New Kids on the Block
Meet Dimitri
Dimitri is a precious 6-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He’s able to walk on his own and go up and down the stairs. He can follow simple instructions, such as putting his clothes on and participating in chores. Dimitri was placed in a foster home, and he quickly attached to his foster parents. He loves to be mommy’s little helper and run errands with her, and he loves playing toys with his foster dad.
Dimitri does not speak too often, but he is able to say a few words, such “mama”, “popo”, and “hug”. Sometimes he likes to be silly and act like he is singing in a microphone. Like most kids, Dimitri loves to play outdoors with his foster sister. Most of all, he loves receiving hugs from his foster parents. Dimitri is an adorable little boy who has a lot of love to give to his future family! Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Meet Maggie
Maggie is a precious little girl who is 5 years old! Her file indicates that when she came to the institute, she had severe ear infections in both ears, for which she underwent a procedure. Maggie also has some muscular tension on the left side of her body. She listens and follows instructions very well and loves to be close to her caretakers. She is described as being an extremely curious and happy kiddo.
It is unclear in her medical file why she exhibits some muscular tension, but she is able to stand, walk and run independently. Maggie also has some language delays but can easily understand those around her. Her favorite activity is listening to music and dancing with children in the orphanage! GWCA is currently requesting some updated information on Maggie. Contact us if you would like to learn more about her!
Meet Hunter
*AGING OUT* Hunter is an older healthy boy who is 13 years old and will age out in May of 2018. He has no known medical diagnoses and seems to be doing very well! He was raised by his uncle up until he was about 9 years old, when he was taken to the institute. Hunter does well in school and does not have any health conditions or delays compared to his peers! He is described as being a relatively introverted and thoughtful kiddo who gets along very well with other children. He has expressed a great desire to find a family and would very much like to be adopted. Contact one of our adoption counselors today if you would like to learn more about Hunter!
Meet Duke
Duke is an adorable 3-year-old boy who is in need of a forever family! Duke has postoperative congenital heart disease. GWCA is currently obtaining updated information on him, as his file is currently outdated. Duke is able to stand alone and say a few words. He has been described as an outgoing boy who loves to laugh and cuddle with his caretakers. Please reach out us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Meet Reese
Reese is a charming 12-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with a lower limb disability. He has received surgery for his need and can now walk with a walker. He continues to receive daily rehabilitation training. Reese lives in a foster home and has formed healthy attachments to his foster parents. He is self-independent and adapts well to change. Reese’s foster parents have described him as an outgoing, respectful, and well-mannered boy. He is very talkative and makes friends easily. He helps out around the house by doing chores and caring for his younger foster siblings. Reese attends school, and he does very well because he is a hard-worker and likes to study. Reese is a caring boy who will bring joy to his future family’s home! Contact us at GWCA today to learn more about him!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Lorelai Found Her Family!
Congratulations!
Hooray! We are beyond excited to share that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this INCREDIBLE girl home forever!
As an older girl, she was nearing the age at which she would age out of the China adoption system and lose her chance of being adopted. Now, with a family working towards bringing her home, her life and her future have been changed forever. She’ll be able to experience the love, comfort, and safety of a family. Congratulations to her and her new Forever Family from all of us at Great Wall China Adoption and Children of All Nations! We can’t wait to continue following your journey home!
Special Focus Adoption
As an older child, this wonderful girl’s file was considered Special Focus rather than LID. This made it possible for her family to begin submitting their paperwork to adopt her right away, rather than waiting until they had completed their dossier. GWCA is currently advocating for over 50 Special Focus children from China, including older children, who are still waiting for their families to find them. If you’re interested in learning more about them, contact our adoption specialists or visit our Waiting Child photo listing today!
Resources
– Learn more about adopting from China
– What it means to “Age Out”
– Meet our current Waiting Children
– Contact an adoption specialist
Halloween Photo Contest 2017
Fall is in the air, pumpkins are everywhere, and it’s almost time for Halloween! We would love to see how your family celebrates the spookiest time of the year. Our annual GWCA/CAN Halloween Photo Contest starts today and ends Thursday November 2nd. Send photos of your little witches and ghosts to kim@saeglobal.org to participate in our contest! Here are the categories for this year:
Most creative
Spookiest
Cutest
Coolest
Silliest
Best group costume
We’ll share all submissions and announce the winners on November 3rd. Click here to check out previous contest winners. We hope you have a safe and fun Halloween weekend, and we can’t wait to see all of the adorable costumes!
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New Kids on the Block
Meet Hayden!
This cute little boy is 5 years old! Hayden has a dislocated hip and has been diagnosed with a need related to the bones in his legs and feet. We’re currently obtaining updated information about him, as his file is very outdated. According to an update in 2014, Hayden was unable to walk with assistance, but he was receiving rehabilitation therapy every morning and afternoon! He was able to crawl around to where he needs to go and say a few words. Hayden has been described as a shy little boy, but he loves listening to music and giving hugs to his caretakers! Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about Hayden!
Meet Everett!
This precious kiddo is 8 years old. Everett was born blind but does not have any additional diagnoses. From 2010 to 2015 he lived in a foster environment but returned to the institution to receive a better educational experience. Everett is described by his caretakers as being smart, cute, active, and extremely well-liked by everyone he meets! Because of his eyesight, his fine motor skills have been slightly delayed. He is cognitively on target compared to his peers and even knows a lot of English!
Everett is energetic and curious about everything. He loves remaining close to his caretakers so he can ask them questions and explore more. Everett loves to sing and listen to music and watch Dora the Explorer! He is described as being very helpful and thoughtful and is always willing to help other kiddos. Contact us at GWCA today if you are interested in learning more about Everett!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Bella Found Her Family!
We are so happy to announce that this sweet girl has a family that is working towards bringing her home forever! We are incredibly excited for Bella and her new family, and we can’t wait to follow her journey home. Congratulations from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
China Adoption – Special Focus
Since this precious girl’s file was considered Special Focus, our China matching specialists were able to advocate for her on our Waiting Child photo listing. Once her family reviewed her file, they were able to submit their paperwork to be matched with her right away rather than having to wait until after their dossier had been submitted. All of the kids whose profiles are currently on our photo listing have the same designation of “Special Focus,” meaning families can be matched with them even if they’re just beginning the adoption process.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of our Waiting Children, contact our matching specialists or visit our China adoption photo listing today!
Resources:
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist!
New Waiting Child Updates!
Our China matching specialists recently received updates for many Waiting Children we’re advocating for! These updates help provide families with new information on the children’s development, needs, and personalities.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of these kiddos, contact our China matching specialists today or visit our photo listing to see all of the Waiting Children!
Click here to visit the China Waiting Child photo listing!
Meet Talia!
This beautiful girl is 11 years old! Talia was diagnosed with a cyst in her brain, but it does not appear to impact her overall development or affect her daily life. Talia is a smart, independent girl who does very well in school! She is in the 6th grade. She is very popular with the other kiddos and is described as having a shy personality. She has fantastic language development and is even able to say some simple English words! She is a bright, happy girl who would thrive with a family to call her own. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about her!
Click here to watch Talia’s NEW video!
Meet Sage!
Sage is a sweet little girl who just turned 4 years old. She Down Syndrome and appears to be doing well overall. Because Sage has Down Syndrome, her speech is delayed, but she can understand what her caretakers are saying to her and can follow simple instructions. In a recent update, her caretakers indicated that she has strong cognitive abilities and interacts very well with kids and adults! Sage does not have any mobility delays, and she is a very active and playful child.
She does a great job at completing self-care tasks, such as getting dressed on her own and eating by herself. Sage gets along well with other children. She has a ready smile and is described as being a little sweetheart! Sage loves to jump and play, and she especially loves to dance with her caretakers! She’s very attached to her caretakers and loves to be around her nanny. If you would like to learn more about sweet Sage, please contact GWCA China Home Finding Team today!
Meet Max!
Max is a precious little boy who just turned 6 years old! He was born with a clubbed foot but had surgery to fix it, and now he can walk normally like any other child. Max also has one testicle that hasn’t dropped yet, but that is fairly common, and it will either drop naturally in the next few years, or a very simple procedure can be done to fix it.
Max is described as being an obedient, well-behaved, and outgoing child. He enjoys bath time, watching cartoons, and playing with other children. Max helps his nannies take care of the younger children in the orphanage. He can say many words and understand what others are saying to him. Max is said to be loved by everyone who meets him. If you would like to learn more about him, please contact us at GWCA today!
Click Here to Watch Max’s NEW Video!
Meet Peter!
Peter is a precious kiddo who just turned one year old! He was born with a congenital heart defect and a brain need, but overall he appears to be doing very well! Peter is currently living with a foster family and has shown very healthy attachment towards his foster parents.
Peter is very curious and loves to explore new things! He can sit up without assistance and has excellent fine motor skills. He can call to his caregivers to express his needs and is able to say “ma”! He is a happy, bright kiddo who would thrive with the love of a family. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Click Here to Watch Peter’s NEW Video!
Meet Erin!
Erin is an adorable 8-year old girl in need of a home to call her own. Her file indicates that she has mobility delays in her lower limbs, but with physical therapy, she has thrived! Erin’s caregivers describe her as a sweet little girl who is strong and brave. With therapy, Erin has improved her overall mobility and can now walk up and down stairs with assistance!
Erin has incredible language development and is able to speak in full sentences with her caregivers. She has a very curious mind and loves to learn. Erin has excellent self-care ability and loves to take care of the younger kiddos in the orphanage. Erin appears to be on target cognitively and overall is a bright, happy kiddo. If you’d like to learn more about this amazing girl, please reach out to us at GWCA!
Check out This NEW Video of Erin!
Meet Audrey!
This precious little one is Audrey! She is 2 years old and was born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease. Audrey is a snuggly, sweet little kiddo who loves her caregivers! She loves to play with toys and has excellent fine motor skills. She is an adorable little one who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more her!
Click Here to Watch Audrey’s NEW Video!
Meet Wayla!
Wayla is a beautiful little girl who is two years old! She had hydrocephalus when she was younger, but she received surgery and a shunt in May 2015 and has recovered well from this operation. She also has some speech delays. Wayla is not walking yet but is crawling very well, and she can stand up when holding on to something. She can sit up by herself and play with toys.
Wayla is a shy and gentle little girl. She likes to push the ball between herself and her nanny. Wayla also enjoys threading beads. She is very attached to her nannies. Wayla will make sounds such as “ya” and “na” and can say “mama.” She likes clapping her hands when her nannies call her name. If you would like to learn more about her, please request to review her file today!
Click Here to Watch Wayla’s NEW Videos!
Meet Milo!
This precious boy is 11 years old! Milo was born with cleft lip and palate that have been surgically repaired. He was also born with deformity of his toes. He is a very smart kiddo who is able to read and communicate with his caregivers clearly! We received an update on his condition recently, and his caretakers note that he has developed very well cognitively and does very well in school! He loves to play sports with the other kiddos in the orphanage and is very well loved by his caregivers. Please reach out to us at GWCA l to learn more him!
Click Here to Watch Milo’s NEW Videos!
Meet Adrian!
This precious boy is 3 years old! He has been diagnosed with a need related to the brain. Adrian has some delays in mobility and his cognitive development. However, he is receiving rehabilitation services everyday, including exercise therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. He has been described as being very active and optimistic. He is able to follow simple instructions, such as cooperating when his caretakers dress him and following his bedtime routine. He loves to play games with other children in the orphanage and likes to dance in his crib. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Meet Luna!
Luna is a sweet little girl who just turned 7 years old. She has lived with a foster family for most of her life and is very close with her foster mother. She is described a being beautiful and having a happy disposition. Luna has a congenital cleft soft palate, which has not been repaired. Her physical development has always been delayed compared to other children her age. She also has a hard time balancing sometimes. A recent update indicates that her cognitive ability is delayed, although we are unsure at this time whether or not that is due to overall orphanage delays. Her CT scan came back clear with no abnormalities.
Luna is a brave girl and she will seldom cry when she falls down. She has an outgoing personality and likes playing with other children. She can speak in simple words and phrases. Luna has become a very good eater over the hears, and she rarely gets sick. Luna can put on her clothes by herself. If you would like to learn more about Luna, please contact the GWCA China Home Finding Team today!
Check out This NEW Video of Luna!
Meet Jason!
Jason is a sweet boy who just turned 12 years old. He was born deaf but has since received a cochlear implant, so he has quite a bit of hearing ability now. Since he received his cochlear implant 4 years ago, he has attended a special boarding school to help him learn language and speech.
Jason has great self-care skills and is a very easy person to live with. He has an easy-going personality and gets along well with others. He likes to draw and make models with his hands. Jason is good at math, and he likes to play basketball with other children at school. Please contact us at GWCA if you would like to learn more about adopting him!
Click Here to Watch One of Jason’s NEW Videos!
You can watch more NEW videos of Jason when you request to review his file!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
4 New Kids on the Block!
Meet Justin!
Justin is an adorable 3-year-old boy! He has been diagnosed with mild Cerebral Palsy and exotropia in both eyes, which is a mild condition where his eyes sometimes turn outwards. Justin has been engaged in daily rehabilitation therapy, and he can stand alone with the assistance of a walker or his caretaker’s hand. His caretakers believe that he will be able to walk by himself in the near future.
According to an update from November 2016, his caretakers noted that he was able to follow simple instructions and is currently in the babbling stage of language development. He sometimes says “mom,” especially when he wants snacks. Justin has been described as an outgoing, active little boy who gets along well with others, and his favorite thing to do is to watch cartoons! Please reach out to us at GWCA if you would like to learn more about him!
Meet Cooper!
This adorable little guy is Cooper, and he is 9 years old! One of Cooper’s eyes is underdeveloped, and he does not have any vision from it. However, his other eye is only nearsighted, and he reports to be able to see with glasses on. His host mom says that he was not restricted in any way based on this need, and that he was able to keep up with other kids with no problem! Cooper was hosted in the hosting program last summer and had an amazing time with his host family!
Here’s something that his host family wrote about him: “He is independent, unbelievably well behaved, follows direction, and likes to help. Shy at first, but he quickly opens up to everyone. Very inquisitive, he is constantly asking questions. Wakes up in the morning and greets us with a cheery “Hello!”, one of the several English words he learned while with us. He has been as low maintenance as any child I have ever met. The way he adjusted to the drastic changes of hosting was unbelievable, he is so ‘go with the flow.’ Sounds too good to be true, but he didn’t misbehave for a second while he was here. I really don’t have any negatives to say about him. We honestly forgot that he had any vision issues at all. He rides a bike, power wheels, scooter, runs races, all no problem.”
Visit our photo listing to read more from his host family! Contact us at GWCA to learn more about Cooper!
Meet Brett!
This cute little boy is 3 years old and has been diagnosed with congenital clubbed foot. GWCA is working on getting an update on whether it affects one or both of his feet. His file indicates that he also has a delay in his psychomotor functioning. Based on an update from September 2017, he is slightly delayed compared to his peers. His caretakers noted that he is engaged in rehabilitation therapy and is able to walk and climb up the stairs with assistance. Brett is able to follow simple instructions and says a few words, such as hello, goodbye, drink milk, do not, and various fruit names. He is described as being a shy little boy who gets along well with others. Brett loves to sing and imitate animals. Please reach out us at GWCA if you would like to learn more about him!
Meet Jeremy!
This sweet little boy’s name is Jeremy, and he is 6 years old! His file indicates that he was diagnosed with latent spina bifida and post-operative congenital anal atresia. His file is outdated, and GWCA is requesting additional information. At the time his file was made, he was in kindergarten and was able to walk, talk, dress himself, and follow simple instructions. Jeremy has been described as a shy yet active little boy who loves playing outdoors. Please reach out to us at GWCA if you would like to learn more about him!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Home with Caroline
For Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we checked in with Lindsey and Jesse, who adopted the sweetest girl Caroline last year. Once they saw her picture during their adoption search, they fell in love. At that moment, they knew they had found their daughter. When we previously spoke with Lindsey, she said, “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 love with every fiber of our being.” This time, we hear about how life has been since Caroline came home.
To read more about their journey to find Caroline, visit our blog here!
Click here to watch a touching video of Caroline meeting her mom for the very first time!
Did you expect to parent a child with Down syndrome?
“We knew we wanted to adopt a child with special needs when we were first inspired to adopt by another family, who adopted a young girl with Spina Bifida and a boy with a cleft palate. We knew that we would be able to offer a child who needed some extra love and attention with those extra things. What we didn’t talk about or anticipate was falling in love with a little girl who had an extra chromosome. But we did, and our conversation changed from just the physical needs to what it meant to parent a child with cognitive needs.”
How has it been since Caroline came home? Have you experienced any challenges, and what has been rewarding?
“Having Caroline home has been so incredibly wonderful. She is so eager to learn and has blossomed at home and in school and her therapies. She is so loving and freely offers the best hugs with soft pats on the back and sweet kisses. She loves to be a big sister and comes running when the baby cries, waving a pacifier or stuffed toy to make sister happy again.
The greatest challenge I think has been navigating the communication barrier and having realistic expectations. We have a child who doesn’t speak English but communicates in her own way, and it has been a challenge to us as her parents to learn what that is. Not to mention we don’t know where to start with our expectations because we didn’t develop with her; she came to us with her learned strategies that we don’t know. It can be very overwhelming to not feel understood, and Caroline does struggle with expression and can shut down and give up when we don’t understand each other right away.
To combat this we are working with baby sign language videos and communication boards with pictures, and this has provided us with excellent tools to navigate this barrier and continue to work on learning from each other every day. Each week she learns a new word or two and speaks more and more clearly, and she is just as proud of herself as we are of her.”
Is there anything you wish you knew before adoption?
“Oh good question. We had such good advice like – manage your expectations, as in don’t have any! That way you won’t be disappointed but instead will be really happily surprised.”
Resources:
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist!
I Found My Family!
What a FANTASTIC news during Down Syndrome Awareness Month! We are so happy to announce that this sweet girl has a family that is working towards bringing her home forever! Last year one of our matching specialists had the opportunity to meet Quinn during a trip to China, and she’s very special to our hearts. We are incredibly excited for Quinn and her new family, and we can’t wait to follow her journey home. Congratulations from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
China Adoption – Special Focus
Since this precious girl’s file was considered Special Focus, our China matching specialists were able to advocate for her on our Waiting Child photo listing. Once her family reviewed her file, they were able to submit their paperwork to be matched with her right away rather than having to wait until after their dossier had been submitted. All of the kids whose profiles are currently on our photo listing have the same designation of “Special Focus,” meaning families can be matched with them even if they’re just beginning the adoption process.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of our Waiting Children, contact our matching specialists or visit our China adoption photo listing today!
Resources:
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist!
5 New Kids on the Block!
Meet Ari!
This precious little girl is two years old. Her file is outdated, and GWCA is working on obtaining updated information. However, it indicates that she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. She was placed in a foster family when she was one month old, and GWCA is seeking information on her current living situation. Ari was described by her caretaker as being a quiet, little girl with an adorable laugh, who likes listening to music. Her favorite activity is playing outdoors. Please reach out to GWCA if you’d like to learn more about her!
Meet Adrian!
This precious boy is 3 years old! Adrian was diagnosed with a need related to the brain, and his development is delayed compared to his peers. However, he is able to follow simple instructions, such as cooperating when his caretakers dress him and following his bedtime routine. Also, he can walk with assistance by holding on to rails or holding his caretaker’s hand.
Adrian has been described as being very active and optimistic. He loves to play games with other children in the orphanage and likes to dance in his crib. GWCA is currently working on getting updated information about him. Please reach out to us to learn more!
Meet Gabriella!
This sweet little girl is three years old! Her file is currently outdated; however, it indicates she was born with a cleft lip and palate. GWCA is currently working to get an update on her. As an infant, Gabriella was quiet and had a charming smile. She made great strides in her mental and physical development. Gabriella would happily smile and laugh whenever she was held, teased, or listening to music. Please reach out to GWCA to learn more!
Meet Erin!
Erin is an adorable 8-year-old girl in need of a home to call her own. Her file indicates that she has mobility delays in her lower limbs, but she has thrived with physical therapy! Erin’s caregivers describe her as a sweet little girl, who is strong and brave. With therapy, Erin has improved her overall mobility and can now walk up and down stairs with assistance!
Erin has incredible language development and is able to speak in full sentences with her caregivers. Erin has a very curious mind and loves to learn. She has excellent self-care ability and loves to take care of the younger kiddos in the orphanage. Erin appears to be on-target cognitively and overall is a bright, happy kiddo. If you’d like to learn more about this amazing girl, please reach out to GWCA!
Meet Jason!
Jason is a sweet boy who recently turned 12 years old. Jason was born deaf but received a cochlear implant, so he has quite a bit of hearing ability now. Since he received his cochlear implant 4 years ago, he has attended a special boarding school to help him learn language and speech.
Jason has great self-care skills, and he is very easy to live with. He has an easy-going personality and gets along well with others. He likes to draw and make models with his hands. Jason is good at math, and he likes to play basketball with other children at school.
Please contact the China Home Finding Team if you would like to learn more about adopting Jason. We hope we are able to find Jason his Forever Family soon!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Ready to get started?
