This, my friends, is a sign of a truly loving and Godly community. As much as we love our 'favorite' RR kiddos, we advocate for the least of these, and that means every single one of these kids. So, as loud as I screamed for 'my' Brett (Brett #19) during week 3, now it's time to scream for those left behind.
So here's the deal. For the next 13 weeks, I will be posting twice a week, each post highlighting four of the children who were not chosen for Angel Tree. I will go in order of the voting, starting with boys with down syndrome, ages 6-9. Last week I posted for four of these boys - due to some real-life factors, I got behind on the other three (one of these boys has found a family already - so there are only 7 left!) so I'm playing catch-up. Because I'm 'short' a kid in this category, I will be adding a 'plus one' - another child who is on my heart who desperately needs to come home. There are a good number of those children as well, so unless you folks get committing to kids, this may run 14 weeks or more in all reality!
A friend who is helping me created this video of the boys in this category as well as the boys with DS over 10 years old. It's a wonderful introduction to these little guys and their friends who will be featured in the coming days, and certainly worth watching - check it out right here!
Credits to Beth for the video!
...To sweeten the deal even further, I'm offering a giveaway. I don't have anything fancy to give away, no iPads or even gift cards, only my humble services. It is my hope that this campaign will drum up a few more followers for this blog - because more followers means more people looking at these kids, which equals a greater pool of potential families. So, every two weeks, I will draw names from a pool of people who donated or shared these posts. The winner will get to choose any RR child, and the following week I will do a post all about that specific child. If you have photos or personal stories you want me to include, I'll be happy to do so. Just reply to the post with who you donated to (any of the children featured in that post, or of course my Brett - can't leave him out...) in ANY amount, or where you shared the post (no need to post a link, just facebook/twitter/blog) and you'll be entered into the drawing. If you donate AND share, you can receive two entries. Since any donation amount earns you an entry, the maximum possible number of entries will be 2 per person per post. Since there will be 2 posts per week and 2 weeks per voting period, this means a maximum of 8 entries for any one person in any one drawing. Also apparently an incentive to recall your high school knowledge of exponents... I'll keep everyone apprised of where we are in the voting period with each post. As of this post (Technically the second Week 1 post), this is the second of four posts to enter the first giveaway period.
Let's see if we can't start making a difference to these boys who were 'passed over' in angel tree voting - BEFORE angel tree even begins! Everyone wins here - the kids win when you donate to their grant funds, you win when you get to choose your very own angel to highlight, I win when people read my blog and do what I want so badly for them to do - notice these kids!
Now let's finish out week 1!
Boys with Down Syndrome, Ages 6-9
And here's what Reece's Rainbow has to say about Mickey:
Boy, Born June 2005Oh, what a sweetie! If his picture didn't do you in, I'll bet that loving description did. Someone cares very much for this little boy... he is very lucky to be in foster care rather than an orphanage setting... but unfortunately, for an orphaned child, this is something that can change in the blink of an eye, and when it does, it turns their world upside down. Imagine being in a loving home - even if not your home, not your own belongings - getting individual attention and care every day... then suddenly being transferred to an orphanage or institution, where you're only one of many, many mouths to feed, a means to an end, just someone's paycheck. You'd be lonely, scared, sad, and you wouldn't understand what this was or why it happened to you. This is the sort of thing that creates attachment disorders. But it doesn't have to be that way! Mickey is in a foster home! Many times, if a child in foster care has an adoptive family commit to them, they will be kept in foster care even when they might have been transferred to await their family. YOU could be the difference between Mickey and this scary, uncertain future... please, don't let what would be the biggest tragedy of his little life come to fruition. And if you can't go get him, a situation I'm in myself, won't you donate just a little bit to his grant fund, to make things that much easier for the family who does commit to him? Trust me when I tell you that every single penny DOES count to these families! Donate to Mickey HERE.
Special need: Down syndrome (no heart issues) This very sweet young boy has Down syndrome. He is well loved by his foster mother and father. He was a dancer in the orphanage performance. Whenever he hears music he starts dancing. He was cooperative and happy. He can wash his face if his foster mom gets the towel ready and can do other self help skills. He can feed himself and. He can pull his pants up and down. He has good speech and can say many words. He pulls his chair to the table when it is time to eat and he will clean his mouth after he eats. He is kind when he plays with other children and does not take their toys. He likes to run around and play with balls. He is very curious and likes to watch large machinery outside. He loves cars and will play with them and watch them out the window for long periods of time. He was described as a “happy, curious and lovely child.” He is healthy and energetic. He is friendly to others and sensible! He does not have any heart issues. Single moms permitted, no more than 6 children at home, only one parent has to travel. $110.70 is available towards the cost of my adoption!
Reece's Rainbow on Jaeger:
Boy, born March 2006
Diagnosis: Down syndrome
Eyes and hair black*The agency has a video of him at 6 years, 2 months old. He is putting together a puzzle, playing on a playground, and adorable! Video available for serious inquiries*Oh my goodness, the grin on this boy! Even with the poor quality of the picture, Jaeger’s personality shines!The information we have is from 2009, when he was 3 years old. He has received special ed services, starting in 2008. He can understand and follow sample instructions, he begins games and has started potty training. He eats well, and feeds himself.He walks and moves well through obstacles. He has good eye-hand coordination while playing, but not good eye-feet coordination yet. He loves the pool. He likes his caregivers and smiles and is very affectionate.He is really a happy boy and healthy, with good skills for his age.The paperwork also stated that at the time, he needed treatment for his teeth.Update from 2010:He starts his own games, he likes making strokes with pencil or crayons, he can now use scissors . He helps keep the toys in right places.Jaeger is a social child, he participates with his peers, he integrates into a group, he walks, runs, jumps, climbs and turns without difficulty; but he is not aware of the danger. He receives physical therapy and occupational therapy to increase his abilities.· Large families okay (with adequate space in the home)· One trip – total travel time 21-30 days in country (one parent can leave earlier)· Average length of time from Dossier submission to travel is 7-10 months· Total costs estimated around $27,000$1215.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!
Like Mickey, Jaeger has been lucky. (Anyone else find that funny? Mickey and Jaeger? No, just me, and I'm a dork? Fine.) He has been able to receive services in the orphanage and has come a long way because of it. But like Mickey, what's next for Jaeger is anything but a guarantee. Will this sweet boy, who has been taught to care for himself and to enjoy play, love, and care, continue to receive those things? The last update for Jaeger is from 2010. Is he still receiving those services, or has he, as I feared for Mickey, been passed on to a place where there is no therapy, no care, no love? There is only one way to absolutely secure a bright future for Jaeger, and it begins with you. Donate to Jaeger HERE.
What a handsome young man! Here's what Reece's Rainbow has to say about Felix:
Boy, Born October 20, 2003Diagnosis: Down syndromeWhat a cutie! Betcha he is a handful! Felix is blessed to be at more of an internat than the institution. He doesn’t have many words of his own, but his receptive understanding is very good. He is potty trained and does ask to go to the bathroom. He is described by his caregivers as very friendly and quite the comedian!More photos available, married couples only.$1049.50 is available towards the cost of my adoption!
...Did you catch it too? Read that description again. Did you catch it this time?
..."more of an internat than the institution"...
Imagine if the greatest blessing on your life was NOT to be in a mental institution. Imagine if the greatest thing that had ever happened to you was to be placed in a home for older orphans? And not even just 'an internat' but 'more of an internat than an institution'. What does that mean? Does it mean it's 'sort of' an institution? It's only 'sort of' an internat? So is Felix only 'sort of' blessed? He sure would be more blessed to be *adopted*. To be somebody's son, somebody's brother, somebody's friend? Let me tell you, Felix is blessed to be in 'more of an internat' for now, but that blessing does not last forever. All that awaits Felix in his country is the institution, and even if he didn't have down syndrome, older children who age out of internats are turned out on the streets between the ages of 16-18 years old with nothing more than a rucksack and $100 to their names... 80% will fall into crime or prostitution. But for Felix? He has an extra copy of the 21st chromesome, and because of that, he will live out his days in mind-numbing dullness and bare minimal care at an institution. I've known people who have been to the institutions in Felix's country. These boys' days are made by the rarely visiting adoptive family bringing tidings of chalk and bubbles. Chalk and bubbles! Party favors, in America! For them, maybe the best thing that happened to them all year. I can't even put into words how much this breaks my heart. Regardless of what his present is, don't let that be his future. Donate to Felix HERE.
Now for our 'plus one'...
This little girl is in what has become known as 'the bad place'. And that is putting it mildly. The orphanage she calls 'home' (or would, if she could speak at all), is a dark, dark place, devoid of love, care, and stimulation. It was called, by the government of its own country, their 'Auschwitz' - after the Nazi death camp of WWII. This place averages one death every month - mostly from preventable causes like malnutrition. It is this that makes her situation so URGENT... this and the fact that in her country, an agency only has a child's file for two months - after that the files are returned. They can still be assigned to another agency or requested, but it's fair to say that a child's chances of being adopted are somewhat diminished at that point.
Here's what Reece's Rainbow has to say about Presley (who, perhaps also fell victim to someone listening to their iTunes while naming kids?)
All that sounds awfully scary... severe autism... aggressiveness... but even though it is stated that Presley's delays are greater than average orphanage delays, many of the things said about her could be said about many of the children in this orphanage... before they were given a chance. And you should see them now! In fact... you probably have...DOB: 2009
Diagnosis: delays in all aspects of development, behaviors consistent with severe AutismPresley is almost 3 years old. We have recent reports from a doctor and a child psychologist not affiliated with the orphanage that includes their opinions based on observations and a review of her medical history. Presley does not walk, talk or have any self-help skills. She does not play with toys and avoids interactions with adults and children. The reports indicate that Presley’s physical growth is significantly delayed, both her height, weight and head circumference. Her weight is comparable to an 8 month old baby. The doctor’s report indicates the following: “The child presents anti-social behavior, lack of adequate human contact, willingness to remain isolated and elements of aggressiveness- Autism”. The psychological report indicates that Presley avoids contact with other people and will withdraw if contact is initiated, avoids eye contact and does not play with toys nor attempt to manipulate them at all (bang them together, etc) when they are given to her. Her responses appear to be only sensory related. She does have self-stimulating behaviors. Her cognitive development is listed at a 5 month old level and her social and communication development at below 3 months old.Presley was born premature and has spent her entire life in an orphanage that is known to have sub-par care. It is possible that some of her delays are a result of her environment. Interested families should be prepared for the fact that the behaviors noted do indicate more than basic “orphan delays” per the reports. Both the medical and psychologist reports are available for families interested in adopting Presley.Additional photos of Presley are available.
Presley deserves a chance too. She's just a little girl, only three years old. She could receive so much intervention and therapy and care in the U.S... but someone has to step out in faith first. Because her file will go back to the government in less than two months and she will no longer be able to be listed with Reece's Rainbow, Presley does not have a 'donate' button - but once a family commits to her, she will. Are you that family?
PLEASE don't forget to donate (in ANY amount) to these kids or to Brett #19, and to share this post, (and don't forget to let me know in a comment!) to be entered to choose a child to receive a post of his/her own at the end of this giveaway period (#1 - will end at the end of this week). There is only ONE entry so far so this could be a cheap and easy chance to get the child of your heart noticed! Since I'm behind, there will be a few posts this week so STAY TUNED!
