Preparations...

Preparations are underway for this summer's trip for Knowing Hope and the excitement is building! We've been asked to go to places we have never been before, as well as to return to the familiar places that we love. Dr Bruce Perry recently spoke at the
22nd annual International Trauma Conference, giving lots of cutting edge thoughts to present to orphanage staff and caregivers. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to hear him speak and participate in something which puts the needs of traumatized children first. I am working on powerpoint presentations which will be translated into Chinese to use when educating the staff in 2 different province wide trainings. It is exciting to think about staff from orphanages around 2 different provinces learning about how to best help the children in their care.
Collection of items has started: bumbo seats, beanbag seats, therapy materials...things that foster mothers and orphanage caregivers are just desperate to have and to use for their kids. Any donations of these items are so greatly appreciated and will be put to good use.
Thank you for helping us to bring hope to the children of Guangxi and Hubei!

Official invitations!!

Five months from today, we will arrive in our beloved China again. We will return to work in several of the orphanages in Guangxi where we have previously helped out in the past few years. The thought of seeing those precious children again make my heart race with excitement! Another orphanage, one we haven't been to before (but sent a wheelchair to) has sent the official welcome invitation to come and help!! We will be given the gift of having our lives touched by even more very special children. I cannot think of anything better for our summer :)

March 11, 2011

Dear Cindy,

Hello! Wish all the best wishes for you.

My name is Li Bing(李冰)，and I am the Vice-president of the XXXXX SWI, I am responsible for the welfare of children.

Thank you for your letter of February 28. I was so happy that you like the photos we sent to you. Thank you for told me the news that you will come to Guangxi in August, I sincerely invite you and I am looking forward to your coming here. We did not have any child therapists yet, if you can come, I believe that will be the biggest help to us.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Li Bing

The sunny side of life...

This letter came through last night, which, although addressed to me, is really to all of the supporters of Knowing Hope. NONE of this would have been possible without the kindness and love of people from around the world who make this possible.


Dear Cindy the Physical Therapist,

Greetings! At the verge of Spring's arrival and the renewal of all elements in nature, and at the eve of the Spring Festival, we first wholeheartedly wish you a happy new year, good health, blessings, harmony and happiness in the family.

We have received the wheelchair sent by Mr. X on behalf of you. We appreciate the wonderful gift that you sent to our children. The children are very excited.
In looking back at 2010, it was a year of love and glory from you; it was also a year that XXXXX CWI received love and hope. Your care and love deeply warmed up the hearts of the neediest children. The children with special needs now can see the sunny side of life. They now know that someone thinks about them and cares about them. They really have felt that there is kindness and warmth in people. This gave them the dream to hope for happiness just like non-disabled child do. We would love to continue receiving love and care from you so that the children might have a better future.... We thank you for your help.

Spring buds are vying to blossom and families are happily waiting for the new year. Let's open our arms for the dawn of the new spring, and write a better chapter for child social welfare. Finally, we wish you peace and serenity!

Simple things

Sometimes life just gets too complicated, and the smaller, simpler things are overlooked. Going to work in China reminds me of how simple things can be so important. A simple smile. A simple touch of another's hand. A simple chair.



Many of the older special needs children in the orphanages have serious special needs. Their bodies do not cooperate when they desire to do something. They can spend most of their days just laying on the floor. Or, occasionally, if someone helps, they can sit in an adult sized wheelchair.




And then there are simple acts of kindness. People giving of their time and money to see that these children who will live their entire lives in an orphanage can sit by themselves. To see the beauty of the world.







In a simple chair that fits them.



Resulting in a simple smile that touches hearts around the world.

The first chair for children

Last August, at one of the orphanages we worked at, we met a little boy named Hao. He was born healthy, and suddenly developed high fevers which caused damage to his brain resulting in cerebral palsy. Inside of his body, which is so hard for him to control, there is a bright spirit, a little boy who understands what is said to him and who is trying desperately to show what he understands by blinking his eyes.

Hao's body has become bigger, and he was no longer able to see the beauty of his world sitting up unless leaning against a caregiver....until this week!




Now Hao can see his world, and be a part of his world, thanks to the generosity of givers from around the world who helped make this first chair possible!!
On behalf of a little boy whose life has been made easier by a simple chair, thank you!!!!!

Bumbos for Babies

Last August's trip included bringing almost 20 Bumbo seats for babies living in orphanages around Guangxi. Some of the Bumbo seats were donated, others were purchased from donated funds. It was SO exciting to think of the staff of orphanages and foster homes being able to use the Bumbos, which are unavailable in China. Often times in therapy, I will use or recommend the Bumbo seat to be used with babies who have weakness, low muscle tone, or high muscle tone. It can be a simple way to build strength and muscle control.

The orphanages have been using them, and have sent some photos of the precious babies who have been benefitting from the Bumbos.





It is great to see a child sitting outside in one



Hopefully the next time we see this sweet child she will be smiling



On behalf of all of the little ones in Guangxi who have benefitted from your love and generosity, THANK YOU!!!!



We hope to collect and hand carry more Bumbos for our 2011 trip. These little seats can make life so much easier and more fun for some very special babies!

The ultimate purpose in life....to give

Those words were spoken by a man named Narayanan Krishnan. He urges everyone to experience the joy of giving love to others. This is the ultimate purpose of our lives.
Hearing these words on this day seem so fitting, as I reflect on the world's greatest gift given to us many centuries ago in the form of a newborn baby. A gift which brings the ultimate hope and light for all of us.
And again, I am overwhelmed with the giving by others for the orphans in Guangxi. We have raised enough for 10 wheelchairs!!! Five orphanages will receive these gifts for their special needs kids.
Innocent children, whose bodies have been broken, will have their lives made just a little bit easier through the kindness and generosity of others around the world who understand just what Narayanan Krishnan has to say.