New Waiting Child Updates!
Naomi is an adorable little girl from China that is about to turn 2 years old. Naomi has spina bifida and was born with a lumbosacral meningocele that was removed when she was only 4 months old. She has healed well from her surgery and she is receiving rehabilitation services to help her with her gross motor skills. Naomi’s file was prepared when she was only 10 months old, so this information is as of that time. At that time she was still recovering from her surgery and she could not yet sit up on her own. However she was able to push herself up when she was lying on her stomach and could reach and grasp nearby toys and play with them. She could visually follow moving objects across the room with her eyes. She loved being teased by her caregivers and she will giggle a lot.
Watch Grace’s Video: Video 1
Bronx is a sweet little boy from China that is about to turn 4 years old. Bronx seems to be healthy physically and is just developmentally delayed. He had an IQ test when he was younger that ranked him lower on IQ, but we have found from experience that many of those tests are inaccurate because they do not take into account that a child is going to have institutional delays from growing up in an orphanage. So whenever there is an IQ test in a child’s file, we suggest taking it with a grain of salt. However the testers did say that he might have autism, but again that is something that may or may not be completely accurate based on the testing.
Based on what is in this child’s file, he seems to have the same basic delays as other children his age who have grown up in an orphanage. He is a bit more delayed in his social skills, including how to play with others, but again that is to be expected with a child growing up in an orphanage. Many children lack the skills to play well with other children because no one has taught them how to share or how to play constructively with other children. Often times children in orphanages have very few toys, so sharing can be hard for children in orphanages and so they can tend to play by themselves so no one takes their toys.
Bronx likes to play outdoors and is quite active. He likes to look at books and newspapers and pretends to be reading them. He speaks several words and short phrases. His caretakers say that he will say “Good Morning, teacher” when they come into a room. Bronx likes to listen to music and claps his hands when listening to children’s songs. Bronx goes to school in the orphanage and his teacher’s say that he is making progress in learning every day and that he is a happy boy.
Watch Bronx’s Videos: Video 1 | Video 2
Cade is a smiley little guy who is 2 years old! He was born with a spinal meningocele which has been repaired with surgery. Cade still has some trouble using his legs but doctors suggest intensive rehabilitation for him to gain strength. Through rehabilitaiton services, he has grown strong crawling capabilities and upper body strength. He is currently practicing standing using some support. His update indicates that he has come a very long way since he first began his rehabilitation! Cogntiviely he is on target with his peers. He can complete puzzles, understand what is being said to him and he can communicate actively and clearly. He is described as a pleasant, bright and active boy with a ready smile! He likes playing with kids his age and older kiddos too. He loves participating in group activities and loves to observe people around him. His caretakers indicate that he learns very fast and is quite the little problem solver! He is great at imitating adult’s language and actions and can understand some simple instructions. Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Watch Cade’s Videos: Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3
Everett is an adorable 3 year old! He has a urogenital need but it doesn’t seem to impact his daily life. His file was prepared in May of 2015 and at that time he could walk steadily with holding and independently for short distances. He was mimicking adult’s actions and words and could recognize familiar objects and people. He is described as being open minded and adorable! He gets along very well with other children and loves to play games. His favorite activity is being outside. Everett had some delayed physical development when he was about a year old but went through some extensive rehabilitation training which helped him overcome these obstacles. After training he could sit up alone, crawl, stand and walk for short distances. Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Watch Everett’s Video: Video
Gracie is a cutie who is 5 years old! She had both a VSD and an ASD that have both been repaired with surgery. Gracie was also born with a chromosomal abnormality that we are currently trying to learn more about. She is described as being extroverted and cheerful! She loves being close to her caretaker but also loves to play with the other kiddos. Gracie loves to sing and dance and especially likes to listen to her caretaker play the piano. She is slightly delayed on her cognitive and physical development compared to her peers. Her language development is delayed and she is shorter than her peers. We are currently trying to learn more about Gracie! Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review her file.
Watch Gracie’s Videos: Video 1 | Video 2
Brooklyn is a cute little girl from China that just turned 3 years old. Brooklyn has Down’s Syndrome and seems to be doing very well. An update we received indicates that her cognition is higher than her peers. She has some language delays but she can say some simple words. She can feed herself, put on her shoes on her own and crawl into bed independently. Brooklyn is walking and likes to dance when music is on. She will wave “hi” and “goodbye” when people leave and enter the room. She likes looking in the mirror and kissing her reflection. She has good fine motor skills and can pick up small objects like candy, hairpins and breadcrumbs. She understands and follows simple instructions by caretakers. She likes to be around people, is described as being outgoing and is very active and cheerful. She likes to hold other children’s hands when she plays with them. She is getting some special education in an orphanage class. She likes being cuddled by her caregivers.
Watch Brooklyn’s Videos: Video #1! | Video #2! | Video #3! | Video #4! | Video #5! | Video #6!
Finn is a cutie who is 2 years old! He has a special need that affects the development of his teeth. After receiving an update on him, it seems like Finn might have a condition that affects the development of his hair, skin, teeth, nails and sweat glands. Finn is sensitive to the heat and his caretakers make sure to keep him cool. Finn is slightly delayed on his language development compared to his peers. He can understand simple language and commands and knows how to communicate simply with his caretakers.
Please contact our matching specialists if you’d like to learn more about him!
Connor is a sweet little boy from China that recently turned 3 years old. Connor was born with deformities of both of his arms and legs, but he seems like a resilient little boy that has found ways of getting around even with his limb deformities. And Connor can walk by himeself now! Connor is described as being strong willed and optimistic and never considers himself different from children without disabilities. Connor does not let his special need get him down and he maintains a positive attitude and problem solves ways to live his life despite his limb disabilities.
Connor can speak in short sentences and he likes to learn new words all the time. Connor imitates the words and actions of his caregivers. Connor can now express himself with words and tell people what he wants. Connor is described by his caretakers as being very smart.
Connor enjoys playing with other children and he enjoys kicking balls with his friends and caretakers. Connor especially enjoys playing with an older boy in his orphanage that has similar limb disabilities. Connor likes to greet his caretakers when they come into the room and say goodbye to them when they leave. He enjoys when you lift him up and cuddle him.
Watch Connor’s Videos: Video #1 | Video #2!
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Forever Family Friday!
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!
As 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
7 New Kids Are Waiting!
Jett
Jett is a precious boy currently being hosted in the United States. Here’s more information about him from his host family!
“Meet Jett! This precious little boy is a 7 year old orphan from China. He is being hosted in the USA until August 18, 2016. We are praying that he will be matched with his forever family soon. Despite having hemiplegia on his right side, Jett climbs, swims, runs, plays and keeps up with his 11 year old host brother. He is learning English well, and soaks up everything around him like a sponge. He is a very smart little boy.”
Contact GWCA today to learn more about Jett!
Nora
Nora is a sweet kiddo who is 8 years old! She is mildly mentally delayed compared to her peers. She has three consistent caretakers who speak very highly of her! Nora has a sweet and gentle nature and is considered to be the “younger sister” in the group home that she lives in. She loves to sing songs and often sings to herself. She engages well and can follow conversations with ease. Nora is always willing to help with chores around the house and is eager to assist her caretakers! Her file indicates that despite her delays, she studies hard and is eager to complete her schoolwork.
Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review her file!
Sam
** A Family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring Sam home***
Sam is a precious little boy from China that just turned 2 years old. Sam has CHD (TOF) but received a surgery for it when he was very young and it appears that this issue has been corrected. Sam’s left food was also slightly clubbed, but he received surgery on that as well and he is now able to walk on his own without issues. One of our GWCA staff members met Sam when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Sam.
Sam enjoys playing with blocks and balls and is very curious about everything around him. He has great fine motor skills and is able to pick up very small objects off the floor. He is babbling and imitating the words of adults around him and he understands the word “no.” He also is able to point to the different parts of his face (eyes, ears, nose, mouth) when asked by his care takers. He enjoys listening to music and trying to sing along to the songs. Sam is extroverted and enjoys playing with other children in the orphanage.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Sam. We hope we are able to find Sam his Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Sam’s NEW Video #1!
Click Here to Watch Sam’s NEW Video #2!
Jeremy
This incredible kiddo’s name is Jeremy and he just turned 12 years old! Jeremy was in our Summer Hosting program, and his host family has a ton of wonderful information about him! He was born with a meningocele on his spine, but after having surgery he’s been doing great! Here’s what his host mom says about him:
“Jeremy is a very sweet 11-year old boy who is thoughtful and always wanting to share with others. Jeremy is somewhat delayed socially for his age but he is a smart boy, who caught on quickly, and actually learned several words and phrases in English over his four-week stay. Whatever he was not able to communicate in Mandarin or Chinese, and not being shy, he was usually able to cleverly figure out a way to communicate his desires to us. He loved technology and computers and was very adept at figuring them out, always finding buttons and keypads interesting. During our visit to the Optometrist, he became fascinated with the equipment being used for testing his eyes, touching buttons and turning dials until the doctor had to ask him to stop. Being a very obedient boy, he complied with no argument. Even at the dentist he found the equipment interesting so he breezed through his check-up, and the dentist was impressed at how much he was smiling at the end! He loved the ATM machine, elevator buttons, hotel room key pads, and anything that had controls. Jeremy had a great appetite, and it was a pleasure to watch him enjoy eating, always willing to try new foods, never shy to have second helpings, but his favorite food while in America was a hamburger with French fries! He seemed quite smart, but may have some of the typical developmental delays due to not being challenged academically in his environment. However I believe that he would overcome that once he was able to learn English, begin school and interact with other children. We discovered one of the outings Jeremy most enjoyed was going grocery shopping! That was fun for him, methodically going down the aisles, counting out the produce, and demonstrating his organizational skills by neatly arranging the groceries in the shopping cart. He even enjoyed putting the bags into the trunk and unpacking them at home! I think he would do well in a family with other children. We really enjoyed having this sweet boy in our home for 4 weeks.”
Contact GWCA today to learn more about Jeremy!
Cade
Cade is a smiley little guy who is 2 years old! He was born with a spinal meningocele which has been repaired with surgery. Cade still has some trouble using his legs but doctors suggest intensive rehabilitation for him to gain strength. Through rehabilitaiton services, he has grown strong crawling capabilities and upper body strength. He is currently practicing standing using some support. His update indicates that he has come a very long way since he first began his rehabilitation! Cogntiviely he is on target with his peers. He can complete puzzles, understand what is being said to him and he can communicate actively and clearly. He is described as a pleasant, bright and active boy with a ready smile! He likes playing with kids his age and older kiddos too. He loves participating in group activities and loves to observe people around him. His caretakers indicate that he learns very fast and is quite the little problem solver! He is great at imitating adult’s language and actions and can understand some simple instructions.
Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Click Here to Watch My Video!
Click Here to Watch My Video!
Click Here to Watch My Video!
Aurora
Aurora is a sweet little girl from China who is 3 and a half years old. Aurora has Down’s Syndrome so she will be delayed in some areas, but other than that she is a healthy little girl. Aurora is described by her caretakers as kind-hearted and very attached to people in her life. She is well behaved and obedient. She can walk, run and go up and down stairs by herself. She can draw and scribble on paper. She goes to the orphanage school with the other children in her orphanage. She is said to be very nice to her caretakers and to other children. She is delayed on language abilities, but she is able to understand what others are saying to her and she is able to follow multiple-step instructions from her caretakers.
Jenni
Jenni is a cute little girl from China that just recently turned 4 years old. Jenni has Down’s Syndrome so she will be delayed in some areas, but other than that she appears to be a healthy little girl. She has been in a foster family since she was a baby, so she has received more one-on-one attention than some children who live in the orphanage. She is described by her foster family as active, energetic and cheerful. She can speak simple words and identify the people she is close to in her life. She can walk, run and jump. She has good gross motor skills. She can scribble on paper. She likes to play with blocks, puzzles and puppets. She will often hold her toy bear and pretend to put him to bed and will pat the bear as he sleeps. She likes to play games with other children such as hide and seek, ball games, and stringing beads. She is not a picky eater and she likes to eat fruit.
Paxton is Our Sponsored Star for August!
Introducing our Sponsored Star for July, Paxton!
Paxton is a sweet and playful 5 year old boy who is in need of a loving Forever Family! He’s a happy little guy who enjoys spending his time singing, looking at picture books, and playing games with his friends. Paxton has great language ability, and can communicate easily with both his peers and his caretakers. His mobility is on target, and he is quick in reaction.
Paxton has a condition known as osteochondroma, which can cause him to develop minor non-cancerous growths on his body. He recently had one minor growth on his finger, which he was able to have surgically removed.
As our Sponsored Star for August, Paxton has a $2,000 grant available towards his adoption fees! If you’re interested in learning more about Paxton, 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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Forever Family Friday
We’re SO excited to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this adorable girl home forever! Congratulations to her and her new family from all of us at GWCA and CAN — we can’t wait to see you come home!
China Waiting Child Adoption
Our China adoption program allows families to be matched with Special Focus children at any point in the process, making the adoption journey as a whole relatively quick! We receive new children’s files each week, both from our orphanage partnerships and from the Shared List, which provides our families with the opportunity to review multiple files until they find a child that they feel would be a good fit. If you’re interested in learning more about the waiting children that we’re currently advocating for, visit our photo listing or contact our China matching specialists today!
- Visit the China Waiting Child Photo Listing
- Contact our China Matching Specialists
- Learn more about the China adoption process
New Kids on the Block
We’ve added 7 new kids to our Waiting Child photo listing this week! If you’re interested in learning more about any of these kiddos or viewing their files, contact our China matching specialists or visit our photo listing today!
Everett
Everett is an adorable 3 year old! He has a urogenital need but it doesn’t seem to impact his daily life. His file was prepared in May of 2015 and at that time he could walk steadily with holding and independently for short distances. He was mimicking adult’s actions and words and could recognize familiar objects and people. He is described as being open minded and adorable! He gets along very well with other children and loves to play games. His favorite activity is being outside. Everett had some delayed physical development when he was about a year old but went through some extensive rehabilitation training which helped him overcome these obstacles. After training he could sit up alone, crawl, stand and walk for short distances. GWCA is currently asking for some updated information on him. Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review his file!
Bronx
Bronx is a sweet little boy from China that is about to turn 4 years old. Bronx seems to be healthy physically and is just developmentally delayed. He had an IQ test when he was younger that ranked him lower on IQ, but we have found from experience that many of those tests are inaccurate because they do not take into account that a child is going to have institutional delays from growing up in an orphanage. So whenever there is an IQ test in a child’s file, we suggest taking it with a grain of salt. However the testers did say that he might have autism, but again that is something that may or may not be completely accurate based on the testing.
Based on what is in this child’s file, he seems to have the same basic delays as other children his age who have grown up in an orphanage. He is a bit more delayed in his social skills, including how to play with others, but again that is to be expected with a child growing up in an orphanage. Many children lack the skills to play well with other children because no one has taught them how to share or how to play constructively with other children. Often times children in orphanages have very few toys, so sharing can be hard for children in orphanages and so they can tend to play by themselves so no one takes their toys.
Bronx likes to play outdoors and is quite active. He likes to look at books and newspapers and pretends to be reading them. He speaks several words and short phrases. His caretakers say that he will say “Good Morning, teacher” when they come into a room. Bronx likes to listen to music and claps his hands when listening to children’s songs. Bronx goes to school in the orphanage and his teacher’s say that he is making progress in learning every day and that he is a happy boy.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Bronx. We hope we are able to find Bronx her Forever Family soon!
Adeline
Adeline is an adorable little girl from China that is 5 and a half years old. Adeline has cerebral palsy but she seems to be doing very well in terms of her gross motor skills such as walking. Adeline is consistently improving her fine motor skills such as changing playing with toys, changing her own clothes and feeding herself. Adeline likes to play with blocks and stuffed animals, and she likes playing games with other children, especially chasing games.
Adeline is delayed in her speech abilities, but she does understand what people are telling her and can follow instructions given by her caretakers. She makes strong eye contact with others and can show what she wants by making sounds. It is likely that her speech delays are due to muscle tightness in her facial muscles due to her cerebral palsy, so she will probably need speech therapy when she is adopted. Adeline can wave hello and goodbye to people when they come into a room, and she will blow kisses to others. Adeline could probably have an amazing life if adopted by a loving, forever family in the United States. There are so many more opportunities her in the U.S. that she will never have in China as an orphan.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Adeline. We hope we are able to find Adeline her Forever Family soon!
Nova
Nova is a cute little girl from China that is 4 and a half years old. Nova has cerebral palsy so she has higher muscular tension in her legs and she has clubbed feet. However, after rehabilitation, she can now sit up by herself and walk! She has strong attachments to her foster parents and she enjoys being with her foster mother when she is doing chores around the house. Nova is more quiet and introverted. She doesn’t talk in full sentences, but can say some simple words, and she will turn and look at you when you call her by name.
Nova’s file doesn’t have a lot of information in it about Nova’s personality, likes or dislikes, so we will try to get more updated information on her soon.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Nova. We hope we are able to find Nova her Forever Family soon!
Luke
Luke is a darling 6-year old boy who is currently in the United States through our Summer Hosting program! Luke has a hairy nevus on his back, but overall he is doing extremely well. Luke is an active, playful kiddo who loves to play sports! He loves playing with other kiddos and likes to do arts and crafts. His host mom says he’s doing a great job with bonding and attachment! Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Fu Yi
Meet Fu Yi, a beautiful 5-year old girl with Down Syndrome! She is currently being hosted in the United States and has thrived since arriving with her host family. Her medical file indicates that she has a congenital heart defect, but after going to a cardiologist we’ve discovered that her heart is extremely healthy! She has a bright spirit and brings joy to everyone she meets. She has had an amazing time with her host parents and siblings! Her host family’s Facebook page about her can be found here: Loman Adoption: https://www.facebook.com/LomanAdoption/ Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a cute little girl from China that just turned 3 years old. Brooklyn has Down’s Syndrome and seems to be doing very well. Brooklyn is walking and likes to dance when music is on. She will wave “hi” and “goodbye” when people leave and enter the room. She likes looking in the mirror and kissing her reflection. She has good fine motor skills and can pick up small objects like candy, hairpins and breadcrumbs. She is speaking simple words and understands and follows simple instructions by caretakers. She likes to be around people and is very active and cheerful. She likes to hold other children’s hands when she plays with them. She is getting some special education in an orphanage class. She likes being cuddled by her caregivers.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Brooklyn. We hope we are able to find Brooklyn her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch My Video #1! | Click Here to Watch My Video #2! | Click Here to Watch My Video #3! | Click Here to Watch My Video #4!
Visit our Waiting Child photo listing today to learn how you can be matched with one of these amazing kiddos!
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Welcome Home, Naomi!
The Girl in the Pink Dress
When we were in the adoption process, my mother had a dream. She saw our daughter wearing a pink dress. She said our little Naomi was trying to be brave and was not crying. A sweet friend of mine had a dream that Naomi would come to us and she would know us.
We certainly did not expect either of these things to happen. We knew that the day we met our daughter would be stressful for her. She would likely cry and feel overwhelmed. Who knew what she would be wearing? In all of the videos I had seen of families meeting their daughters I rarely saw a pink dress.
As we were ushered into a room to meet our daughter, I said to my husband, “If she is in a pink dress, I am going to lose it.”
We could see several children peeking around the corner from a back room. They were waiting for their turn to come out and meet their parents. I looked that direction and that’s when I saw her. A tiny girl, in a pink dress with sweet little piggy tails. She was spinning around in a circle, dancing about while she waited. I grabbed my husband, “I can see her! She is in a pink dress!!!” We both welled up with tears. It was a moment we will never forget.
And just like that. A little girl who was labeled a “foundling” was now a beloved daughter.
She was brave. She did not cry. She just looked at us like she was studying our faces. She liked the toys and snacks we brought. We just watched her in amazement. It was almost as though she knew us and we knew her. During the months of waiting, we prayed nightly that God would prepare her heart for us and our hearts for her. The first night was hard for her. That sweet little smile faded to sobs of grief and fear as we settled in for bed. We were so glad that she let us comfort her through her tears. Each night got better.
The days in China were full of lots of snuggling, playing and exploring. We met amazing new friends while we were there. Having other families with us gave us a sense of camaraderie. The trip felt long at times and we all got homesick for our children back home. Having friends to grab a bite to eat with or see the local sights was a blessing. In addition, our guide Kelly made our adoption trip smooth. She kept all our paperwork and appointments straight. She got us where we needed to go, answered all our questions and she was a joy to spend time with.
I searched high and low for just the right toddler carrier for my almost 4 year old daughter. I obsessed over it. I prayed she would like to be carried. I hoped that would encourage bonding between us. I was thrilled when she showed me immediately that she loved to ride in the carrier with me. We went all over the place in that thing!
We had the opportunity to tour Naomi’s orphanage and say goodbye to her friends and nannies. This visit was important to us. We want to be able to tell her about it when she is older. She will have so many questions in her future that we cannot answer. We know that will be hard for her. Two years of her life are unknown. We also went to Naomi’s finding spot. This place is sacred ground. It was powerful to stand with her in that place. She is restored to a family now.
When we arrived home, we were greeted at the airport by our family. The joy we felt when we saw their faces is indescribable. We were thrilled to have all our children together. It was precious to watch Naomi greet each of our family members. She knew they belonged to her.
The next few days were a blur due to jet lag. Thankfully, Naomi slept very well once we got her to sleep. I expected her to be up all hours of the night with the intense time change she was experiencing. This is just one of the many ways she has exceeded our expectations!
Before we adopted, we read and researched the effects of orphanage living on a child. We were also prepared for severe grieving behaviors and general culture shock. We expected bonding to be a long, difficult process. We expected her siblings to struggle with the new arrival. We expected the worst but hoped and prayed for the best. We still cannot believe how smooth her transition has been. It is as though she has always been in our family. We can only assume that her infant hood with her birth family gave her the important brain development she needed to develop strong attachments. The word we were given from the Lord for her adoption was “restore”. Her heart was more than ready to be restored to a family.
This adoption has been an incredible journey of obedience and trust in the Lord’s leading. He called us on behalf of one tiny girl in China. Oh how happy I am that we listened!
- Read Part One of Naomi’s Story Here!
- Visit GWCA’s Waiting Child Photo Listing to learn how YOU can be matched
- Learn more about China Adoption and the matching process
Student Exchange – Connecting Adoptive Families
Student exchange means something just a little bit different here at SAE. For us, student exchange started with an adoption journey. Our partner organization, Children of All Nations, saw the joy in one of the families who had adopted from China. We saw the connection that student exchange brought to that adoptive child to be connected back to their culture, to share in that experience with another child and with their family.
For us, the adoption journey never stops – it’s the commitment of a lifetime, and one we’re thrilled to be a part of at this stage!
Hosting an exchange student is an amazing experience for adoptive and potential adoptive families alike. It offers so many opportunities to families and students alike. Through student exchange, you can:
- Connect your child with his/her birth culture – all from home
- Introduce a student to American culture and to your family
- Help a student adjust to a new culture through your valuable experience as a parent
- Show students that loving families come in so many different forms
- Still preparing for adoption? This is great way to learn about your child’s culture before he or she arrives! (valueteam.com.sg)
You can read more about the requirements to become a host family on our Host Family Page, and you can contact us at info@saeglobal.org to ask for more information on our students who are waiting.
We have students waiting to find a host family, so whether you’ve adopted, are considering adoption, or are simply wanting to experience another culture, we’d love to introduce you to some of the amazing kids who hope to spend a year in the US this school year. You can visit our photolisting at this link, and if you’re ready to get started, you can start your application today!
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GWCA Partners With Yue Yang Region
We are honored to announce that the CCCWA and Hunan Civil Affairs have approved a new partnership between GWCA and the Yue Yang region! There are a total of 9 orphanages in this region, and we are so incredibly excited to begin working with each of them. Our staff recently had the opportunity to visit these orphanages, where they were able to meet with of the kids that we will be advocating for, and conduct an initial interview. These children’s files should be available to us soon, and we are eager to help match them with loving Forever Families! Keep an eye out on our China Waiting Child photo listing, or contact us to learn how you can be matched with a child from one of our orphanage partnerships!
What are orphanage partnerships?
With thousands of Waiting Children in China, agencies have begun to partner with specific orphanages. These partnerships allow adoption agencies to give back to Chinese orphanages by providing them with the resources to help prepare children’s files for international adoption, and improving programs within the orphanage, giving each orphan the opportunity to thrive. This also means the orphanage provides any new files that are prepared exclusively to their partner agencies rather than releasing them to China’s shared list. This gives each child a greater chance of being placed, as the agency begins advocating for their adoption immediately. Some orphanages partner with multiple agencies in order to best advocate for their waiting children. It is not uncommon that we will learn of certain children before their files become available. This allows and even greater chance for child advocacy.
Why are orphanage partnerships important?
Orphanage partnerships are an important part of the China Waiting Child adoption process, as they benefit all parties that are involved. Not only do they contribute to the well being of each orphan within the institute, they help in the process of finding them a forever family by ensuring that their files are prepared and provided to an agency. This benefits the agency as they receive both files for Special Focus and Non Special Focus children. These files can then be reviewed by any families that are in process with the agency, as they have exclusive access to the file for a period of time. Partnership with an orphanage also allows for better and quicker updates, more photos, and more videos that aid in the placing of children with their forever families.
If you’re interested in learning more about the orphanages that GWCA is currently partnered with, contact our China matching specialists today!
9 New Kids on the Block
This week there are NINE New Kids on the Block that are in need of loving Forever Families! If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of them, contact our China Matching Specialists or visit our Waiting Child Photo Listing today!
Evelyn
Evelyn is a precious little girl from China that is 1 and a half years old. Evelyn has cerebral palsy but she seems to be progressing well. Evelyn’s file was prepared when she was less than 1 year old, so at the time she was not year speaking or sitting up by herself, which is to be expected. However Evelyn could push herself up when she was on her stomach. She was smiling and would interact with people when they would talk and play with her.
Evelyn had some videos uploaded in February 2016 showing how she was progressing at that time. We are currently working on getting even more updated information on Evelyn.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Evelyn. We hope we are able to find Evelyn her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Evelyn’s Video #1!
Click Here to Watch Evelyn’s Video #2!
Connor
Connor 
is a sweet little boy from China that recently turned 3 years old. Connor was born with deformities of both of his arms and legs, but he seems like a resilient little boy that has found ways of getting around even with his limb deformities. Connor is described as being strong willed and optimistic and never considers himself different from children without disabilities. He moves himself around the room by scooting on his bottom or rolling across the floor. Connor does not let his special need get him down and he maintains a positive attitude and problem solves ways to live his life despite his limb disabilities.
Connor enjoys playing with other children and he enjoys kicking balls with his friends and caretakers. Connor especially enjoys playing with an older boy in his orphanage that has similar limb disabilities. Connor likes to greet his caretakers when they come into the room and say goodbye to them when they leave. He enjoys when you lift him up and cuddle him.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Connor. We hope we are able to find Connor her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Connor’s New Video #1!
Click Here to Watch Connor’s New Video #2!
Angelina
Meet
Angelina! She is a precious 8-year old girl with cerebral palsy. She also has clubbed feet and her hips formed a little bit differently, but her mobility continues to improve every day! Overall she has made huge progress with her overall mobility in rehabilitation training. Her medical file was prepared last summer, so we are eager to receive an update and learn more about the progress that she’s made. She is a happy kiddo in need of a forever home! Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Naomi
Nao
mi is an adorable little girl from China that is about to turn 2 years old. Naomi has spina bifida and was born with a lumbosacral meningocele that was removed when she was only 4 months old. She has healed well from her surgery and she is receiving rehabilitation services to help her with her gross motor skills. Naomi’s file was prepared when she was only 10 months old, so this information is as of that time. At that time she was still recovering from her surgery and she could not yet sit up on her own. However she was able to push herself up when she was lying on her stomach and could reach and grasp nearby toys and play with them. She could visually follow moving objects across the room with her eyes. She loved being teased by her caregivers and she will giggle a lot.
We are working hard to get more updated information on how Naomi is doing currently. You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Naomi. We hope we are able to find Naomi her Forever Family soon!
Kaya
Meet
Kaya! She is a darling 2 1/2 year old girl with brain dysplasia. Since she has arrived to the orphanage at 2 months old she has made excellent progress with her development and is thriving under the orphanage’s care. She will dance with joy when a caretakers comes to see her in her crib, and she loves to cuddle! Her caregivers describe her as a happy, giggly kiddo. She is great fine motor skills and is learning how to sit up on her own without assistance. Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more about Kaya!
Paige
P
aige is an adorable 4-year old looking for a forever home! She has some swelling in her frontal lobe and has enlarged glands near her tonsils, but overall she seems to be doing great! She also has delayed motor development, but she is now able to walk on her own without assistance and has improved fine motor function. At the time that her file was prepared in 2014, she was able to say a few words and was able to distinguish her foster family from strangers. She is shy when meeting new people but is very attached to her caregivers and loves to cuddle with them! Please reach out to Great Wall if you would like to learn more!
Ainsley
Ainsley
is an adorable little girl from China that just turned 2 years old. Ainsley was born prematurely and she has some high muscular tension and developmental delays. Ainsley’s file was prepared when she was about 1 year old, so this information is as of when the file was prepared. Ainsley at the time was not able to sit up alone or crawl, but she could push up with her arms while on her tummy and lift her head up to look around. She could stand for a little while if someone was holding her armpits. She could grasp toys and could visually follow objects across the room. She was attached to her caretaker and liked being held and cuddled. She liked listening to music and would kick her feet happily when listening to it.
We are currently working hard to find out more current information about Ainsley.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Ainsley. We hope we are able to find Ainsley her Forever Family soon!
Gracie
Gracie i
s a cutie who is 5 years old! She had both a VSD and an ASD that have both been repaired with surgery. Gracie was also born with a chromosomal abnormality that we are currently trying to learn more about. She is described as being extroverted and cheerful! She loves being close to her caretaker but also loves to play with the other kiddos. Gracie loves to sing and dance and especially likes to listen to her caretaker play the piano. She is slightly delayed on her cognitive and physical development compared to her peers. Her language development is delayed and she is shorter than her peers. We are currently trying to learn more about Gracie! Contact one of our matching specialists if you’d like to review her file.
Kiona
Kiona
is a sweet little girl from China that just recently turned 3 years old. Kiona has congenital retinal degeneration which means that she is blind. Due to being blind Kiona will naturally have some developmental delays, but most likely many of these delays can be overcome once she gets the one-on-on love and attention of a Forever Family.
Kiona has good sense of hearing and she can locate where people and objects are based on the direction of their sounds. She is described by her caretakers as being very lovely and smiley. She enjoys when people play with her and her favorite toys are dolls. Her favorite snacks are biscuits and small steamed bread. She is very close with her caretakers.
Kiona can’t walk since she cannot see, so it will take her longer to learn this skill. However she is receiving special training on learning to walk due to her blindness. Kiona can sit up alone and she can crawl on her own. She can eat and drink by herself. She can babble and is learning words. She does rub her eyes fairly often due to her sight loss.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Kiona. We hope we are able to find Kiona her Forever Family soon!
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