WOW Kids
This week’s featured children are ready for the best Christmas present ever, a forever family! Whether or not these children are destined to be your child or not, they belong to a family and we want your help to find that home for them. Henry, Blake, Leigh, Lacey and Wendy are all beautiful children in our China Waiting Child program. They are anxiously awaiting their forever homes! Take a second to read their stories, and if you would like to learn how to bring them home contact Jessie@gwca.org or go check out our Photo Listings to view other waiting children.
Hi! My name is Henry. I am 4 years old and I love playing with blocks! I love making fun faces so everyone knows how I am feeling. My doctor says that I have androgyny and deformed external genitalia, but I am definitely a boy! I love playing outside and believe that I am very smart, I think I am smarter than most of my friends!
My name is Blake. I have a birthday coming up soon and I will be turning 4 years old! Since last summer I have been living with a foster family and this year I started kindergarten. Since I have been diagnosed with Down syndrome and a heart defect I still need daily help from my foster family, but I am trying to do more like a big boy. Even though I am still a little delayed, I can go up and down the stairs all by myself have good basic fine motor skills. I can understand what my foster family says to me but sometimes they cannot understand my words clearly. It can be hard trying to find the words to express myself but I still enjoy playing with the other children. I am always energetic and try to keep a ready smile for the day!
Hi, I’m Leigh! I just turned 5 in October. I came into care when I was just 2 years old. The doctors say that I have cerebral palsy. I get massages every day to help my legs get more flexible. I am able to crawl around and I am working on walking but I am not quite there yet. I am able to follow directions given by my caregivers and I like to play with my friends. My new favorite thing to do is crawl around and get into everything!
Hi, I’m Lacey! I am 7 years old and I am super brave! I have a brain that is underdeveloped and I am a little behind my friends in learning. I was living with a foster family until 2010 and then I came to live at an orphanage. It was hard for me at first, but I have warmed up to my caregivers and I love playing with my friends. I can speak really well, but I have a difficult time reading and writing. I sometimes do not like to study because it is hard but I am learning how to study with my teachers. Playing outside with my friends and dancing are some of my favorite things to do!
Hi, I’m Wendy! I am 7 years old and I love to smile and play with my friends. I have been diagnosed with CHD. The doctors say that I have backflow through my Tricuspid Valve which is causing accelerating speed in my pulmonary artery. Because of this I have some delays in my motor development, but I am working really hard and learning a lot. I can count to 10 and I know a ton of colors. I love to sing and dance and make others smile!
Read MoreWOW Kids
This week’s featured children are ready for the best Christmas present ever, a forever family! Whether or not these children are destined to be your child or not, they belong to a family and we want your help to find that home for them. Mindy, Kyler, Lexi, Danny and Rachel are all beautiful children in our China Waiting Child program. They are anxiously awaiting their forever homes! Take a second to read their stories, and if you would like to learn how to bring them home contact Jessie@gwca.org or go check out our Photo Listings to view other waiting children.
Hi! My name is Mindy and I am 7 years old. My doctors tell me that I have hypothyroidism so I have to take medicine three times a day. My foster family is supportive and we get along well with each other. Others say that I am an outgoing and active girl with vibrant facial expressions. I really enjoy getting to help others and always stand up for kids who are bullied. I am good about asking questions on things I do not understand but I have a hard time with my memory. I cannot always remember colors and numbers get confusing too. I am working hard on remembering everything I learn. For fun, I like to ride my bike, play in the sand, and do exercises in the mornings.
Hi, I’m Kyler! I am 3 years old and super cute. I can be spoiled but I am close with my caretakers. In April 2013, I had a big surgery called a “right double-way Glenn operation.” My doctors say that I have a complex heart defect: transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary stensosis, and an ASD and VSD. My doctors told me that I am a brave boy but I will need to have another operation next year. I can be quite talkative but when I get around strangers I become shy. I like getting to play with the other children but since I have a big heart problem, I cannot go to school with my friends. I hope I can get better soon so that I can do more since I like to be active!
I’m Lexi and I am 11 years old. I am a very outgoing girl and I get along well with the other children. My doctors say that I have mild exotropia and I have a 2cm hemangioma on my chest. I am studying in the kindergarten class in the orphanage since I am a bit behind my friends. I think it’s because I have a bad memory but I am working hard to catch up. My teacher even helps me recite Tang poetry so that I can catch up. My foster mother also helps me with my homework and I am trying to get better at expressing myself and communicating with adults. I don’t always understand their questions and sometimes they don’t understand mine. I am a big helper with the house chores and I am getting along well with my foster family.
Hi, I am Danny! I just turned 13, after next August if I have not found my forever family I will no longer be eligible for adoption. I was brought to the middle school in my city when I was 10 years old. Because I cannot hear I live with a foster family. The doctors say I have Hepatitis B, but it doesn’t bother me. I go to a special school away from home. I understand some sign language and can read lips. I have adapted to my new family setting and consider myself to be very clever, obstinate and outgoing. My passion is drawing, see some of my artwork below!
Hi, I’m Rachel! I am 7 years old and I love to listen, play, and groove to the music! I have Cerebral Palsy and it makes my left hand a little stiff, but it doesn’t stop me from doing anything. I can dress myself, pick up my room, and play just like my friends. When I was first learning to talk, I had some trouble getting all my words out. Now, I can sing and I can tell my caregivers what I need. Sometimes I get frustrated when I cannot think of a word. In school, I know all my shapes and colors, but I am still trying to learn to read Chinese Characters. At the orphanage I love to play with my toys, and I especially love the toys that make me dance. My teachers say that I am very talkative and have a great smile!
Read MoreConnecting Hearts Care Package
Once your family has been matched with a forever child the wait to meet your child is probably the most difficult part. You’ve seen the beautiful face of your child and deep in the pit of your stomach you undoubtedly know that this your child, but now you must wait. The wait can be excruciating yet bittersweet.
GWCA offers a service for families that allows your family to connect with your child before they come home. This package is called our Connecting Hearts Care Package. This package includes a disposable camera for your child or ‘aunties’ at the orphanage to take photos so your child has some memories to bring home with them. A 2 lb decorated cake (if the orphanage will allow outside food), a stuffed mother panda bear and baby, a pillow with family’s photo, and a translated letter. Part of the package comes with the understanding that the orphanage will provide pictures for the family of the child enjoying their gifts. Here are some photos that one of our families just received.
Look at all the fun gifts, her stuffed pandas and photo pillow.
She also received this tasty cake.
And how sweet, she shared it with her friends.
Oh boy it’s so yummy!
Working on homework with a friend.
And posing for the camera.
How fun for this family and their little girl, I know this family was so excited to see her in her daily life, and I bet she was more than excited to show it off. To learn more about this care package and other’s you can visit our Legacy Journey website.
Read More
WOW Kids
Much like the boys, older children get overlooked when it comes to adoption. It seems as though most families want their new ‘baby’ to complete their forever family. Unfortunately there are many kiddos in the orphanages over the age of 4 just waiting for their forever families. In China if a child is over the age of 14 they are no longer eligible for adoption which is why we push so hard to find these kiddos their forever families before then. Check out these sweet faces that are ready and waiting to come home.
Hi, I’m Chase and I am 7 years old. I am very talkative and smart. When I first came to the orphanage I had an imperforate anus and my right eye is slightly smaller than my left. I have been doing well since I got here, but I got a little sick and had to go to the hospital because I lost too much weight. I was able to gain that weight back and now I am doing better. I am talking, walking, and developing on target. I love to watch cartoons and play with my friends!
Hi, I’m Brett and I have a million dollar smile! I love to sing and be the center of attention. Both of my feet are clubbed and I am unable to walk by myself, but that does not stop me from figuring out how to do things on my own. I will crawl on my knees and sometimes I even walk on my ankles. One of my feet is getting treatment, but the other is still turned inward. I am really smart and know my numbers, Chinese characters, and even 1-10 in English!
Hi, I’m Tommy! I am 9 years old and I am great at sports. I used to have a cleft lip and palate, but I had surgery when I was younger and I have been doing great ever since! I have been living in a foster home almost my whole life, and I have been getting stronger and smarter every day. I have not had any health concerns since my surgery and I am doing great in school. I can take care of myself during the day and I love to play with my friends. I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends!
Hi! My name is Marissa. I am 13 years old and after next October I will no longer be eligible to be adopted. I have vitiligo and I have lots of really cool little birth marks on my legs and one really large one on my back. My doctor says its called a nevus. I am very active and don’t ever feel pain or discomfort from my birthmarks. I can keep up with all my friends and love learning new things at school! I can do everything on my own and like to help out my foster family. My foster mom says that I have beautiful bright eyes and very big smile!
Hi, I’m Tatum! I am 10 years old and I am a great singer! When I came to the orphanage, I had an operation for an imperforate anus. Since then, I have been super healthy! I have some incontinence with my bowl movements, but I am able to take care of all my own hygiene needs by myself. I take excellent care of my own hygiene needs. I go to school at the orphanage and I work hard on my studies even though I am a little behind my friends. My caretakers say that I am very outgoing and energetic. I love to sing, and Great Wall even has a video of it! My teachers have talked to me about adoption and I am ready to find my forever family!
Read MoreWOW Kids
Oh, the joy of boys! Did you know that there are hundreds of boys in China waiting to be adopted? Many people believe that little girls from China are the ones that need help, however that is definitely not the case. Because of the well known one child law in China it is often thought that families in China would not want to give up their little boys. This is definitely a myth that desperately needs to be overturned.
- If a boy is born into a family that already has a child it is possible his family may choose to no longer care for him
- If a child is born with a special need that a family is not able to handle they may choose to no longer care for him.
- If a child loses his family at an older age they may become eligible for adoption.
There could be a number of reasons as to why a family would abandon their little boy but the bottom line is, these little boys need forever homes too. Annually there are 3 times as many little girls adopted than little boys so the number of boys waiting is increasing everyday. Take a second to learn a little more about some of our sweet little boys waiting. Click here to view all of our waiting children or contact Jessie@gwca.org to learn more about these guys.
Hi, I’m Andrew! I am 6 years old and I am the life of the party. I had surgery when I was very young because I had CHD, and, since then, I have been feeling better! I am able to play with my friends and I love to dance and sing. I am very smart and love to ask questions. I am a great eater and my favorite food is sweet fruit. My caregivers say that I am typical boy that loves anything with wheels!
I met a very nice adoption advocate this summer and this is what she had to say about me.
“I met this 6 year old boy with CHD. This little guy had so much energy and was ALL BOY running around and playing and showing off for us. I was alone in a stairwell with him and nearly fainted when he jumped from the halfway point on a flight of stairs to beat me to the bottom! I tried to scold him but he gave me one of those smiles that led me to believe he was gonna do it again on the next flight…yep… This little guy is so full of life and just adorable!!! I imagine he keeps his foster mother on her toes! He was very curious about us and followed us all over the orphanage building.”
Hi, I’m Patrick! I am almost 10 years old and I love to play the keyboard and organ. I had surgery to remove a hematoma of the scrotum, but I have not had any other complications since then! When I had my surgery, the doctors found out that I have hemophilia. That doesn’t stop me from doing most things throughout the day, but sometimes I can’t walk as far or run as fast as my friends. I take medication every week to help my blood clot. If I get hurt or fall down sometimes it takes longer for me to stop bleeding, but I still love to be active. I have been living with a foster family since 2006 and I am learning a lot. I can read full newspapers, do chores around the house, and even go on the Internet!
Hi, I’m Louie! I am 6 years old and I love to run around and do things on my own. I came to the orphanage when I was 2 years old and I had a lot of tests run by doctors. The doctors say that I have hydrocephalus, but I have a healthy heart, lungs, and diaphragm. Also, one of my feet is 1 cm longer than the other, but the x-rays show that both feet are very healthy. This has not slowed me down at all! I went to live with my foster family in 2011 and I am learning a lot in school. I am a little bit behind my friends in school and sometimes I am slow at communicating, but I am fast at playing games. I love to play with blocks and build tall towers!
I’m Colton and I am 9 years old. My friends say I am outgoing and polite. My doctors tell me that I have cerebral palsy, a mild deformity of both elbow joints, clubbed feet, and paralysis of both legs. Though I cannot stand or walk, I don’t let this hold me back. My caretakers tell me that I am not even affected by these problems with how much I move around. I am even a pro at using chopsticks and scissors. I can cut out paper flags, kittens, and boats. I would really like to learn how to draw too. I hope that someone can teach me more about this one day! In order to get around I have a cool chair just for me. It has really helped build up the strength in my hands. I love reciting rhymes and stories and helping the other children. I love learning new things and sharing with the other kids around me.
Hi, I’m Daniel! I am 6 years old and I love to play with my toy cars! The doctors say that I have Cerebral Palsy and I go to physical therapy to help this. I used to not be able to move around, but I have been working so hard in therapy that I am able to roll over, sit, stand, and go upstairs all by myself! I almost have walking down to perfection, but sometimes I may be a little unstable . My caregivers say that I am a chatterbox! I love to ask questions and learn new things. I can keep up with my friends in school. I enjoy playing with my toys and I especially like playing outside with my friends!
Read More