Forever Family Friday
We’re SO excited to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this adorable girl home forever! Congratulations to her and her new family from all of us at GWCA and CAN — we can’t wait to see you come home!
China Waiting Child Adoption
Our China adoption program allows families to be matched with Special Focus children at any point in the process, making the adoption journey as a whole relatively quick! We receive new children’s files each week, both from our orphanage partnerships and from the Shared List, which provides our families with the opportunity to review multiple files until they find a child that they feel would be a good fit. If you’re interested in learning more about the waiting children that we’re currently advocating for, visit our photo listing or contact our China matching specialists today!
- Visit the China Waiting Child Photo Listing
- Contact our China Matching Specialists
- Learn more about the China adoption process
New Kids on the Block
We’ve added 7 new kids to our Waiting Child photo listing this week! If you’re interested in learning more about any of these kiddos or viewing their files, contact our China matching specialists or visit our photo listing today!
Everett
Everett is an adorable 3 year old! He has a urogenital need but it doesn’t seem to impact his daily life. His file was prepared in May of 2015 and at that time he could walk steadily with holding and independently for short distances. He was mimicking adult’s actions and words and could recognize familiar objects and people. He is described as being open minded and adorable! He gets along very well with other children and loves to play games. His favorite activity is being outside. Everett had some delayed physical development when he was about a year old but went through some extensive rehabilitation training which helped him overcome these obstacles. After training he could sit up alone, crawl, stand and walk for short distances. GWCA is currently asking for some updated information on him. Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Bronx
Bronx is a sweet little boy from China that is about to turn 4 years old. Bronx seems to be healthy physically and is just developmentally delayed. He had an IQ test when he was younger that ranked him lower on IQ, but we have found from experience that many of those tests are inaccurate because they do not take into account that a child is going to have institutional delays from growing up in an orphanage. So whenever there is an IQ test in a child’s file, we suggest taking it with a grain of salt. However the testers did say that he might have autism, but again that is something that may or may not be completely accurate based on the testing.
Based on what is in this child’s file, he seems to have the same basic delays as other children his age who have grown up in an orphanage. He is a bit more delayed in his social skills, including how to play with others, but again that is to be expected with a child growing up in an orphanage. Many children lack the skills to play well with other children because no one has taught them how to share or how to play constructively with other children. Often times children in orphanages have very few toys, so sharing can be hard for children in orphanages and so they can tend to play by themselves so no one takes their toys.
Bronx likes to play outdoors and is quite active. He likes to look at books and newspapers and pretends to be reading them. He speaks several words and short phrases. His caretakers say that he will say “Good Morning, teacher” when they come into a room. Bronx likes to listen to music and claps his hands when listening to children’s songs. Bronx goes to school in the orphanage and his teacher’s say that he is making progress in learning every day and that he is a happy boy.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Bronx. We hope we are able to find Bronx her Forever Family soon!
Adeline
Adeline is an adorable little girl from China that is 5 and a half years old. Adeline has cerebral palsy but she seems to be doing very well in terms of her gross motor skills such as walking. Adeline is consistently improving her fine motor skills such as changing playing with toys, changing her own clothes and feeding herself. Adeline likes to play with blocks and stuffed animals, and she likes playing games with other children, especially chasing games.
Adeline is delayed in her speech abilities, but she does understand what people are telling her and can follow instructions given by her caretakers. She makes strong eye contact with others and can show what she wants by making sounds. It is likely that her speech delays are due to muscle tightness in her facial muscles due to her cerebral palsy, so she will probably need speech therapy when she is adopted. Adeline can wave hello and goodbye to people when they come into a room, and she will blow kisses to others. Adeline could probably have an amazing life if adopted by a loving, forever family in the United States. There are so many more opportunities her in the U.S. that she will never have in China as an orphan.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Adeline. We hope we are able to find Adeline her Forever Family soon!
Nova
Nova is a cute little girl from China that is 4 and a half years old. Nova has cerebral palsy so she has higher muscular tension in her legs and she has clubbed feet. However, after rehabilitation, she can now sit up by herself and walk! She has strong attachments to her foster parents and she enjoys being with her foster mother when she is doing chores around the house. Nova is more quiet and introverted. She doesn’t talk in full sentences, but can say some simple words, and she will turn and look at you when you call her by name.
Nova’s file doesn’t have a lot of information in it about Nova’s personality, likes or dislikes, so we will try to get more updated information on her soon.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Nova. We hope we are able to find Nova her Forever Family soon!
Luke
Luke is a darling 6-year old boy who is currently in the United States through our Summer Hosting program! Luke has a hairy nevus on his back, but overall he is doing extremely well. Luke is an active, playful kiddo who loves to play sports! He loves playing with other kiddos and likes to do arts and crafts. His host mom says he’s doing a great job with bonding and attachment! Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Fu Yi
Meet Fu Yi, a beautiful 5-year old girl with Down Syndrome! She is currently being hosted in the United States and has thrived since arriving with her host family. Her medical file indicates that she has a congenital heart defect, but after going to a cardiologist we’ve discovered that her heart is extremely healthy! She has a bright spirit and brings joy to everyone she meets. She has had an amazing time with her host parents and siblings! Her host family’s Facebook page about her can be found here: Loman Adoption: https://www.facebook.com/LomanAdoption/ Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a cute little girl from China that just turned 3 years old. Brooklyn has Down’s Syndrome and seems to be doing very well. Brooklyn is walking and likes to dance when music is on. She will wave “hi” and “goodbye” when people leave and enter the room. She likes looking in the mirror and kissing her reflection. She has good fine motor skills and can pick up small objects like candy, hairpins and breadcrumbs. She is speaking simple words and understands and follows simple instructions by caretakers. She likes to be around people and is very active and cheerful. She likes to hold other children’s hands when she plays with them. She is getting some special education in an orphanage class. She likes being cuddled by her caregivers.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Brooklyn. We hope we are able to find Brooklyn her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch My Video #1! | Click Here to Watch My Video #2! | Click Here to Watch My Video #3! | Click Here to Watch My Video #4!
Visit our Waiting Child photo listing today to learn how you can be matched with one of these amazing kiddos!
Read More
Welcome Home, Naomi!
The Girl in the Pink Dress
When we were in the adoption process, my mother had a dream. She saw our daughter wearing a pink dress. She said our little Naomi was trying to be brave and was not crying. A sweet friend of mine had a dream that Naomi would come to us and she would know us.
We certainly did not expect either of these things to happen. We knew that the day we met our daughter would be stressful for her. She would likely cry and feel overwhelmed. Who knew what she would be wearing? In all of the videos I had seen of families meeting their daughters I rarely saw a pink dress.
As we were ushered into a room to meet our daughter, I said to my husband, “If she is in a pink dress, I am going to lose it.”
We could see several children peeking around the corner from a back room. They were waiting for their turn to come out and meet their parents. I looked that direction and that’s when I saw her. A tiny girl, in a pink dress with sweet little piggy tails. She was spinning around in a circle, dancing about while she waited. I grabbed my husband, “I can see her! She is in a pink dress!!!” We both welled up with tears. It was a moment we will never forget.
And just like that. A little girl who was labeled a “foundling” was now a beloved daughter.
She was brave. She did not cry. She just looked at us like she was studying our faces. She liked the toys and snacks we brought. We just watched her in amazement. It was almost as though she knew us and we knew her. During the months of waiting, we prayed nightly that God would prepare her heart for us and our hearts for her. The first night was hard for her. That sweet little smile faded to sobs of grief and fear as we settled in for bed. We were so glad that she let us comfort her through her tears. Each night got better.
The days in China were full of lots of snuggling, playing and exploring. We met amazing new friends while we were there. Having other families with us gave us a sense of camaraderie. The trip felt long at times and we all got homesick for our children back home. Having friends to grab a bite to eat with or see the local sights was a blessing. In addition, our guide Kelly made our adoption trip smooth. She kept all our paperwork and appointments straight. She got us where we needed to go, answered all our questions and she was a joy to spend time with.
I searched high and low for just the right toddler carrier for my almost 4 year old daughter. I obsessed over it. I prayed she would like to be carried. I hoped that would encourage bonding between us. I was thrilled when she showed me immediately that she loved to ride in the carrier with me. We went all over the place in that thing!
We had the opportunity to tour Naomi’s orphanage and say goodbye to her friends and nannies. This visit was important to us. We want to be able to tell her about it when she is older. She will have so many questions in her future that we cannot answer. We know that will be hard for her. Two years of her life are unknown. We also went to Naomi’s finding spot. This place is sacred ground. It was powerful to stand with her in that place. She is restored to a family now.
When we arrived home, we were greeted at the airport by our family. The joy we felt when we saw their faces is indescribable. We were thrilled to have all our children together. It was precious to watch Naomi greet each of our family members. She knew they belonged to her.
The next few days were a blur due to jet lag. Thankfully, Naomi slept very well once we got her to sleep. I expected her to be up all hours of the night with the intense time change she was experiencing. This is just one of the many ways she has exceeded our expectations!
Before we adopted, we read and researched the effects of orphanage living on a child. We were also prepared for severe grieving behaviors and general culture shock. We expected bonding to be a long, difficult process. We expected her siblings to struggle with the new arrival. We expected the worst but hoped and prayed for the best. We still cannot believe how smooth her transition has been. It is as though she has always been in our family. We can only assume that her infant hood with her birth family gave her the important brain development she needed to develop strong attachments. The word we were given from the Lord for her adoption was “restore”. Her heart was more than ready to be restored to a family.
This adoption has been an incredible journey of obedience and trust in the Lord’s leading. He called us on behalf of one tiny girl in China. Oh how happy I am that we listened!
- Read Part One of Naomi’s Story Here!
- Visit GWCA’s Waiting Child Photo Listing to learn how YOU can be matched
- Learn more about China Adoption and the matching process
Student Exchange – Connecting Adoptive Families
Student exchange means something just a little bit different here at SAE. For us, student exchange started with an adoption journey. Our partner organization, Children of All Nations, saw the joy in one of the families who had adopted from China. We saw the connection that student exchange brought to that adoptive child to be connected back to their culture, to share in that experience with another child and with their family.
For us, the adoption journey never stops – it’s the commitment of a lifetime, and one we’re thrilled to be a part of at this stage!
Hosting an exchange student is an amazing experience for adoptive and potential adoptive families alike. It offers so many opportunities to families and students alike. Through student exchange, you can:
- Connect your child with his/her birth culture – all from home
- Introduce a student to American culture and to your family
- Help a student adjust to a new culture through your valuable experience as a parent
- Show students that loving families come in so many different forms
- Still preparing for adoption? This is great way to learn about your child’s culture before he or she arrives!
You can read more about the requirements to become a host family on our Host Family Page, and you can contact us at emily@studentambassadorexchange.org to ask for more information on our students who are waiting.
We have students waiting to find a host family, so whether you’ve adopted, are considering adoption, or are simply wanting to experience another culture, we’d love to introduce you to some of the amazing kids who hope to spend a year in the US this school year. You can visit our photolisting at this link, and if you’re ready to get started, you can start your application today!
Read More
GWCA Partners With Yue Yang Region
We are honored to announce that the CCCWA and Hunan Civil Affairs have approved a new partnership between GWCA and the Yue Yang region! There are a total of 9 orphanages in this region, and we are so incredibly excited to begin working with each of them. Our staff recently had the opportunity to visit these orphanages, where they were able to meet with of the kids that we will be advocating for, and conduct an initial interview. These children’s files should be available to us soon, and we are eager to help match them with loving Forever Families! Keep an eye out on our China Waiting Child photo listing, or contact us to learn how you can be matched with a child from one of our orphanage partnerships!
What are orphanage partnerships?
With thousands of Waiting Children in China, agencies have begun to partner with specific orphanages. These partnerships allow adoption agencies to give back to Chinese orphanages by providing them with the resources to help prepare children’s files for international adoption, and improving programs within the orphanage, giving each orphan the opportunity to thrive. This also means the orphanage provides any new files that are prepared exclusively to their partner agencies rather than releasing them to China’s shared list. This gives each child a greater chance of being placed, as the agency begins advocating for their adoption immediately. Some orphanages partner with multiple agencies in order to best advocate for their waiting children. It is not uncommon that we will learn of certain children before their files become available. This allows and even greater chance for child advocacy.
Why are orphanage partnerships important?
Orphanage partnerships are an important part of the China Waiting Child adoption process, as they benefit all parties that are involved. Not only do they contribute to the well being of each orphan within the institute, they help in the process of finding them a forever family by ensuring that their files are prepared and provided to an agency. This benefits the agency as they receive both files for Special Focus and Non Special Focus children. These files can then be reviewed by any families that are in process with the agency, as they have exclusive access to the file for a period of time. Partnership with an orphanage also allows for better and quicker updates, more photos, and more videos that aid in the placing of children with their forever families.
If you’re interested in learning more about the orphanages that GWCA is currently partnered with, contact our China matching specialists today!
9 New Kids on the Block
This week there are NINE New Kids on the Block that are in need of loving Forever Families! If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of them, contact our China Matching Specialists or visit our Waiting Child Photo Listing today!
Evelyn
Evelyn is a precious little girl from China that is 1 and a half years old. Evelyn has cerebral palsy but she seems to be progressing well. Evelyn’s file was prepared when she was less than 1 year old, so at the time she was not year speaking or sitting up by herself, which is to be expected. However Evelyn could push herself up when she was on her stomach. She was smiling and would interact with people when they would talk and play with her.
Evelyn had some videos uploaded in February 2016 showing how she was progressing at that time. We are currently working on getting even more updated information on Evelyn.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Evelyn. We hope we are able to find Evelyn her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Evelyn’s Video #1!
Click Here to Watch Evelyn’s Video #2!
Connor
Connor 
is a sweet little boy from China that recently turned 3 years old. Connor was born with deformities of both of his arms and legs, but he seems like a resilient little boy that has found ways of getting around even with his limb deformities. Connor is described as being strong willed and optimistic and never considers himself different from children without disabilities. He moves himself around the room by scooting on his bottom or rolling across the floor. Connor does not let his special need get him down and he maintains a positive attitude and problem solves ways to live his life despite his limb disabilities.
Connor enjoys playing with other children and he enjoys kicking balls with his friends and caretakers. Connor especially enjoys playing with an older boy in his orphanage that has similar limb disabilities. Connor likes to greet his caretakers when they come into the room and say goodbye to them when they leave. He enjoys when you lift him up and cuddle him.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Connor. We hope we are able to find Connor her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Connor’s New Video #1!
Click Here to Watch Connor’s New Video #2!
Angelina
Meet
Angelina! She is a precious 8-year old girl with cerebral palsy. She also has clubbed feet and her hips formed a little bit differently, but her mobility continues to improve every day! Overall she has made huge progress with her overall mobility in rehabilitation training. Her medical file was prepared last summer, so we are eager to receive an update and learn more about the progress that she’s made. She is a happy kiddo in need of a forever home! Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Naomi
Nao
mi is an adorable little girl from China that is about to turn 2 years old. Naomi has spina bifida and was born with a lumbosacral meningocele that was removed when she was only 4 months old. She has healed well from her surgery and she is receiving rehabilitation services to help her with her gross motor skills. Naomi’s file was prepared when she was only 10 months old, so this information is as of that time. At that time she was still recovering from her surgery and she could not yet sit up on her own. However she was able to push herself up when she was lying on her stomach and could reach and grasp nearby toys and play with them. She could visually follow moving objects across the room with her eyes. She loved being teased by her caregivers and she will giggle a lot.
We are working hard to get more updated information on how Naomi is doing currently. You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Naomi. We hope we are able to find Naomi her Forever Family soon!
Kaya
Meet
Kaya! She is a darling 2 1/2 year old girl with brain dysplasia. Since she has arrived to the orphanage at 2 months old she has made excellent progress with her development and is thriving under the orphanage’s care. She will dance with joy when a caretakers comes to see her in her crib, and she loves to cuddle! Her caregivers describe her as a happy, giggly kiddo. She is great fine motor skills and is learning how to sit up on her own without assistance. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about Kaya!
Paige
P
aige is an adorable 4-year old looking for a forever home! She has some swelling in her frontal lobe and has enlarged glands near her tonsils, but overall she seems to be doing great! She also has delayed motor development, but she is now able to walk on her own without assistance and has improved fine motor function. At the time that her file was prepared in 2014, she was able to say a few words and was able to distinguish her foster family from strangers. She is shy when meeting new people but is very attached to her caregivers and loves to cuddle with them! Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
Ainsley
Ainsley
is an adorable little girl from China that just turned 2 years old. Ainsley was born prematurely and she has some high muscular tension and developmental delays. Ainsley’s file was prepared when she was about 1 year old, so this information is as of when the file was prepared. Ainsley at the time was not able to sit up alone or crawl, but she could push up with her arms while on her tummy and lift her head up to look around. She could stand for a little while if someone was holding her armpits. She could grasp toys and could visually follow objects across the room. She was attached to her caretaker and liked being held and cuddled. She liked listening to music and would kick her feet happily when listening to it.
We are currently working hard to find out more current information about Ainsley.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Ainsley. We hope we are able to find Ainsley her Forever Family soon!
Gracie
Gracie i
s a cutie who is 5 years old! She had both a VSD and an ASD that have both been repaired with surgery. Gracie was also born with a chromosomal abnormality that we are currently trying to learn more about. She is described as being extroverted and cheerful! She loves being close to her caretaker but also loves to play with the other kiddos. Gracie loves to sing and dance and especially likes to listen to her caretaker play the piano. She is slightly delayed on her cognitive and physical development compared to her peers. Her language development is delayed and she is shorter than her peers. We are currently trying to learn more about Gracie! Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review her file.
Kiona
Kiona
is a sweet little girl from China that just recently turned 3 years old. Kiona has congenital retinal degeneration which means that she is blind. Due to being blind Kiona will naturally have some developmental delays, but most likely many of these delays can be overcome once she gets the one-on-on love and attention of a Forever Family.
Kiona has good sense of hearing and she can locate where people and objects are based on the direction of their sounds. She is described by her caretakers as being very lovely and smiley. She enjoys when people play with her and her favorite toys are dolls. Her favorite snacks are biscuits and small steamed bread. She is very close with her caretakers.
Kiona can’t walk since she cannot see, so it will take her longer to learn this skill. However she is receiving special training on learning to walk due to her blindness. Kiona can sit up alone and she can crawl on her own. She can eat and drink by herself. She can babble and is learning words. She does rub her eyes fairly often due to her sight loss.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Kiona. We hope we are able to find Kiona her Forever Family soon!
Read MoreFinding Caroline!
This past June, we heard from one of our adoptive dads, Jesse, as he prepared to celebrate his very first Father’s Day. Now we’re excited to share a bit from his wife, Lindsey, on their search for a child with special needs, their matching process, and how they came to find a beautiful little girl named Caroline!
After taking the weekend to do research, talk at length, and compile a list of questions, December 7th was the day we reached out to several adoption agencies to get more information as we anticipated this was a long and tedious process. Almost as if it were fate, the first agency to call us back was “Children of All Nations – Great Wall China Adoption” and after speaking with their matching specialist, Meredith, for only a few minutes she couldn’t hold back her excitement at the feeling she had about us and an updated file that had just been received that morning. Once Meredith shared this special little girl’s pictures and video with us and before even finishing reading her file and watching her videos, we had already fallen in love with her. We don’t see her as a little girl with special needs, we see her for her bright smile, adorable pigtails and the daughter we will call Caroline and love with every fiber of our being.
If your family is interested in learning how you can be matched with a Waiting Child in GWCA’s China adoption program, visit our China Waiting Child photo listing or contact us today!
Resources
- Visit GWCA’s Waiting Child Photo Listing!
- Learn how you can be matched with a Waiting Child
- More about the China matching process
- Contact a Matching Specialist
Read More
5 More Kids Home From China!
After seeing 19 kids come home in June, we’re delighted to welcome home 5 more kiddos from our China adoption program! Congratulations to each of these children and their new Forever Families as they begin their journeys together.
While a few of these kiddos just met their new families for the very first time, two of them came to America one year ago with our Orphan Hosting program. This program gave them the opportunity to spend time with families that were either advocating to help them find an adoptive family, or proceeding with the adoption process themselves. At the end of the hosting program, these two kiddos had to return to China while families worked to bring them home forever. We know that this time apart is difficult for both the host kiddos and their families, and we are SO happy that they have now returned to stay with their families forever!
If you’re interested in learning how you can start your journey towards adopting a Waiting Child from China, contact our China matching specialists today!
Resources
- Learn More About Adopting form China!
- Visit Our China Waiting Child Photo Listing
- Contact Our China Matching Specialists
- Learn More About Orphan Hosting
8 New Kids Added!
New Kids on the Block
Meet this week’s New Kids on the Block: Leo, Kai, DJ, Wen, Leila, Little Leo, Finn, and Isla. If you’re interested in learning more about any of our new kids, contact our China matching specialists today at (5120323-9595!
Leo is an amazing 12-year old boy who was hosted in the United States in early summer! Here’s what Leo’s host mom has to say about him:
“Leo is a 12 year old orphan from China residing in Wisconsin until July 10. At that time he will return to his orphanage in China. It is our family’s intention to connect this sweet boy with his forever family so that he can return to the US as quickly as possible. Leo is full of joy and smiles, and loves music. He has taken a liking to American music and sings along often and also has been singing in Chinese. He also plays the piano in our home nearly every day. Though he doesn’t play a familiar tune, he plays it appropriately and even looks at the song books as he is playing. He also likes to push buttons and play with toys that make noise or move. Therefore, he has been drawn to toys that typically get played with by toddlers. He didn’t know any English when he arrived, but he has quickly learned some words and is very good at mimicking words and phrases that are spoken to him. We have also developed some hand motions to communicate. He can let us know when he is hungry, thirsty, finished, or needs to use the restroom. He also understands some of our hand motions which has helped with our communication. He is a very affectionate boy that loves to hug, hold hands, and snuggle on your lap. He is also very silly. He often does things to make the family laugh like wearing silly hats, and dancing around and laughing. Leo also loves to be in motion. He really enjoys riding in a car and giggles as we go up and down hills every single time. Swinging is his favorite activity at the park and he screamed and laughed with amazement as we went down waterslides. Leo has a diagnosis of PKU (Phenylketonuria) which is a genetic metabolic disorder that means he does not digest protein like most people. Leo will need to be on a special diet to address his PKU diagnosis. While here he has been an incredible eater! He is open to almost all foods including fruits and vegetables and he ate all of the special low protein foods that are manufactured for those with PKU that we offered him.”
This boy need consistent care and a forever home! Please reach out if you’d like to review his file!
Kai is an adorable 8-year old boy in need of a forever home! Kai is developmentally delayed and has strabismus, meaning that his eye turns inward slightly. He was hosted in the United States in early summer and has made amazing progress in the short time he has been with a family! He has bonded well with his host parents, and is described as a friendly kiddo who is very kind and pleasant to those he meets. He has a cheerful spirit and loves to laugh. Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
DJ has it all – a great smile, a big heart, and an open mind to snapping photos with us! He was an all around sweet kiddo who said he’d like a new toy for Chinese New Year. He does well in school and has pretty handwriting. He knows his numbers in English, and we think he’d thrive in any family! He will be hosted this July in the United States, so please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more or speak with his host family!
Wen is a beautiful 12-year old girl who was hosted in the United States early this summer! Here’s more information about Wen from her host mother:
“Meet Wen! She is the bravest 12 year old girl that I know. This particular girl is sweet, intelligent, and very playful. She loves animals and children. I have been impressed by her maturity and the way she takes responsibility to help out around the house. She has had formal schooling in China and is right on part emotionally and cognitively with other children her age. Her condition of cleft lip and palate does not interfere with her communication abilities. She has a rich vocabulary and has picked up some words in English just over a few days. I can tell you that she will likely need bone graph surgery in the near future and dental work. Fortunately, this condition is easily corrected in the United States and insurance will pay for it. I have two children with this condition and work with a great team of doctors that have guided me in their care. I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this!!! She is a special child who deserves a loving family.”
Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Leila is a smart 13-year old girl who is healthy! She is aging out this December, so Great Wall is working hard to find her a family. She will be hosted in the United States this summer, and interested families may be able to meet her! She loves to write, and has written a science fiction novel that has been published on the internet! She does very well in school and hopes to be a writer as an adult as well. Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Leo is a sweet kiddo who is about to turn 7 years old! He has developmental delays as a result of growing up in the orphanage, but he seems to be doing great overall. Leo was hosted in the United States this summer for a month and has made leaps and bounds since arriving! He has made incredible progress with his muscle strength, learning capacity, and English vocabulary! He giggles often and has a big belly laugh that has brought a lot of joy to his host family. His host family describes him as incredibly adaptable and resilient. He has been able to adjust to any situation that he is given, and has an incredible ability to develop trusting relationships with both adults and children. He loves his host brother and would has made great connections with both parents, grandparents, and neighbors. He is a loving and bright kiddo who has made a lasting impact on everyone he has met. Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Finn is a cutie who is 2 years old! He has a special need that affects the development of his teeth. Finn seems to be developing well physically and cognitively. His file indicates that he has been hitting his developmental milestones. He can understand simple language and commands and knows how to communicate with his caretakers. Finn’s file is very limited so we are currently trying to get some more information on him! Please contact our matching specialists if you’d like to learn more about him!
Isla is a sweet little girl from China that is 2 and a half years old. Isla has cerebral palsy and because of a slight enlargement of ventricular system noted on her CT scan, her file suggests that she might have communicating hydrocephalus, although it sounds like that has not been confirmed yet.
Isla can sit by herself, but she cannot yet walk by herself, although she is able to walk when someone is holding her by the armpits. She can grasp objects such as toys and she can crawl. Isla is not talking yet. Isla tends to be more timid and quiet. She is close with the other children in her orphanage that are in her class. Isla’s favorite toys are balls and stuffed animals.
Read MoreTwo JOY Kids Find Forever Families!
We are so incredibly happy to announce that two of the kiddos from our very first JOY program have been matched with Forever Families! Congratulations to Josiah and Amelia from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
Much like our traditional Orphan Hosting programs, our JOY program strives to find loving and permanent homes for the children that are currently with our Orphanage Partnerships. Josiah and Amelia both spent one week exploring the city and doing fun activities with our JOY families and a few other children from their orphanage. Once our JOY families came back, they worked to help advocate on their behalf to help them find forever families, and we are so happy to see how successful their advocacy has been!
We are currently advocating for a few other kiddos who participated in our JOY program earlier this year. Each of these kiddos spent time with American families who were able to learn more about both their personalities and their special needs. This is incredibly helpful for adoptive families, as it provides them with information that may not have been included in their file. If you are interested in learning more about the JOY kids that we’re advocating for or viewing their files, visit our China Waiting Child photo listing, or contact one of our China matching specialists today!
Resources
- Learn about our upcoming JOY Mission trips
- Visit our Waiting Child photo listing to learn about other JOY kids in need of Forever Families
- Learn about the China adoption process
Ready to get started?
