Partners around the world

I am completely overwhelmed with gratitude for the friends around the world who have partnered with us to help the children we will be meeting in just a few short weeks. It would be impossible to do this mission trip without the help of others. We have been receiving donations of vitamins, medicines, braces, body jackets, and cleft palate bottles. A family has donated some supplies for a baby who has a colostomy bag, since no pediatric supplies exist other than what can be hand carried (I already had 2 boxes of pediatric colostomy bags confiscated in customs). There are some hair pieces and dress up jewelry which have been donated. Some great craft supplies to use with older orphans. With donations, I have been able to purchase some seats, communication devices, and splints needed for children who have special needs. I am so grateful for all the help, and truly believe that no one person can do it alone....life is a team sport (one of my favorite quotes)!!
There are still needs. I am hoping to bring needed sidelyers and wedges. Airsplints. Gait trainer belts to help teach children walking. Pressure vests and neoprene trunk supports. Ankle supports. And it seems like almost daily I receive an email saying "we have a child with ________, is there anything to help?"
In a few short weeks we will begin our journey. Our hope is to give hope to each and every child placed in our paths. We'll be sharing knowledge with caregivers in attempts to offer hope to them, in caring for these special children. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayer...especially the little ones who have no one and who we will be meeting very soon!

The needs

My friends in China shared some very sad news with me. This particular orphanage is one that is almost entirely special needs kids. This is very different than just a few years ago when most of the kids were non-special needs and part of the International Adoption Program. As of now, there are some children who have been moved to foster care, and other kids who remain in the orphanage. The ones moved into foster care seem to be the "higher functioning" ones. Are they just "higher functioning" because they have the love of a family? I tend to think so. For many of these kids, foster care is their only hope at family life. Of having the love of a parent. Of having someone hear them and respond when they cry. Of being a part of a village, and part of a family. The orphanage director has been unable to place many of these kids on the special needs adoption list, for reasons unknown. And so, their lives are either to remain in the orphanage or to go into foster care. The lucky ones have been in foster care. But that seems to be changing. This director is not able to see the benefit of having special needs children in foster care. Instead, they are being moved back from foster care to the orphanage. The children who are impacted by this are despondent. One is refusing to eat. Another begs his foster mother to take him home when she comes to visit him at the orphanage...

Part of our role in providing these workshops next month is to show that ALL children have worth and value. They ALL deserve the best life has to offer. There is HOPE for all kids, and progress to be made despite any disability they might have. I am hoping and praying that this particular orphanage director will have a change of heart.

5 weeks and counting

Five weeks from today we will be on our way and the countdown has begun. Our visa applications are in New York. Travel arrangements have been made. We have a draft itinerary for both provinces we'll be working in (Guangxi and Anhui). The collection of necessary items for the orphanage has started. And the anticipation is mounting...
I have been asked to teach on autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy . The population of special needs children in orphanages all over China has *significantly* skyrocketed and many orphanages are begging for help with how to care for these children. When asked to come back, I could not say no. I love partnering with caregivers on behalf of the kids. Encouraging, brainstorming, problem solving, idea generating...all to help orphans. There is no other way I'd want to spend a vacation.
So far, I've had some very generous donations of AFO's (feet braces), hand splints, and body jackets. All of these are desperately needed by kids who have cerebral palsy and whose mucles are too tight or too loose. I am still hoping to collect the following items:
-Mead Johnson Cleft Palate nursers
-Bumbo seats (great for trunk strengthening and head control for babies with low tone)
-travel pillows (great for positioning head and neck for kids with cerebral palsy)
-gait belts/transfer belts (for bigger children to help with mobility)
-children's vitamins, both liquid and chewable, especially with iron or vitamin D
-children's acetaminophen, liquid and chewable
-pediatric air splints
-tumbleform seats (a long shot, but I am still hopeful since there are not pediatric sized wheelchairs in China)
I've been working on powerpoint slides to get to China a few weeks before I get there so that the Chinese characters can be added to the english. My biggest emphasis it that ALL kids, regardless of abilities, have value. They all can learn. They all deserve love.

The purpose of Knowing Hope

My dear friend Christy and I have always known that we would be giving back to the world through work with orphans. The passion we have for orphans, combined with our professions as specialists for children with special needs , have led us both to a place where we know we can give more, do more. We know there is hope. Hope for ALL children, despite social conditions, disability, or country of origin. We are one world, under one sky. Together we are trying to make a small difference in this big world...for children who do not have a family to cheer them on.