7 New Kids on the Block
Asher is an adorable little guy who is 5 years old! He was recently a part of GWCA’s JOY Program in China. An advocate spent some time with Asher and learned all about him! It is our understanding that Asher has a combination of heart needs. He has not yet received surgery for his special need. Our advocate noted that he cannot over-exert himself at this time but his information should be reviewed by a cardiologist to determine what type of treatment is needed. He is described as being introverted, sweet, polite and he gets along very well with others! He can speak in short sentences but his pronunciation is not very clear. Contact GWCA if you’d like to review Asher’s medical file!
**FINANCIAL GRANT AVAILABLE** Kramer is a cute kiddo who is 9 years old! He has post-operative CHD and limb differences of his left arm. Kramer has a fantastic personality and his caretakers note that he’s quite the popular kiddo among his peers because of how kind and thoughtful he is! He is in the second grade and and makes excellent grades. Kramer has been in a foster family since 2010 and has adjusted very well to living in a family environment! He is described as being helpful, talkative, easy-going and well-behaved. Kramer is very independent and likes to complete tasks on his own. He enjoys playing with other children and being active! Contact GWCA today if you’d like to review Kramer’s file!
**MATCHED** Clarissa is a sweet little girl from China that just turned 1 year old. Clarissa has CHD but it appears to be an issue that can be corrected with surgery once Clarissa is adopted. Clarissa is crawling, walking while holding on to the wall, and she is babbling a lot. Clarissa is a generally happy baby that enjoys spending time with other children and her caretakers. Clarissa has already been matched with a family, however, if you are interested in learning about kiddos with similar needs, contact GWCA today!
Mason is a precious little boy from China that just turned 2 years old. Mason has undescended testicles, but this is often something that corrects itself as the child gets older, or a minor procedure can be done to correct it. His file also says that part of his brain is a little wide in one area, but it doesn’t appear to be an issue in terms of his development at this time. Mason is an active, energetic little boy who can crawl and walk while holding on to something.
Mason has been living with a foster family since he was 2 months old, so he has been receiving much better one-on-one care than he would have living in the orphanage. He is very attached to his foster parents. He likes to listen to music and clap his hands with the rhythm. He like to play hide-and-seek and play with toy bicycles. He likes bath time so much that he doesn’t want to get out of the bath, so sometimes he gets upset when bath time is over. Mason has good imitating behavior and will copy the words he hears his foster parents saying. He knows the difference between big and small, he can build towers out of blocks, and when asked he can point to his nose, mouth, ears, eyes, etc.
This sweet 8-year old boy’s name is Brandon! Brandon has an extra finger on his right hand and his left ear is slightly deformed, but there doesn’t appear to be any hearing impairment. He also has severe scoliosis, but he is able to walk without assistance! Brandon is a kind, shy kiddo who is hoping to have a forever family soon. He was hosted by a family in the United States and had a amazing time! Brandon transitioned incredibly well with his host family and brought them a lot of joy and happiness. He has a hearty, infectious laugh that his host family loved! They describe him as a sweet, inquisitive, and helpful, saying that he has a very gentle spirit. Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Check out my NEW video! 
Meet Peter! Peter is an 11-year old boy who was born with a cleft lip. Peter had surgery to repair his lip in April of 2008 and has been doing great since then! His caregivers say that he is a great learner, and that he has a very active and sunny disposition. His file states that he had some difficulties with language delays, but it is unclear if that was a result of his unrepaired cleft lip. Since his surgery, it sounds like his language development has become stronger. His caregivers love him very much and are eager for him to have a family to call his own. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
Meet Alec! Alec is an adorable 1 1/2 year old boy in need of a forever home! He has Down Syndrome and an atrial septal defect. He is currently living with a foster family and is described by his foster parents as being very affectionate and cuddly. He is not able to stand yet, but he is able to prop himself up and sit without assistance for short periods. He is also not speaking yet, but he is very expressive and is making babbling sounds. He loves to listen to music and will kick his feet along with the rhythm! He’s a sweet kiddo who would thrive with the consistent care of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
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Kramer is Waiting – Grant Available
Kramer is a sweet 9-year-old boy from China who has truly touched the lives of all those who surround him. GWCA’s matching specialists have heard from other advocates, families, and caretakers alike that he is an incredible kiddo, a great student, and a wonderful friend to other children. Recently, one of the families that feels a strong connection to Kramer provided him with a substantial financial grant. This grant is available to any family that would like to welcome Kramer into their home, and will be applied directly towards his adoption fees!
Kramer’s caretakers say that he has a fantastic personality, and that he’s quite popular among his peers because he is very kind and thoughtful. He is described as being a helpful kiddo who is talkative, easy-going and well behaved. He loves spending his time playing with other children and being active.
Kramer has post-operative CHD and limb difference of his left arm, but he doesn’t let that hold him back. He’s a very independent boy who likes to complete tasks on his own. He is in the second grade and and makes excellent grades.
Kramer has been in a foster family since 2010 and has adjusted very well to living in a family environment. November is National Adoption Month, and we are so hopeful that before the month is over Kramer will find a Forever Family of his own. Please help us advocate for him by sharing his story.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about Kramer or if you would like more information about his grant, contact our China matching specialists today!
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GWCA Has a New Look!
In the midst of National Adoption Month, we are so excited to announce the launch of our NEW website design! This change has been underway for the past few months, and we are so happy to share that each site (GWCA, CAN, Orphan Hosting and Student Ambassador Exchange) has now made the transition.
What’s new?
The Appearance
The site has a new clean cut appearance, but don’t worry, the content is all still there! So whether you’re looking for information on one of our programs, reading our latest blog posts, or visiting our photo listing to request a child’s file, love the speed and convenience of the new layout!
Browse On-The-Go!
It’s now easier than ever to browse our websites on your cell phone or tablet! The new layout adjusts to the size of your screen so you don’t have to worry about zooming in or out to find the right tab.
Sign up for our newsletter!
If you’re interested in receiving emails from GWCA, CAN, Orphan Hosting and SAE, you can now sign up by simply scrolling to the bottom of one of our home pages and entering your email address!
While our newsletters are a great way to stay in the loop with our adoption programs, we encourage any families that are ready to begin their journey to contact our matching specialists directly. You can do this by filling out a contact form, emailing info@gwca.org, or calling us at (512)323-9595.
Take a look around:
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I Found My Family
Hooray! We’re so delighted to announce that one of the families in our China adoption program has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this little guy home FOREVER! We are so excited for him and his new family, and we can’t wait to see them come home!
Despite the fact that he is only one year old, this little guy’s file was considered Special Focus, meaning his family was able to review his information prior to logging their dossier in.
All of the kiddos that are on our photo listing are in need of loving Forever Families, and you can be matched with them right away! If your family is interested in learning more about any of the Waiting Children in our China adoption program, contact one of our China matching specialists or visit our photo listing today!
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing to learn about kids in need of Forever Families!
– Contact our China Matching Specialists to learn how you can start your adoption journey!
TEN New Kids Added This Week
Ford is a precious little boy from China that just turned 1 year old. Ford has mild CHD (ASD) and was born with syphilis and Hep C, which are both generally treatable. One of our GWCA staff members met Ford when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Ford!
Ford can crawl, stand up by himself and is learning to walk. He can grasp toys near him, can take blocks and put them in and out of cups, and he can go look for toys when he drops them. He knows his name and turns to look when called, he responds to his caretakers asking him for objects, he babbles and imitates words, and he can take his socks on and off by himself. He is fond of listening to music and likes to laugh when teased by his caregivers.
Click Here to Watch a Video GWCA Staff took of Ford when He was just 5 Months Old!
You can see more videos of Ford when You Request to Review His File!
Dakota is a cute little girl from China that 2 and a half years old. Dakota was diagnosed with rickets when she was younger but has been receiving treatment since she was little and it has gotten much better now. She has hearing loss in both ears, but she is not completely deaf. She communicates with a combination of signs and words. Dakota has been living with a foster family since September 2015 and so she has been receiving much better one-on-one care than she would if she lived in an orphanage. One of our GWCA staff members met Dakota when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Dakota!
Dakota can be a bit shy around strangers but she interacts well with familiar people. She likes to watch TV, play with colorful toys and outdoor activities. Dakota has good fine motor skills, such as using a pen to scribble on paper. Dakota can walk on her own steadily. Dakota understands the meaning of “no” when directed to do something by her foster family. Dakota likes listening to music and tends to be energetic.
Glenda is a precious little girl from China that is 1 and a half years old. Glenda was born low birth weight and she has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She is so young though that it is unclear if her CP is more minor, moderate or more significant. Glenda receives regular rehabilitation and she has gotten much strong over the last several months. She enjoys listening to music and receiving cuddles from her caregivers.
Glenda’s file is a little out of date, so we are working hard to get more updated information on Glenda.
Han is a sweet little boy from China that just recently turned 1 year old. Han was born premature and has a little bit of a cerebral gap, but other than that he seems to be a normal little baby boy. Han is an extroverted little boy that has a lot of curiosity! He loves to explore outside and try new things. He plays outside almost every day which he enjoys very much! He likes to have attention from his caregivers, and when he doesn’t get enough attention he gets upset. Han is described as being a very smart child and when you hold him and talk to him, he will listen very intently. Han likes to be held and cuddled. He enjoys “chatting” with you by babbling different sounds that he imitates from others. He knows his name when called and he will turn toward the person who calls him.
Han can sit up by himself and can crawl on his own. He is learning to walk by using a baby walker which he pushes around when he plays. He likes listening to music, playing with toys and swimming in the pool whenever he has the opportunity. Han has a very big appetite and he enjoys eating rice, fruit puree, meat and steamed eggs. Han really likes drinking milk and he is not at all a picky eater.
Abe is an adorable little boy from China that is one and a half years old. Abe was born with CHD, specifically an ASD, but he seems to be doing well now. He has slight hip dysplasia of one side of his hip. Abe’s file indicates that otherwise he has normal physical development at this point.
Abe can crawl, stand steadily by himself and can walk by holding on to something. Abe can take off his own socks and shoes. He understands the meaning of the word “no” and he is babbling and imitating the words of adults. Abe likes to play with other children and will not fight over toys with his peers. He likes to go outside to play and his enjoys playing hide-and-seek.
This cutie’s name is Benjamin, and he is two years old! He has difficulty straightening out his wrist, elbow, and knee joints, as well as strephenopodia of his feet. Benjamin would likely do very well with physical therapy and orthopedic treatments. Benjamin also has an un-descended testicle. He’s described by his caregivers as being talkative, cute, and extroverted. He loves to smile and be cuddled by his caregivers! He would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
Meet Josie! Josie as a sweet 8-year old girl in need of a forever home. Josie is blind in both eyes, but her doctors indicate that there is the possibility of regaining some vision with proper medical treatments. Josie’s caregivers describe her as a very beautiful and intelligent little girl, saying that she loves to play with other children! She’s a happy kiddo who loves to listen to music and play with toys. Her caregivers say that she can be timid and shy due to the fact that she cannot see others, but overall she is very sweet and affectionate. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
Reid is a cute little guy who is 5 years old! He has some motor development delays and his file indicates he has Cerebral Dysplasia. Reid has been receiving extensive rehabilitation services since arriving at the institute. These services have helped him tremendously. Reid needs the assistance of a walker to get around but he seems to do very well with it. He can understand instructions and what his caretakers ask of him. Reid can express his needs to his caretakers and interact with his peers! He loves to listen to music and watch television! GWCA is asking for more updated information on Reid. Contact one of our matching specialists today if you’d like to review his file!
Renee is a sweet little girl from China that is almost 1 year old. Renee was born with CHD but it appears to be very minor and she has not needed surgery for it yet. Renee has some auditory issues but she currently is able to hear with a hearing aid. Renee appears to be doing very well and is living with a Foster Family. Renee is from one of GWCA’s new Orphanage Partnerships.
Meet Robbie! Robbie is a 7-year old kiddo with Down syndrome. Robbie is described as by a very sweet, shy kiddo who is loved by his teachers and the other students. He loves puzzles and helps out his caregivers by doing housework. He is a happy child who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
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Connecting Hearts and Sending Love
One of the kiddos in our China adoption program recently received a welcome surprise from his soon-to-be family – our Connecting Hearts care package!
While adoptive families get to put a face to their child from the moment they’re matched, the children who are being adopted are often unaware that a family is coming to get them until shortly before they arrive. By sending care packages, our families have the opportunity to let their child know that someone in the world outside of their orphanage is thinking of them.
Not only did this little guy get to wear a birthday crown for the day, but he got to eat cake and celebrate his special day with all of his friends. We are so excited for him, as his family will be bringing him home very soon!
If you’re interested in learning how you can send a care package, contact GWCA today!
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One Month Home
One month ago, we followed one of our families’ journeys as they traveled to China to bring their host child home forever. It was a reunion that they had been anxiously awaiting, and it was every bit as incredible as they hoped it would be. Now that they’ve had some time to get settled in with their daughter back at home, they’ve provided us with an update on how their transition is going. Click here to look back at their trip to China!
It seems crazy to think that our sweet daughter has been in her forever home for just over a month. We are constantly amazed at how well she is doing under the circumstances and the trauma she experienced in being removed from the only home (the orphanage) she has ever known and placed in a strange place, with unusual food and weird smells. She has adjusted extremely well and is picking up new English words and phrases on a daily basis. She understands so much English, much more than she can speak at this point, and her communication by hand motions is getting less and less. Some of her words sound similar and it can be a challenge to understand her pronunciation.
She knows her ABCs, her colors, and numbers to 10. When she arrived home, it was obvious that she had never done a puzzle before. She now wants to do puzzles on a daily basis and is getting faster at matching the pieces together. Most of them are 25 pieces but there is one that is 63. She is gaining strength in her legs and is getting much better at maneuvering the stairs. When she arrived home, she had difficultly with pedaling a tricycle. She has improved so much and now drives my pedal tractor on a daily basis. She loves to pedal as fast as she can. If you ask her her name, she can recite first, middle, and last names. She loves our dog, Bessie. She prefers when she is laying beside her or giving her kisses. She talks to her constantly about going outside to potty.
She spent a few days at our church preschool to ease her into transition to all day school and has been attending Kindergarten for a few weeks. She loves going to school and and knows her teacher’s name is Mrs. V. She asks for “more school” all the time. Her writing continues to improve, and I’m sure with extra services, like ELL (English Language Learners) and Title I, we will continue to see great progress.
We have kept pretty busy over the last month spending time with close friends and family. We have done fun things like visiting Curtis Orchard and the Great Pumpkin Patch. We have gone “swimming” and enjoyed play dates. We celebrated “C’s” birthday and she had fun making the cake, singing Happy Birthday, and helping to blow out the candles. She regularly tells us “no airplane, ‘L’ home.” It is obvious she is looking for reassurance that we are not sending her back to China.
We met our friend, Joy, for dinner recently so that she could hear and communicate in Mandarin. You could see the little wheels turning in her head as she concentrated and focused. It was apparent that she could interpret and understand her native language and she answered many questions by shaking her head yes or no. For some questions that Joy asked her in Mandarin, she would turn to me and respond in English.
If you have had the privilege to spend any time with ‘L’, you know she is always happy and smiling. She has brought so much joy to our lives in such a short-time and it is hard to imagine life before her presence graced our lives. I would also describe her as brave, resilient, cheerful, polite, sassy, ornery, loving, and smart. We fall more in love with her everyday.
We may not update the blog as frequently but will try to post when we hit special milestones. Thanks for continuing to follow our journey. Enjoy some pics from the last month.
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8 More Kids Home Forever!
We are so delighted to announce that EIGHT kiddos from our China adoption program have recently joined their new Forever Families! While some of these kids have already had the opportunity to meet their families by participating in our Orphan Hosting program, others have just met their families for the very first time! This is a moment that many of these children have been waiting years for, and we are so incredibly happy that their special day has come.
Congratulations to each of these children and their new families from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
GWCA’s China matching specialists are currently advocating for over 50 other Waiting children to find their Forever Families. If your family is interested in learning more about the China adoption process, or how you can begin your adoption journey, contact GWCA today at (512)323-9595 or at info@gwca.org.
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5 Kids Added This Week!
Glenn is a precious little boy from China that is 3 and a half years old. Glenn was born with hydrocephalus, but it went away on its own without surgery. In Glenn’s file it says that his diagnosis is “basically healthy.” One of our GWCA staff members met Glenn when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Glenn!
Glenn is generally a happy kiddo who gets along well with other children in the orphanage. He likes to play ball games with other children, along with running and jumping games. Glenn is in a normal kindergarten class with other healthy children. Glenn can distinguish the sizes of objects, he can understand the concept of big and small, and he also understands the concept of in and out. Glenn can count from 1 to 10, he knows the names of the different colors, and he likes to build towers with blocks.
When Glenn sees familiar people he will say “hello” on his own initiative. Glenn likes to turn pages of picture books, and when he sees familiar things, such as animals in the books, he will use his fingers to point to the pictures and say the names, such as: tiger, cat, monkey, dog, etc. When he sees things in books he is unfamiliar with he will say “what is this?” Glenn understands that fish swim in the water and birds fly in the sky, and other such concepts. Glenn knows when he feels hot he will take off his clothes, and before meals he will wash his hands on his own initiative. Glenn is an active child that enjoys being with others.
Click Here to Watch one of Glenn’s NEW Videos!
You can Watch More of Glenn’s NEW Videos when You Request to Review His File!
Elliott is a smiley boy who is 3 years old! He has delayed gross and fine motor development compared to his peers but he has made great progress since coming into the institute! Elliott has been receiving rehabilitation services for the last year. When he arrived at the institute he had trouble sitting up on his own, grasping toys independently and eating on his own. He is now able to do all of these things independently with ease. Elliott is described as being a kind kiddo with a ready smile! He loves listening to music and playing interactive games. Elliott has grown close to his caretakers and is always very cooperative with them. GWCA is currently trying to learn more about his progress! Contact one of our matching specialists today if you’d like to learn more about him!
Meet Shelby! Shelby is an adorable 6-year girl in need of a forever home! Shelby was born with anal atresia, finger and toe malformations, and an ear deformity. She is a bright kiddo who loves to help others! She is currently learning both English and Chinese. She loves to be outside and likes animals. If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to Great Wall China Adoption!
Jackson is a cute little guy who just turned 3 years old! He was born with CHD and Down’s Syndrome. Jackson is slightly delayed on his motor skills but is receiving rehabilitation services to improve this! He can walk quickly with some assistance and his fine motor skills seem to be getting better over time. He can take off his shoes and socks, feed himself and play with beads. Jackson loves being around his closest caretaker and will always reach his arms out to her to be held! He is described as being an adorable and happy kiddo! He loves to clap his hands and laugh with his peers. Jackson is active, quick in reaction and always imitates adult’s language. If you’d like to review Jackson’s full medical file, contact GWCA today!
Sasha is a lovely little girl from China that is 3 and a half years old. Sasha has hypothyroidism and receives medication for her condition. The orphanage says that Sasha is developmentally delayed. Sasha can sit up on her own and crawl, and she can stand up and walk when holding on to something. She does not like to open her eyes and doesn’t play with toys very much. While her file does not indicate she has eye sight issues, some of her behaviors do suggest she might. Sasha likes sensory activities that include touch, such as clapping her hands, rolling on the floor and receiving cuddles from her caretakers.
When Sasha’s name is called she will turn toward the person who is calling her. She will laugh happily when a caregiver teases her. Her language development is delayed compared to some of her peers but she does imitate the words of others. She tends to be shy and quiet. She has been receiving special rehabilitation training at an orphanage designed for rehab since May 2016.
Sasha’s Videos are Available to Family’s Who Request Her File!
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