parents take him and the other children to the local park, where he eagerly explores the playground equipment. The tall, twisting slide is a particular favorite, Jeremiah giggling with glee as he slides down its smooth surface. For unfamiliar structures at the park, Jeremiah first observes cautiously before mustering the courage to join in the fun. His natural curiosity and sociability allow him to seamlessly integrate with any groups of children he encounters. At home, Jeremiah cherishes the playtime he shares with his foster brother. However, Jeremiah maintains a wary distance from household pets, becoming physically tense and nervous if a cat or dog ventures too close. He prefers to watch them from behind the safety of his foster parents. Still learning self-care, Jeremiah diligently works on tasks like brushing his teeth, washing his face, and dressing himself, though he relies on the gentle guidance of his foster mother. Although he is not afraid of strangers, Jeremiah warms up to new people after observing them for a while. His stable, sunny disposition and affectionate nature shines through as he cuddles happily in the arms of his foster mother. Though easily distracted, Jeremiah remains engaged with the world around him, his keen curiosity evident in everything he does.

 

Rosita is a sweet young girl waiting for a family of her own. We hope Rosita’s forever family sees her while she’s still so young! Contact the agency to learn more about Rosita and her listed medical needs!

VIDEOS:

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-rosita
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-rosita1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-rosita02
Password: Adoptmaa

Agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Please meet George & Miles! These brothers must be adopted together, and both are said to want to be adopted together.

George was born in 2013 and is said to have well developed general and fine motor skills. George is emotionally stable and has good social contact with other children in the school. He does need resource help in school. He has friends and shows respect for adults. He has established habits for independence in dressing, eating and sleeping.

Miles was born in 2012. Miles is diagnosed with deformed feet. He also has some contracture of the fingers in both hands. He has congenital syphilis however he has no clinical symptoms and is not contagious. Miles moves independently but walks on his toes. He also has contractures of his upper and lower limbs. He feels pain with prolonged loading of the musculoskeletal system. However he continues to be energetic and happily runs, jumps and plays with other children. Miles shows affection to adults. He is curious and shows interest an interest in everything. He does need resource help in school. He enjoys being involved in outdoor games with other children.

The adoption agency has very recent videos available of the boys.

Natasha is a pretty little girl, with very calm with big eyes and beautiful white teeth. She is very special. She doesn’t smile at everyone. She must first know you, and trust you, but her smile is fascinating. She loves to drink juice and she likes to eat sweets. She really likes music. She likes to be pampered by her foster family and only cries if she needs a little attention.

In therapy, she works on ways to improve her functional mobility, and increase the functional use of her arms. At school, she does a lot of sensory activities to work on ways to respond and communicate better and fixate her eyes on objects to learn.

Galen is an eight year old boy with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which has left him with some dysmorphic facial features and difficulties with problem solving. In difficult situations he resorts to verbal and physical aggression. He enjoys helping out with household activities, specifically in the kitchen. He is visually impaired and has mild intellectual disability. He has been receiving preschool education since last September. He works with a psychologist, speech therapist, and physiotherapist on a daily basis.

Galen enjoys participating in group activities, but he works better when one-on-one with a therapist. He is capable of focusing for long periods of time on a single activity. When something doesn’t go his way, he can get upset, but with the right motivation he can easily return to his activity. Galen can’t read, but he can distinguish single letters of the alphabet, and can even copy letters. He can count to twenty. In the future, more focus will be put toward improving his knowledge of the alphabet and helping him manage his emotions.

SN: FAS, motor aphasia, celiac disease, hyperopia

 

This girl is much loved by her caregiver and peers! She lived with her biological family for 2 years and was neglected. After a few years in the foster family, she was placed to the orphanage where she adjusted well.  She established a positive relationship with others. She likes to cuddle and is seeking the contact with adults. She is a little bit behind for her age, but she is a smart girl with a lot of potential. She is attending a regular school and her teachers like her.

Introducing Kellet! Kellet is a medically healthy 6-year-old boy who is active and very curious about new people and environments. He likes playing with younger children and is able to interact and share toys with peers. Kellet likes adventures and challenges and takes initiative to play with others. He has age-appropriate gross and fine motor skills; he can pour water without spilling, draw meaningful pictures, run and climb stairs without rails for support, throw and catch a ball, and much more! He also has good verbal expressions and age-appropriate language development. He can count from 1 to over 100! Kellet can also engage in back-and-forth conversation and tell a story by looking at pictures. He sleeps deeply at night and eats the same food as adults for three meals a day. We hear that Kellet has good focus at school and can follow class progress and teachers’ instructions.

Update May 2022:

Kellet was seen as a part of virtual SuperKids in February 2022.  Kellet recently turned 7!  Kellet is in first grade and his favorite subject is Math!  He is doing well in school and enjoys his friend group.  His social worker shares that she is impressed by his patience and involvement with activities during their time together.

Kellet shows his imagination through art and storytelling as he recently drew a picture for his best friend, who is a mermaid and lives in the sea!  Kellet expressed a desire to also be a mermaid, so he can be with her all the time!  How sweet is that?!  Kellet enjoys imaginary play through dress up with peers and enjoys playing with Legos.  Kellet is enthusiastic about life, playing games, and has a high level of attentiveness.  He lives in an area where he is able to hike and run in the outdoors- activities that he appears to enjoy!

Kellet has foster siblings.  When they are available, Kellet enjoys spending time with them.

Ryan is a cute boy, very nice and calm. He can’t see well which makes him very attentive to noise and he has developed a great ability to identify all the sounds he hears.

He likes music, likes to hear the sound of other children playing near him and it makes him smile. He likes to be cradled, and to have his head stroked. He doesn’t like to cry very much, he only cries when he is sick, or when he needs a little attention.

In therapy, he works on range of motion and stretching to prevent further contractures of his limbs, to turn his head to the right, since he tends to lean his head to the left, and to improve functional use of his arms and hands. At school, he uses sensory material and adapted activities to help him develop his academic abilities.

Sadie has limited movement in her neck, back and hands/arms (due to limited movement of the shoulders). She has more range of motion in her left arm vs her right. She compensates for her limited mobility. She stands on her toes to reach objects (when she cannot extend her arms) and holds on to a support to bend down or she seeks assistance from an adult. She walks, plays with toys, and interacts with her environment. She can put together wooden puzzles, stack rings and perform other basic tasks. She can take the cap off a pen and tries to draw shapes. She interacts with familiar people. She initiates games such as peek-a-boo. She will point to things she wants to communicate her wants/needs. She dances along to music. She can say some simple single syllable words such as ma-ma, but mostly communicates with gestures. She lived in a home with a younger child for a while and did well with the younger child. The foster family limits her interactions with other people, because they are afraid she will get hurt, due to her physical limitations. She plays well with other people, when she is around them. She does not go to preschool due to the fear her foster family has that she will be injured. She shows a preference to certain objects and TV shows (Peppa Pig and Masha the Bear).

Videos from May 2022 show Sadie walking, playing with toys, putting a puzzle together and interacting with adults. The videos show Sadie’s physical limitations.

Esta, Sophie and Luke are waiting for a family in Latin America.

Esta is an affectionate child who loves dance, judo, art and making bracelets. She has a strong bond with her siblings and relates well with her caregivers and peers. She is clinically healthy with good physical and motor development.

Sophie shows leadership skills even at her young age when playing with others. She also participates in judo, ballet and other workshops. She also likes to participate in tours to exhibits, the cinema and theater. he also exhibits a strong bond with her siblings and is well-adapted at the institution she lives in.

Luke is an active little boy who loves to play ball. He is bonded with his siblings and interacts well with those at the institution.

The children have experienced trauma in their past and will need to continue to receive counseling to help through the transition to an adoptive family and to continue to work through their past. They are doing well though as they receive services in country. Esta received corrective surgery for a cleft palate and Luke has myopia and strabismus for which he receives care. Aside from her trauma care, Sara has no known needs. All of the children follow the Christian faith.

David was declared clinically dead at birth and resuscitated. He currently lives in a group home. He reaches for hanging objects and can hold a toy for brief periods of time. He is very responsive to caregivers. He smiles and shows pleasure when spoken to. He tracts objects and tries to focus on people who are talking to him and objects being presented to him. He rolls from his back to stomach in his bed.

Zoey is one of the most beautiful little girls you’ll ever meet. She was born with some developmental delays, but then experienced a stroke when she was two and a half. This greatly set back her abilities. However, since then she’s been in a foster family where she’s relearned how to sit, roll, and grasp toys. She is working on self-feeding and becoming verbal again. Although Zoey had a seizure with her stroke she hasn’t had one since, and rarely requires medical care now. However, she may benefit from a better neurologist to understand her brain’s unique functions and abilities. Zoey is not short of opinions and will let you know exactly how she is feeling with tears or laughter! She loves to play and her giggle is absolutely infectious. She loves playing with water, musical instruments, and anything that makes noise. Zoey also loves to eat and isn’t picky at all! She is a social girl who has loved having two foster brothers. Zoey will bring an abundance of joy to any family who chooses to love her forever!

Agency staff met sweet Salvador in July of 2022. Salvador receives physical, occupational, and language therapy weekly. He is doing well with advances in development. He walks, jumps, and climbs the stands. He combines words, counts numbers from 1 to 20, and says about 25 words. Salvador can feed himself with help. Contact the adoption agency to learn more about this sweet boy!

VIDEOS:

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador2
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador3
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador4
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador5
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador6
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador7
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador8
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-salvador9

Password: Adoptmaa

His diagnoses is Edwards Syndrome including congenital cardiac malformation with large intracardiac defect, cortical blindness, and severe delay in the neuro-psychological development. The August report says the following:

Vincent was extremely calm during the whole visit. He sleeps in a small room, together with three other children with disabilities. He sleeps in a crib. He spends most of his time in his bed, being periodically put in a chaise lounge or in a car basket. He cannot sit upright, either independently, as well as with support. His position in the lounger/car seat is semi-recumbent.

Vincent predominantly uses his right hand and his body is almost constantly turned slightly to the right. He can turn from his back to one side and vice versa, he cannot turn on his stomach. When placed on his stomach, he cannot raise his head. Vincent is basically blind, according to the diagnosis and by a specialist, although the staff has doubts because the child often reacts to light. During my visit, when displaying and attempting to stimulate a reaction with a ball of light, no such reaction was observed.

Vincent showed interest in the new toys and especially in the noisy book which he grabbed with his right hand, held for a while and even waved it with his hand. As the teacher shared, he grabs like a crab, with pincers. The ball turned out to be too big for him to hold in one hand. Although the book was kind of prickly, Vincent did not react in any way, not even by pulling away.

A sharp noise does not startle Vincent, this was also evident from the sharp squealing from the side of the ball. He listens when there is music, and can show a slight liveliness/activity. He does not react to his name. He likes to be paid attention to, to be spoken to gently and to be hugged. He does not mind being touched … even from a stranger. Vincent’s entire care must be provided for by an adult.  He is fed with a tube, being on 5 feedings per day. He doesn’t get angry or protest when changing or bathing. His sleep is peaceful.

From what I saw Vincent would be much better in a family environment. In the “home”,  he mostly spends his time in his bed doing nothing and getting no attention.  Every child deserves attention and love and stimulation. I really hope that this sweet boy will find his forever family soon!

Adrien is a charming and smiley boy. His behavior is very good, he respects the rules in the orphanage. He is interested in learning new things and willingly participate in games and activities. His skills are importing in all spheres. He is willing to play all games proper to his age.

A female child with a proven genetic neurodegenerative disease – pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (identified homozygous for mutation p.R446* (c.1291C>T).  She was born from the 15th pregnancy, 12th birth. On the second day after birth, transferred to the intensive care unit due to hyperexcitability, hypertonus of the limbs, with convulsive equivalents. With evidence of respiratory distress syndrome and metabolic acidosis. Held oxygen therapy for 5 days. A delay in the NPR was found, mainly in the motor development, with axial hypotonia and hypertonia of the limbs, combined with lactatemia. Submitted material for genetic testing and metabolic screening. Abdominal ultrasound: Pyelectasis (mild) of the left kidney. with microcephaly, developmental delay, tonus changes, elevated lactate and proven pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (identified homozygous for mutation p.R446* (c.1291C>T). At the age of 1, a severe delays in the NPR with quadripyramidal syndrome and microcephaly was formed.

Currently, the child has no apparent epileptic seizures, and the EEG shows no epileptiform changes. Remedial nutrition with KetoCal is recommended; reduction of carbohydrate intake. A new hospitalization is forthcoming to start a ketogenic diet with KetoCal.