Well, folks, Happily Ever After doesn't just *happen*. The heroes of these stories had to tackle overwhelming odds to get to that Happily Ever After. In some cases, they couldn't help themselves and relied on others to do the right thing. What if Prince Charming had decided he'd never succeed in finding out who wore that glass slipper? Suddenly, "Happily Ever After" isn't so happy anymore.
It doesn't come as a surprise to most of us that these 'rags to riches' stories occur not just in fables and books, but in real life. In fourth grade, I did a report on Shania Twain, whose parents were killed in a crash when she was just a teenager, who stepped up to raise her brothers and sisters and further her career to help them, and who became one of the idols of the 1990's music scene. There are so many more examples, I'm sure you can think of a few of your own.
What's less encouraging, though, is that in real life, those 'rags to riches' stories are the minority. Most of the time, there is no "Happily Ever After". Most of the time, the story is 'rags to rags'.
Some time ago, I was blessed to come upon the story of a little girl named Katie. Katie's story is not a 'rags to riches' story in the traditional sense - for her family is not rich, they do not live a lavish life... but one thing they are rich in is love... the very thing that sweet Katie was deprived of for nine years, because she was born with Down Syndrome in a country that doesn't appreciate the worth of children with special needs.
Here is Katie in her 'rags'.
Then, nine year old Katie was being treated in a Japanese-run hospital in her home country for severe malnutrition, among other things. That hand on her tiny little body? One of the very first experiences she had with this thing called 'love'. Katie was not just starved for food... she was starved for the love of a family.
Now, several months later, here is Katie among only SOME of her 'riches'.
Now home with an American family, Katie has a mom, a dad, and ten brothers and sisters who absolutely dote on her. A whole host of people follow Katie's story via her family's blog and pray for her daily. That little girl in the first picture who had been starved for both food and affection, is now swimming in it. Hallelujah.
But then my heart broke to learn the other half of the story... that of the children left behind. Because Katie's family was extremely proactive in getting the word out about the conditions in her former orphanage, many more children have now been or are in the process of being adopted from there. With each trip come more and more encouraging reports of the orphanage's progress. But what if Susanna Musser had never set foot in that place in Eastern Europe? What if she had never seen for herself the conditions in which little Katie was living in? What if that orphanage had remained closed off to the outside... no encouraging reports... no reports at all... yet children still spending every single day of their miserable existence there?
Well, what happens then... cannot be put delicately. Children die. They die alone. They die having never known the love of a family. The 'In Loving Memory' page at Reece's Rainbow is far too crowded with children who were just overlooked for too long and couldn't hold on anymore.
Some children are lucky enough to have advocates, families who have met them, people who will shout from the rooftops for them until they, too, can come home to the riches of the love of a family. But some children are in orphanages where... we truly don't know what's going on. They could suffer as sweet Katie did. We don't know... because no one has gone to that place, met them, and screamed for the injustice of their condition. We don't know... because the most 'update' we get, is a new photo every few years, if we're lucky. Sometimes, like in the case of Ksenia, the photo 'updates' are devastating. It leaves us to wonder... what is happening when there are no updates at all? If that photo of Ksenia was one her government felt comfortable displaying on the internet... what images are the governments of these countries NOT showing us?
One of these little ones on whom we have little information and have not, in a long time, receieved an update, is the little boy who holds my heart. His name is Brett, he is ten years old (but has a birthday coming up!) and has Down Syndrome. He is living in an institution in Eastern Europe. He is the only child currently listed on Reece's Rainbow from his institution... so no families to visit to report back on the conditions, no families to bring over supplies of treats and toys... no families to post an updated photo - the one we have is three years old. He is largely and tragically overlooked.
Worse still, is what Reece's Rainbow has to say about Brett:
Boy, Born August 23, 2001
Diagnosis: Down Syndrome, Severe lagging behind in his development, Alopetio areata. The photo was takenon May 2009. This child had a rough start in his life. Immediately after giving birth to him in the open country she abandoned him on the field. He was found and taken to the hospital. His condition was poor but the doctors saved his life.
SINGLE MOMS, OLDER PARENTS, & LARGE FAMILIES WELCOME, EASY TRAVEL
It sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale, doesn't it? A classic rags to riches story. Abandoned at birth in a field, left to die. Miraculously found and taken to the hospital. A life saved. Then sent to live out his days in the care of government-run orphanages and institutions. What dreadful rags this poor boy was given.
So, next should be the 'riches' part... right?
Wrong.
Ever so sadly, Brett STILL waits. He waits because he is a member of one of the hardest to place groups of adoptable children - boys over 10 years old. He waits because he has Down Syndrome. He waits because he lives in a place where he is not seen and therefore seldom advocated for. He waits because, even though he has my heart, I do not qualify to adopt him. He waits... until somebody steps up for him. If no one does before he turns 16, or passes away... there will be no riches in Brett's story.
I don't know why he captured my heart. I don't know why I haven't been able to stop thinking of him since December. Perhaps it's his sad story. I can't bring myself to believe that God delivered him from certain death only to let him languish in an institution. Or perhaps it's because he reminds me of another little boy... a little boy who had Down Syndrome. a little boy who was ten years old... a little boy who lived decades ago... who did not want for love or attention, but who passed away tragically because his heart condition could not be corrected at the time.
A little boy named Tony, who just happened to be my Mom's little brother... my uncle... who the doctors said should spend his days in an institution, but who his parents brought home anyways. A little boy who, even though I never had the chance to meet, I love dearly.
As much as I know that my Uncle Tony lives with God now, dances with the angels, plays with his rope and his suitcase and eats umma ummas in Heaven... I don't want Brett to join him. Not yet. Not without having known the love of a family... the love that my amazing grandparents gave to Little Tony. But I've felt stuck, because of my age and my financial situation, there is little I can do for Brett. I want to bring him home, introduce him to my wonderful family who appreciate all the gifts that children with Down Syndrome have to offer... but I can't. So when an opportunity popped up that might get Brett noticed for once, might help him find his family... I couldn't contain my excitement.
You see, Reece's Rainbow does this program every year called Angel Tree. Traditionally, only children 0-5 with Down Syndrome are included in the angel tree. Each of them gets a Christmas warrior who sends out ornaments in exchange for donations and tries to raise that child's grant by a significant amount by the end of December. This year, due to pleas from so many advocates, an opportunity was offered to put older children and children with other special needs on the angel tree. But there's a catch. Eleven children from each age and disability category have been chosen by the RR leadership. They are posted for a week, and anyone can then vote on which child they want to see on the angel tree. There is only one vote per person per category. (If you have multiple members of your family who want to vote, you might try to seek out a second IP address). The boys in Brett's category are posted this week, and he is one of them! Praise God! However, many of these boys are very much loved, many have tireless advocates who want to see them on the angel tree, and it is my fear that Brett will be overlooked, once again. Rags to rags.
This is where you come in. I am pleading for your votes for Brett this week. Voting for his category ends next Thursday, August 16, at 5 pm. Placing a vote costs you nothing - simply follow this link, find his sweet little face, and click the 'vote' button next to the star above it. It takes two seconds - literally. And it would mean the world to me. Please, for Christmas, won't you put this precious angel on my tree?
And in case anyone sees this who might be interested in being Brett's family... adoptions in his country are very open and have few restrictions with regards to parental age, family size, and a number of other factors. The travel is not difficult. The cost is relatively low when compared with some other country programs. And I can guarantee you at least one of Brett's advocates (can you guess who that is? Me, perhaps?) will literally sell the clothes off my back to fund the family who brings him home.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions - you can comment on this post, or contact me at the e-mail address listed under the 'about me' tab at the top of my blog. And please help me make sure that sweet Brett does not spend one more day being overlooked. This is your chance to be a part of his 'Happily Ever After'. Don't miss it.
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