February Is Heart Month
February is American Heart Awareness Month, a time when the country comes together to spread awareness about the dangers of heart disease and show support for those with heart conditions such as CHD. Heart Month is particularly significant to those of us in the adoption community, because many Waiting Children around the world are without families due to medical conditions such as CHD.
What is CHD?
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) occur when a child is born with an abnormally structured heart. In many cases, CHD presents itself as one or more holes in the walls between the heart’s chambers, an issue with the vessels, or incomplete development of a portion of the heart, which can compromise the heart’s ability to pump blood to deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body.
Treatment
While most cases of CHD are treatable with medication and/or surgery, many of the children in our programs are in situations where they may not have access to the treatment they need. That’s where our Orphan Warriors come in! We’ve seen countless families open their homes to children with heart conditions, and it’s incredible how quickly we can see improvement in a child’s condition once they’re home and receiving the treatment they need.
Down Syndrome and CHD
Although our matching specialists advocate for kids with a wide variety of special needs, the need most commonly seen among children that we advocate for — particularly in our China Waiting Child adoption program — is Down syndrome. While it’s not always the case, it’s common for children with Down syndrome to also have CHD.
GWCA is currently advocating for many children with Down syndrome. If this is a need that your family is open to, visit our China Waiting Child photo listing to learn how you can be matched with one of these incredible kiddos!
GWCA and CAN’s Waiting Children
Our China and CAN matching specialists are currently advocating for several kids with heart conditions. If your family is interested in learning how you can be matched with one of these incredible kiddos, visit our Waiting Child photo listings or contact our matching specialists today!
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Lena Yi Yi’s Journey – An ‘Older Child Adoption’ Story
We LOVE receiving updates from families that have come home. Not only is it incredible to see how far a child can come in a short amount of time with the love and support of a family, but it’s a great reminder that adoption is so much more than the process we help families through each and every day.
Lena Yi Yi was adopted at the age of 12, and welcomed into a loving family. Now, six years later, she is absolutely thriving, living out her dreams and exploring her passion for dance! Here is an update that we received from Lena Yi Yi’s proud mom:
Lena Yi Yi will be 19 on March 28th. It goes fast when you adopt them at an older age. Overall we have had a smooth ‘older child’ adoption. Knowing that she bonded with her Chinese adopted family from very early infancy I know helped. She’s very much fit into our family. She is actually so much like her dad in so many ways that except for her appearance one would not know she’s not our biological child. She is still home-schooled and will graduate either in late May or early August depending on how fast she completes her work.
She speaks English well but still struggles with reading and writing English although it’s improving slowly but surely. She is also still 100% fluent in Chinese. I had her take one semester with a native Chinese teacher, who immigrated to the US from China and settled in Nevada. This woman is a certified teacher and the super advanced Chinese lessons were via Skype. The teacher said Lena was very intelligent and read quite well and grasped new concepts in advanced Chinese very quickly.
Lena Yi Yi’s goals after graduation range from continuing to improve in English so she can work as a translator, to being a missionary and work in orphanages all over the world, and to continue training in dance and work in a Christian ballet company. She is applying to be a part of Wichita State University’s International Intensive English program. Although she’s a US citizen and this program is normally for international students, they do occasionally work with US citizen’s where English isn’t their first language. Regardless of all of her other goals, Brad and I agree this would give her a huge boost in anything she tries to do in life.
Speaking of dance, this has been Lena Yi Yi’s passion her entire time here. Ballet is her favorite although she has also trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, and has been a part of a studio ‘funk team’ and was selected to be a part of a competitive dance team in Wichita. This year she was chosen to be a part of the Nutcracker in Wichita. I am sending an article that ran in our small town newspaper about that. I am also sending some pictures and Facebook stories.
I feel her story is a good one to share as I know many with older child adoption have had struggles. We are thankful for all the help we had at Great Wall as well as that things really have gone pretty smoothly for us.
If your family is interested in learning how you can adopt an older child through China’s Waiting Child adoption program, visit GWCA’s Waiting Child photo listing or contact our matching specialists today!
Share YOUR Story with GWCA today by sending it to ana@gwca.org!
Resources:
5 New Kids Are Waiting
Meet Alfie! Alfie is a precious kiddo who is about to turn three years old. He was born with Down Syndrome and polydactyly of his left hand. Alfie is a happy, sweet kiddo who would thrive with the love and affection of a forever family! He is able to sit up with assistance and appears to be getting stronger each day with the help of his caregivers. He is not verbal at this time, but he can clearly express his needs (such as hunger, thirst). He loves listening to music and described as being very close to his caretakers! If you’d like to learn more about Alfie, please reach out to Great Wall!
Meet Gloria! Gloria is an amazing 11-year old girl in need of a family to call her own. Gloria’s left leg grows at a much faster rate than the rest of her body, but it doesn’t stop her from running, jumping, swimming, and being an active and happy kiddo. She has a bright and beautiful personality and would thrive with the love of a forever family. A volunteer with Bring Me Hope had the chance to spend some time with Gloria, and they wrote about their experience with this amazing girl:
“Gloria is a very special girl. I have been blessed to be her volunteer for two years at Bring Me Hope Camp, and can truly attest to the fact that she positively affects the people she comes in contact with. Her smile is absolutely beautiful, and her laughter is contagious. It has been a joy to get to know her!
During camp, Gloria especially loved painting nails. Hers, our camp director’s, other kids, a boys…it didn’t matter! It was a joy to watch her carefully concentrate on making everyone’s nails beautiful. She spoke clear English as she asked people: “What color? Blue, ok!” The simple activity of nail painting truly showed her high intelligence. She not only spoke many English words, but was also so neat and proper in the nail painting.
Gloria’s special need is left foot hyperblastosis, which means that her left leg grows much faster than the rest of her body. That’s it! She is still fully capable of self care, running, and even graceful dancing. I feel that her biggest special need is for a caring Mama and Baba to lovingly and genuinely tell her how beautiful and amazing she is. We would always tell her that she was beautiful at camp, but she would respond with an adamant “No!” She needs to know how gorgeous she is, inside and out. Gloria is an awesome little girl, and I can’t wait to see her in her forever family.”
We have incredible advocacy and update information for Gloria that we would love to share! Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about this special girl!
Tommy is a precious little boy from China that is about to turn 3 years old. Tommy’s primary diagnosis is thalassemia (β type) for which he needs blood transfusions every one to two months. Tommy has good mobility abilities and good fine motor skills as well. He can follow simple instructions like throwing away trash when he is asked by his caretaker. Like many little boys his age he does not always like sharing his toys. He likes to build towers with blocks when he is playing and he really likes playing ball games. Tommy is speaking simple words and phrases. He knows what the different parts of his face are and he will point to them when his caretaker asks him to identify his nose, eyes, mouth, ears, etc. Tommy knows how to put his shoes on by himself. He gets upset when he doesn’t get enough cuddles from his caretakers. When Tommy goes to sleep at night he usually sucks on his fingers.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Tommy. We hope we are able to find Tommy his Forever Family soon!
Meet Kevin! He is a 7 year old boy who was born with Cerebral Palsy. Kevin is a kiddo with lots of personality. He is in the Sunshine School in his orphanage and has made a ton of progress since admission. He can follow his teacher’s instructions, count to 100, knows his colors and different types of food and can talk about the months on the calendar! He is described as being a positive kiddo who can get along with all of his classmates. Kevin receives rehabilitation training for his Cerebral Palsy and seems to have made a lot of progress. His hands and feet are much more flexible than before and can could put on his socks and shoes independently. Kevin has improved from relying solely on his crawling abilities to being able to run! Contact one of our matching specialists today if you’d like to review his medical file! 
Meet Lizzie! She is an adorable 2-year old girl with Down Syndrome! Lizzie is a happy, giggly kiddo who loves to spend time with her caretakers. She can stand and walk with assistance and has excellent fine motor skills. She loves to cuddle and hug her caregivers! If you would like to learn more about Lizzie, please reach out to Great Wall!
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Eight Months Home – Learning Our Dance
It was eight months ago today that we brought our daughter home and began our life as a family of nine. I will never forget the day we met that little girl in the pink dress. The look on Naomi’s face during those first moments together is etched in my memory. She was so brave and clearly intrigued by us. At the same time, she had the “blank look” I have come to recognize as a sign that she is overwhelmed and nervous.
You see, 8 months ago, we were total strangers. I was already in love with her or at least the idea of her. She had seen our photographs but could not be fully prepared for what was to come. We were instantly mommy and daughter, all the while still strangers to one another. The dance of attachment was beginning for us but we were nearly four years late to the party. I didn’t know her cries, her looks or her needs. When you bring home a new baby from the hospital, you study them. You ask yourself countless times a day, what does she need? I found that the same was true for our little Naomi. I needed to become a student of her, study her sounds and her actions. I would love to tell you that I did this perfectly but I did not. There were times we were both in tears from sheer frustration. There were times I was not as patient as I should have been and lost sight of what was really important. I have had to apologize and ask her for forgiveness more times than I like to think about.
The beautiful thing about a family is that we just keep loving and moving forward. There have been countless victories in these eight months, reasons to celebrate and solidify the bond that we have created. We parent our seven children in a way that gives us the great gift of time. We home school so there is no need to rush off in separate directions each morning. Granted, Daddy has to go to work but we are all excited when he walks back through that door! Learning the rhythm of our family has been accelerated for Naomi as she watches the way I interact with all her siblings on a minute by minute basis. Giving her a solid foundation of what family means is our priority. We know that her little heart still has plenty of healing to do. A child who was abandoned at the approximate age of two certainly needs time to feel safe and secure. She asks me often, “Momma, gonna go bye bye?” I rarely leave the house without my children but the thought of being separated from Momma is still unnerving for our little girl. On the rare occasion that I leave the kids with Daddy or Grandparents, I remind Naomi, “Momma comes back. Momma always comes back.” We have a little song we sing with these words. It is an important ritual for us.
Naomi’s big sister, Izabella, is just a few months older than her. Izabella was our only girl for four years. We had no idea how their bonding would go but we prayed fervently that they would be a gift to one another. Their relationship has exceeded our wildest hopes. I will never forget one of their first nights together, Izabella hugged Naomi tight, looked at me and said, “Mom, thank you so much for my sister!” They take great joy in spending time together. They are little mommas to their baby dolls. They love to color and make crafts together. They sit next to each other for every meal. They are taking a weekly ballet class together. The sight of them in their little tutus is more than this momma’s heart can stand. They attend the same art class and story time class at our home school co-op. They are precious little shopping buddies and love it when we have girl dates. They often say, “girl power!” when they accomplish a difficult task. I am grateful to have a front row seat to watch their relationship develop. A sister is truly a gift.
We have been amazed by Naomi’s patience and kindness with all her siblings. She has learned to stick up for herself when she needs to. We think this a terrific sign of how comfortable she has become in her family. Her adoption was our first experience with adopting out of birth order. Naomi is older than our two youngest sons. They were two years old when she arrived home and she was weeks away from turning four. We felt that Izabella would keep her identity as our oldest daughter and the little boys would keep their identity as our babies. We were right. The transition has been seamless.
Every night when I tuck Naomi in bed she says, “Momma, sing Jesus!” She snuggles her teddy bear and baby doll and settles in for this comforting nightly routine. I rub her back and sing this song, “Jesus loves Naomi this I know for the bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus love Naomi. Yes, Jesus loves Naomi. Yes, Jesus loves Naomi. The bible tells me so.” Then I lay my hand still on her back and whisper a prayer in her ear to the King of Kings. I thank him for her life. I praise him for the restoration he has done and will continue to do. I ask him to continue to bind our hearts together. I pray for her best friend from the orphanage who is happily home with her family. If I forget this part, I am quickly reminded. I ask God to draw her heart to his. I pray that she will grow up to boldly walk in the calling he lays on her heart. I have no doubt his plans for her are great. When I say amen, I kiss her little face and tell both my girls, “Goodnight my princesses.”
In the past eight months, there have been challenges to overcome, memories to make and milestones to celebrate. We are no longer strangers. We are well on our way to forever. Not only do we know the steps to our dance, we are tearing up the dance floor.
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April Has a $2,000 Grant Available!
Introducing our Sponsored Star for February, April!
April is a beautiful 13 year old girl form China who is in danger of aging out on her 14th birthday this September. Her file was recently prepared by one of GWCA’s Orphanage Partnerships and we are so hopeful that she will find her forever family very soon.
April’s file indicates that she has ametropia in both eyes, but other than that she seems to be doing very well! She was abandoned at birth, but was temporarily taken in and raised by a family until she was three years old.
At the age of three, April was taken to the orphanage where she lived before moving to a foster family. Her foster family describes her as obedient and very helpful with chores around the house. She is a very sweet girl with a quiet and introverted personality.
April is now in the 8th grade, and her favorite subjects are Chinese and English. She has been asked directly if she would like to be adopted by an American family, and she said yes.
As our Sponsored Star for February, April has a $2,000 grant available towards her adoption fees! If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about April, please visit our photo listing or contact our matching specialists today!
What is a Sponsored Star?
On the 1st of each month, Great Wall China Adoption will feature one of the kiddos from our Orphanage Partnerships as our monthly “Sponsored Star!” As our Sponsored Star, that child will be provided a $2,000 grant towards their adoption fees! Each of the kiddos selected will be a Special Focus child, meaning they have not found their Forever Family yet due to their age or the degree of their needs. Together, we can find loving homes for these amazing kids!
We encourage any families interested in learning more about our Sponsored Star of the Month to visit our China Waiting Child Photo Listing, or contact our China Matching Specialists to learn how you can be matched today! Check back on the first of each month to meet the newest featured child!
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13 New Kids Added This Week!
Penelope is a very independent 4 year old who lives with Down’s Syndrome. She is at the point where she is able to walk and eat independently. Penelope understands when she has been naughty by trying to hide, just as many others her age do. Although it takes time for Penelope grasp and understand certain concepts, she is capable to do so over time.
Despite her quite nature, Penelope loves people and is far from shy. She enjoys dancing along to the beat and hanging out with her friends! As extroverted as Penelope is, she does enjoy her quite time from time to time. Penelope has a healthy appetite and is not picky when it comes to food. She has wonderful relationships with her caretakers and loves spending time with them.
Get to know more about Penelope today by contacting Great Wall China Adoption!
This adorable kiddo’s name is Austin! Austin is 2 years old and was born with Down Syndrome. He is an active, happy kiddo who loves to laugh! At this time he is able to walk a few feet without assistance and go up and down stairs by holding on to the handrails. He babbles to express his needs and is able to differentiate between his caregivers and strangers. He also recognizes his name and turns when called! He is a darling kiddo who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about Austin!
Bonnie is an easy going 2 year old girl who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Due to being diagnosed with Down syndrome, Bonnie shows mental, fine motor skill, and language delays. As she has developed, Bonnie is able to pick up small items and walk alone, but sometimes needs assistance. Although she is a giggly child, she is not a very talkative or a noise making child. Despite her language and mental delay, she responds when called to, is always interested in new thing, loves saying goodbye, and is full of wonder. She loves music and is always ready to play with a new toy or game.
Bonnie is a laid back child who shares her toys easily with others. She is a people person and loves her nannies and other caretakers very much and loves to show this through hugs and kisses!
Get to know more about Bonnie today by contacting Great Wall China Adoption today!
Catherine is a precious 1, almost 2, year old girl who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. Because of her Down syndrome, Catherine does have some limb, mental, and language developmental delays. She does need help with her fine motor skills, such as holding her milk bottle, but has made great strides when it comes to her language development. She is able to call out and respond to her caretakers. Despite her disabilities, she is a ray of sunshine who has a big and beautiful smile. Like many peers her age, Catherine is an active 2 year old with a healthy appetite and loves her caretakers dearly. Although she can be restless from time to time, she enjoys the great outdoors and musical toys. Get to know Catherine better by contacting Great Wall China Adoption today!
Meet Emmett! Emmett is an adorable little guy who is 3 years old. He was born with Down\’s Syndrome and is considered to be delayed compared to his peers. He needs some support to stand and walk. Emmett is able to feed himself and perform tasks that allow him to use his fine motor skills. He can understand basic instructions from his caregivers and imitate adult\’s actions. Emmett is very comfortable around his caregivers, peers and strangers. He gets along very well with others but prefers to play alone. Contact GWCA if you’d like to review his file!
Bruno is a spunky little 3 year old from China who has Down Syndrome! Bruno leads a very independent life. He has no problem with walking and eating without assistance. His fine motor skills have developed with age as well. Bruno is able to do things such as squeezing lotion bottles. Bruno does not show a lot of communication through spoken language, but he communicates through pointing and noises such a “oh-oh”.
Bruno enjoys self-entertaining and playing with his caretakers and often likes to imitate them! He is a loving child who loves smiling and cannot wait to find his forever home!
Get to know Bruno better by contacting Great Wall China Adoption today!
Meet Quincy! He is a sweet 2 year old boy with Down’s Syndrome. Quincy responds and interacts well with his caretakers. He can turn the pages of a book and play with toys that make sound. Quincy loves to giggle in front of the mirror and babble to his caretakers! He is especially interested in toys that make sounds and toys with vibrant colors! Quincy loves interacting with his caretakers by rolling the ball back and forth. Due to his Down’s Syndrome, Quincy is delayed on his language capabilities. Despite this, he is interested in new things and people and is always smiley and giggly! Contact GWCA today if you’d like to look at Quincy’s medical file!
This adorable kiddo’s name is Troy! Troy is 2 years old and has Down Syndrome. He is a sweet, happy kiddo who loves to play with the toy piano and drums! He is able to walk with the assistance of his caregivers and he has excellent fine motor skills. He recognizes his name and can follow instructions extremely well! If you’d like to learn more about Troy, please reach out to Great Wall!
Natalya is a sweet and adorable 1 year old from China who has Down Syndrome. Her motor skills have progressed over time, along with her language and intellectual development as well. Natalya responds and interacts with her caretakers and others easily.
Natalya does not let her Down syndrome stop her! She is very active with other children her age and is wonderful at sharing with others. Natalya loves music and is intrigued by bright and vibrant colors. Natalya loves cuddling with her caretakers and has wonderful bonds with all of them.
Get to know this cuddly, easy going gal today by contacting Great Wall China Adoption today!
Meet Amy! Amy is a darling 4 year old girl looking for a forever family! Amy was born with cerebral palsy and a clubbed right foot. She has made fantastic progress since arriving to the orphanage and is able to stand and take a step with the assistance of a caretaker. She is also able to drink water with some help from her nannies and is now able to sit alone without assistance. She is also able to understand simple commands from her caretakers. She can be shy when you first meet her, but she has attached very well to her caretakers. If you’d like to learn more about Amy, please reach out to Great Wall!
Meet William! William is an adorable 5 year old boy who has Cerebral Palsy. He has been receiving rehabilitation services in the institute since arriving. He has made great strides since he came to the orphanage and his overall development has improved! Currently he can walk freely, go up and downstairs on his own, can communicate with adults, and help his caretaker complete tasks. William is excellent at expressing his needs and emotions. He is described as being a slightly introverted kiddo who is on the quieter side. He is closest to his caretakers and always loves helping them. If you’re interested in learning more about William, contact one of our matching specialists today!
This darling kiddo’s name is Cullen! Cullen is about 2 years old. He has Down Syndrome and esotropia of both eyes. He is a shy, sweet kiddo who is very attached to his caregivers! He is able to walk with assistance and gets stronger each day. He recognizes his name and can differentiate between his nanny and strangers. He would thrive with the love and care of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about Cullen!
Niko is a little bundle of joy who is about to turn 2 this upcoming Spring! This quiet-natured boy has Down Syndrome which results in some developmental, motor skill, language and delays.
Today, Niko is able to stand with assistance, crawl, pick up small toys, and can respond to name when called. He is sensitive to sound and will lean in when trying to listen. He enjoys quite time and playing alone. Despite his quite nature, Niko warms up to others very easily. Niko enjoys spending time with his caretakers and often plays ball with them. Niko enjoys showing affection through smiling!
Get to know Niko better by contacting Great Wall China Adoption today!
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I Found My Family!
Hooray! This beautiful girl has been matched with a family that is working hard to bring her home Forever. Congratulations to her and her new Forever Family from all of us at GWCA!
Since her file is considered LID, the family that is matched with her had to have their dossier logged in before they could learn more about her! Our LID track provides families with the opportunity to be matched with younger kiddos with more minor or correctable needs. Learn more about the difference between LID and Special Focus below! If you’re interested in learning how you can join our LID track and start your journey towards being matched, contact our matching specialists today!
LID vs. Special Focus
LID
Non-Special Focus kids are often referred to as LID, meaning “Log In Date.” While families can be matched with a Special Focus child at any point in the process, they must log their dossier in prior to reviewing files for LID children. These kids are typically age 1-4, and have more minor or correctable needs. For families that are open to a Waiting Child with minor or correctable needs, the LID track is a great alternative to other international adoption programs where the referral time for a healthy child can be several years.
Contact our Matching Specialists to learn how you can get started on the LID track today!
Special Focus
Most of the children in China’s Waiting Child program, are classified as Special Focus. This means that they are considered more difficult to place either because of their age range, or needs. While the idea of special needs can be a bit overwhelming to families, it is important to realize that many needs fall on a spectrum. This means that two children whose files indicate the same need can be affected in completely different ways. One example of this is cerebral palsy. While some of the children that we have seen with cerebral palsy are wheelchair bound, others are able to run, jump, and climb just like any other kid. As such, it is very important for families to thoroughly research a variety of special needs before ruling anything out!
- Visit our China Waiting Child photo listing
- Learn more about the difference between LID and Special Focus
- Contact our China Matching Specialists
Lillian’s Matching Story
Our China Waiting Child adoption program gives families the chance to play a role in their own matching process, meaning every family’s experience is unique. While some may look at many files before they find their kiddo, other families may move forward with the very first child whose file they review. Either way it seems that more often than not when a family finds their child on our Waiting Child photo listing, they have a moment of realization and know that their search is over.
Below is a post from one of the families in our China adoption program about the importance of photo listings and how they came to find their daughter:
I am a big believer in photo listings. I know from personal and professional experience that getting children’s faces seen is the key to getting them families. My husband and I did not set out to adopt a child that was paralyzed or that had spina bifida and hydrocephalus. But when we saw our little Lillian, we just knew that she was ours.
When we first submitted a request to learn more about Lillian, our China matching specialist, Heidi, did a great job of providing us information on the child and on the process (if we decided to move forward). She was supportive and informative without being pushy. We took some time to pray about our daughter and get some advice from medical professionals and from other parents who had adopted children with the same special needs. Once we were ready to commit to our daughter and start the process to bring her home, Heidi seemed genuinely excited and happy for us and helped us get the ball rolling.
I can say too that we originally inquired about a different child, and after reviewing her file we just new that she was not the right child for us. It was very difficult to say no to a child and ask to see a different child’s file, but Heidi never made us feel guilty or bad in any way. She was very understanding and supportive.
We had not decided that we were going to pursue another adoption or that we were going to adopt from China specifically, but seeing the children waiting and finding our daughter was the push we needed to commit and move forward. There are so many children waiting for families and we are so grateful to GWCA for helping us find out daughter.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched through our china adoption program, visit GWCA’s Waiting Child photo listing or contact our matching specialists today!
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7 New Kids on the Block
Lily is a smiley little girl who is 4 years old! Lily was born with Down’s Syndrome. Since she is not receiving the proper therapies, Lily is delayed compared to her peers. She can respond to familiar people speaking to her and she gets along well with other children! She is delayed on her language abilities but her file indicates that her fine motor skills are on target.
GWCA is currently asking for an update on Lily! Contact one of our matching specialists today if you’d like to look at her medical file!
Meet Stevie! Stevie is a precious 3 year old boy who will be turning 4 this March. He has been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. He is a sweet, social little guy who loves his caregivers. He is able to walk while holding on to handrails and can eat by himself. He loves to play with toys and loves the toy piano in particular! He likes to have conversations with others and is described as being very outgoing and active.
If you’d like to learn more about Stevie, please reach out to Great Wall!
April is a lovely girl from China that turned 13 years old this past September. April’s file is brand new from one of GWCA’s Orphanage Partnerships. April will be aging out of the China Adoption System when she turns 14 years old this coming September, so we need to help find her a Forever Family soon. April has ametropia in both eyes but other than that she seems like a healthy, normal girl.
April was abandoned right after she was born, but was raised by a family temporarily until she was 3 years old. April was then taken to the orphanage, but since she seemed to be doing so well, she was put in a foster family and has lived there since that time. Her foster family says that she is obedient and she is very helpful with doing chores around the house such as washing dishes and washing clothes. April has a quiet, introverted personality.
April is in 8th grade at a regular school and she takes a full course load. Her favorite subjects are Chinese and English. She has two really good friends at school and they will sit on the playground and chat during recess. April has good language ability and speaks Mandarin. She can say some simple sentences in English. April was asked directly if she would like to be adopted by an American family and she said yes, she would like to be adopted.
April is on our Great Wall China Specific Listing, so her file is only available through Great Wall at this time. You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting April. We hope we are able to find April her Forever Family soon!
Laney is a precious little girl from China that just turned 2 years old! Her updated medical information states that she has Apert’s Syndrome, as well as limb differences of her hands and feet. She has recently traveled to Singapore to receive incredible surgeries to reconstruct her fingers and assist with her skull development, and she has made a fantastic recovery! Here is a blog about her experience:
Operation Blue Sky Blog: http://alittlebluesky.wixsite.com/operationbluesky
Her caregivers describe her as an active, charming, and lovely girl. She is extremely affectionate and loves to be held and hugged by her nannies and nurses. She loves to play with toys and is able to grab on to the toys despite her limb differences. Overall, she is hitting all of her developmental milestones and is described as being very bright. She loves to mimic sounds of others and is even walking without assistance! She would thrive with continued care from a forever family.
Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting little Laney!
Beckett is a sweet little boy that just recently turned 2 years old. Beckett’s left ear formed a little bit differently but other than that he seems like a generally healthy kiddo. Beckett has normal mobility for a child his age as he can walk, trot and go up and down stairs by himself. He has good holding abilities and he likes to play with various toys in the activity room. He can understand the directors he receives from his caretakers and can follow simple instructions.
Beckett’s language is delayed compared to some of his peers, but that makes sense given his left ear deformity. He can make sounds such as “aaa” and “yiyi yaya.” Beckett is a more introverted child and is happy playing alone, but he will also play with other children as well. He likes running back and forth in the playroom with the other children. He favorite toys are cars and a wooden rocking horse.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Beckett. We hope we are able to find Beckett his Forever Family soon!
Meet Evan! Evan is an adorable little guy who just turned 4 years old. He was born with Microcephaly. He has average gross motor skills but has some difficulty running. He has great understanding ability and can follow adult’s instructions. Evan can imitate adult’s actions and behaviors and his caretakers note that he has great observation skills. He has good memory and judgment and generally enjoys learning! Evan is warm and outgoing and his file states that all the nannies and kiddos in the institute enjoy him very much. He gets along very well with other children and is fond of playing games with them!
Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Melanie is a smiley kiddo who is about to turn 3 years old! She was born with Apert Syndrome and cleft palate. Due to her Apert Syndrome, she has some limb differences of her hands and feet. She was a little over a year old when her file was prepared so we are working on getting some updated information on her. At the time, Melanie could stand while holding onto items for support and her file mentioned that she was growing healthily and happily! She was crawling well, could walk with some assistance of handrails and could respond to other’s directions! She was described as being able to get along very well with her peers and fond of listening to music.
Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to look at Melanie’s file!
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Four Kids Home from China!
This #ForeverFamilyFriday we’re so happy to announce that FOUR kids in our China Waiting Child adoption program recently joined their Forever Families! Of these four kids, two previously to the United States with our Orphan Hosting program, and we are so happy that this time they will be returning forever. Congratulations to all four of these kiddos and their Forever Families from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
Throughout all the ups and downs of an adoption process, one of the things that helps our families stay focused is the thought of their Gotcha Day. This is the day that all of their hard work pays off, and they finally get to hold their child in their arms. While the wait time for some international adoption programs can be lengthy–particularly for families looking to be matched with a younger medically healthy child–the entire process of adopting a Waiting Child from China can often be completed from start to finish in just one year. This shorter wait time means families are that much closer to reaching their Gotcha day and bringing their child home forever.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with a Waiting Child through GWCA’s China adoption program, contact our matching specialists or visit our photo listing today!
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