7 New Kids Added This Week!
Tucker is a cute little guy that is 1 1/2 years old! Tucker has Down’s Syndrome and CHD. He lives with a foster family and has been thriving in their care. Tucker has some difficulty sitting up and standing on his own but his file indicates that he’s always trying to strengthen his abilities. We think that with the right family and rehabilitation plan, Tucker will be able to overcome these delays! His caretakers say that he loves being in crowded places so he can be observant. Tucker has good grasping ability and can play with toys on his own. His caretakers say that he loves watching television and frequently giggles at the TV! Contact Great Wall if you’d like to review Tucker’s file!
Miles is an adorable 4 year old boy who loves to laugh with his friends and caregivers! Miles was diagnosed at a young age with hydrocephalus, and had a shunt inserted into his head in June of 2013. The shunt helped to alleviate some of his symptoms, but unfortunately he began to develop excess fluid in his head once again and is now in need of further treatment. He is delayed in language, mobility, and cognition, but has made improvements during his time with his caregivers. His caregivers say that he gets along well with other kiddos, and that he loves to laugh! The describe him as a lovely child, and they are very hopeful that he will find his forever family soon. If you’d like to learn more about Miles, please reach out to Great Wall!
Click here to watch my NEW video!
Quinn is an adorable little girl from China that is 2 and a half years old. Quinn has Down’s Syndrome and is doing quite well. One of our GWCA staff members met Quinn when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Quinn!
Quinn has been described by caregivers as clever, introverted, cute and energetic. Quinn lives in an imitation family on the orphanage grounds, which is like a foster family, so she is receiving more one-on-one attention than some other children. Quinn can use her hands to hold small objects, such as sticks, books, spoons, etc. Quinn can pass toys between both of her hands and can use hands to support herself. When Quinn is sitting up the child has good balance and can change her position freely. Quinn can crawl, she can stand up by herself and is learning to walk. Quinn likes to walk around using small chairs and stools to help her balance. Like many children with Down’s Syndrome, Quinn’s language abilities are delayed compared to other children her age without Down’s Syndrome. However, Quinn can say words like “ma ma,” “ba ba,” and she imitates what adults and children around her are saying. Quinn enjoys listening to music, looking at picture books and dancing. Quinn can color on paper and play with puzzles. Quinn is clearly a very curious little girl and always seems to want to figure out how things work.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Quinn. We hope we are able to find Quinn her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch My New Videos: Video #1! | Video #2! | Video #3!
Jack is a sweet 3-year old boy looking for his forever family! Jack’s official diagnosis is cerebral palsy, and it is unclear as to whether or not he has been diagnosed with a syndrome as well. Jack is able to walk with the assistance of his caregivers, and has good fine motor skills. His language is delayed, but he does imitate his caregiver’s language and expressions through his actions. He will even observe his family doing housework and will imitate their movements! He is very close with his foster grandmother and has formed excellent attachments with his caregivers. Jack makes his caregivers very happy, and they said that they love him very much. If you’d like to review Jack’s full file, please reach out to Great Wall!
Josiah was recently apart of GWCA’s JOY program. A family spent a week getting to know Josiah and these are some of the amazing things they have to say about him!
Mr. Josiah is the cool kid who just wants to please! He’s hilarious and has a killer sense of humor! Josiah is not only fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, but he is extremely good with the English language. Often times on our journey we were grateful we had Josiah as he was able to translate for us in a pinch! He REALLY is hoping to find a family, soon! Josiah is an all-around HAPPY dude. He has great friends, including another Joy kiddo named Sean, does excellent work in school & isn’t afraid to jump into the mix of things no matter what they are. One of my favorite things about Josiah is the wonder in his eyes. With every new experience he was ready to take it on with an open mind & no hesitation! Josiah would be an excellent big brother, little brother or only child… he’s really a happy-go-lucky kiddo who just wants to belong & be loved! Josiah has a congenital heart defect. At two years-old he had surgery that, if he was born in the US, would have been done at infancy. This probably saved his life, for now. The procedure was successful, but what happens when kids get older? They grow, and so do their hearts. Josiah will most likely need another procedure. We will not know until a cardiac surgeon has the opportunity to complete a full medical profile. What Josiah wants the most is a family. I witnessed this every moment I was with him last week in China. He wanted to please me. He wanted attention from me and the other advocates. He wanted to be friends with the other kids. And he was all that and more.
Sean was recently apart of GWCA’s JOY program. A family spent a week getting to know Sean and these are some of the amazing things they have to say about him! Sean is a clever, well-mannered and helpful 13 year old boy. Our family spent 5 days getting to know Sean, and within hours of meeting him we could see that despite the fact that he is deaf and mostly mute, he is very intelligent. He had hearing aids until he was 3 years old but they were uncomfortable so he quit wearing them. Then, when he came into the orphanage they were no longer accessible. He says he cannot hear from his left ear but he can hear sounds and words from his right ear if he is wearing an earbud headphone. Sean is fluent in Chinese Sign Language and seemed to be keen on learning ASL signs as well. He can also read and write in Chinese. He is very “tuned in” to whatever is going on around him and finds ways to communicate with others. He is well behaved, patient, observant and helpful. Since we spent 5 days with him, we were able to watch him even when he wasn’t aware we were doing so. His excellent behavior was consistent at all times. Sean has an amazing sense of humor! His humor is universal and he understands other’s level of “fun” and play easily so nobody ever got hurt! Sean also knows there is a time & a place for this kind of silly, and quickly reels it back in when necessary. We had younger children in our group, and he was always patient as we had to tend to their many needs. We got to play ball, jump rope, blow bubbles, play tag, and even had a water fight. We could tell that Sean is an incredibly active, athletic and agile kiddo. This young man would fit well into any family. He is longing for parents and even siblings of his own. He is TRULY an amazing young man & the family whom steps up to adopt him will be so fortunate to have him in their lives!
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Jade is an adorable little gal that is 4 years old! Jade was born with PKU. She is also delayed compared to her file does not indicate how significant her delays are. She can walk freely, go up and downstairs on her own and can help her caretakers with some basic self-care needs. Jade is delayed on her language development but her caretakers say that she is eager to get the attention of new and familiar people. Jade’s file is limited so GWCA is working on getting an update on her. Please contact one of our matching specialists if you are interested in reviewing her full file!
A Family for Eva!
Last month I wrote a blog post for our Great Wall China Adoption website detailing a little bit about what my journey to China was like. I went to China this past February/March for two weeks to visit some of GWCA’s 14 Orphanage Partnerships. My main goal while being there was to meet the kiddos whose files we have already received or will be receiving in the not to distant future, and to get as much additional information on those children as possible. It really helps potential adoptive families move forward with a child when they have newer information on them, including good photos and videos. Everything I did on my trip was in an effort to get more orphaned children from China adopted.
The short blog post I wrote wasn’t long enough to write about my entire experience in China (you’ll have to read my blog for that), so I instead focused on one girl I met while I was in China named Eva. This is the part I wrote about Eva in last month’s blog:
Every day since I’ve been back from China I have thought about Eva and what a special little girl she is. Eva is so very deserving of the love and attention of a forever family, as are all of the wonderful kiddos I met in China. I have been hoping that there is a family out there who will want to adopt Eva and give her the family that she has always dreamed of! Could you be that family?
Eva is the first child from the group of children that I met while I was in China that our China Home Finding Team has matched. I can’t tell you what an amazing feeling it is to know that a child you met in real life, half way across the world, is getting a Forever Family! I am so hopeful that there will be dozens more over the next several months! But for now, I will bask in the joy of knowing that this amazing girl is not going to be aging out of the China adoption system, but instead will be brought into the loving embrace of her Forever Family very soon!
Read More7 New Kids on the Block
Makenna is an adorable 13 year old girl who will be aging out next January. Makenna is delayed on her mental development compared to her peers but her caretakers say that she works very hard in school. She is described as being tender and gentle and always a huge help with taking care of the younger kiddos in the orphanage. Makenna doesn’t have any physical delays; she can walk, run, jump and go up and downstairs on her own. She is an active kiddo who loves to dance, play sports and be outside! Makenna has made secure bonds with her caretakers and teachers and has close relationships with her peers.
One of our China Matching Specialists met Makenna in China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any families that are interested in learning more about Makenna! You can contact one of our China Matching Specialists if you would like to review Makenna’s file!
Florence is a precious little girl who is 6 and a half years old. Florence has esotropia of her right eye and she has some muscle weakness in her lower limbs. Florence has been living with a foster family since May 2010, so she has been receiving more individualized one-on-one care than she might if she lived in an orphanage. Florence’s file was prepared back in December 2013, so some of her information is a little out of date. We will be seeking to get some more updated information on Florence soon.
As of the time Florence’s file was prepared, she was not yet walking without assistance, but her photos show that she can stand with support of the wall, and she can sit up by herself. She was not speaking at the time her file was prepared, but her file indicates that she understood what adults were saying to her and that when her name was called that she would respond to it. She could wave hello and goodbye to people as they came and went, and that she could identify parts of her body and can point to them when asked. When she would hear the phone ring she would pretend to be holding a phone up to her ear using her hand. Florence would tend to be more timid, shy and introverted. Florence would like playing with other children, coloring and watching television. Florence could feed herself but still needed help putting on her clothes, but she could button up her shirt by herself.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Florence. We hope we are able to find Florence her Forever Family soon!
Danny is an adorable kiddo who just turned 12 years old! He was born with cerebral palsy and a cleft lip and palate. He is described as being gentle, optimistic and smiley. He loves playing games with other children, especially riding bicycles! Due to his cerebral palsy, Danny is delayed on his cognitive and physical development compared to his peers. He has lived in a foster family for some time where he has learned some self-care skills. Danny can walk, run, jump and go up and downstairs without any help. He has strong imitating ability and can follow instructions very well. He also has strong interpersonal skills as indicated by his foster family. One of my friend’s at GWCA visited me in China earlier this year and would love to talk to prospective families about me!
Philomena is a lovely little girl that is 6 year old. Philomena has cerebral palsy and it causes her to have muscle stiffness in her arms and legs. Because of the limited resources at her orphanage Philomena did not start receiving rehabilitation services for her cerebral palsy until she was 4 years old, so her mobility abilities are delayed. She currently cannot walk but she is working very hard to learn how to walk. Her teachers say that she is tough and strong when she is in rehabilitation class. Her arm stiffness has gotten significantly better and now she can hold toys and other objects.
Philomena is doing very well cognitively. Philomena started going to school at 5 years old and she loves it! She follows her teachers directions and her teachers really enjoy having such an obedient student in their classes. Philomena has a very strong desire to learn and she has excellent memory and comprehension abilities. Her teachers say she is the best in her class for singing and remembering the lyrics to songs. Philomena received a prize last year for her singing performance. She is a girl who often has a smile on her face and gets along well with everyone around her.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting little Philomena. We hope we are able to find Philomena her Forever Family soon!
Ada is a sweet little girl that is 3 and a half years old. Ada has post-operative spina bifida and post-operative hydrocephalus. It appears that Ada may not be able to walk at this time, but she can sit up by herself. Ada is receiving rehabilitation for increasing her leg strength and she really enjoys going to rehab. She can understand the instructions her teachers are giving her and can follow those instructions. She is very good at imitating adult’s words and actions. Ada can speak 3-5 word sentences and she is good at communicating with her caretakers. Ada can hold toys and other items by herself. Ada likes to sing and dance when she hears music. She can count numbers and her caretakers say she is very clever.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting little Ada We hope we are able to find Ada her Forever Family soon!
Honor is a precious little girl that is 8 years old. Honor has mild cerebral palsy so she doesn’t always walk stably and she has strabismus so she is a little cross-eyed. Honor can go up and down stairs without help. Honor’s file indicates that she has good development and can express herself well. Honor studies hard in school and has learned to speak well and to sing songs. She can eat and drink along and can put on her clothes and shoes by herself. Honor gets along well with other children and adults. She is described as being gentle, introverted and energetic. Honor likes playing outside, playing with toys and watching television. She enjoys it when new people visit the orphanage and she will go and talk to them excitedly. Honor knows how to identify colors and shapes and asks “what is that” questions on her own initiative.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting little Honor. We hope we are able to find Honor her Forever Family soon!
Jessica is a lovely little girl who is 6 and a half years old. Jessica was found when she was two months old at the gate of the orphanage, wrapped in a coat and left in a paper box. Jessica was born blind and cannot see out of either of her eyes. Jessica now appears to be physically healthy in all other regards. She can stand and walk, but she needs help getting around since she is blind. She is sensitive to sound and she quickly reacts when she hears certain sounds. She will respond when you call her name and she will have a big smile on her face. Because she is blind she is delayed compared with her peers, but there is nothing in her file to indicate that she has any cognitive issues. Her caretakers say that she is found of listening to the television when it is on. Jessica likes to sing and to dance when she hears music. She likes to play with toys and her friends. Jessica is a brave and active girl and is not afraid of strangers.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Jessica. We hope we are able to find Jessica her Forever Family soon!
Read MoreOur Sponsored Star for May is Here!
Meet Liam, GWCA’s Sponsored Star for May!
Liam is a happy little guy who is just 2 and a half years old! He was born with a cleft lip and palate, however, we recently found out that he’s scheduled to receive surgery to repair it in April! Liam’s caretakers describe him as an introverted kiddo who loves to be cuddled, and play with his friends and his toy blocks! Liam can imitate some words, and walk short distances all by himself. For Longer distances, however, he still needs a little bit of help.If you think this little guy could be a good fit for your family, contact our China Matching Specialists or visit our Photo Listing to learn more about him today!
Watch Liam’s videos: Video #1! | Video #2!
As our Sponsored Star, Liam has a $2,000 grant available towards his adoption fees! If you are interested in seeing Liam’s file or learning how you can be matched with him, visit our China Waiting Child Photo Listing or contact our China Matching Team 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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Winter Host Kids Need Forever Families!
Over the past few months we have been delighted to see many of the kids from our Winter Hosting program get matched with their Forever Families! A few of our amazing host kiddos, however, are still hoping to find their families. Cal, Mya, Nathan, Nicholas and Jian all came to America to stay with host families this past Winter. While they were here, they were able to celebrate their first Christmas with a family, play with their host siblings, and bond with their host parents. They were able to see what it would be like to live in a family, and we want more than anything for them to have that feeling again. Please help us find them their very own Forever Families by sharing their information or speaking with our Matching Specialists today!
If you or someone you know is interested in learning how you can be matched with one of these kids, please contact our China Matching Specialists at meredith@gwca.org or visit our China Waiting Child Photo Listing today!
** $1,000 GRANT AVAILABLE **
Hi! My name is Cal and I am 9 years old. I am the Great Wall SPONSORED STAR for this month & so I have a $1,000 Grant available for my adoption!
I have a growth delay and some urogenital needs but I don’t let this stop me from being a happy kiddo! I was hosted in the United States over the holidays but now I am back in China waiting for my forever family! I did very well with my host family and made great progress during my stay! I loved practicing my basketball shot and my host family said I was always up for the challenge of trying new and unfamiliar things! I am a very polite and well behaved kiddo that would do amazing in a family. Contact my friends at Great Wall if you’d like to review my file!
** $1,000 GRANT AVAILABLE **
Hi there! My name is Mya and I just turned 11 years old. I am the Great Wall SPONSORED STAR for this month & so I have a $1,000 Grant available for my adoption!
I was hosted in the United States over the Holidays but now I am back in China waiting for my good friends at Great Wall to help me find my Forever Family! I am a healthy girl with some general developmental delays. The doctor my Host Family took me to while I was in America told us that most of my delays are just due to the fact that I was born premature and that I have grown up in an orphanage. I sometimes pull out my hair as a coping mechanism when I am anxious, but this is definitely something that my Forever Family can help me with when they adopt me. While I was in the U.S. I quickly picked up on many English words and phrases. I also learned to sing a lot of English songs like “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Happy Birthday” and the “ABC’s.” I really liked my Host Family and I would often tell them that I loved them and would blow them kisses. Since it was Christmas time when I was in the United States I got to participate in several large activities like a Christmas Eve Church Service and I did very well in that kind of environment, saying “hello” to almost everyone I met (I’m very friendly)! There is so much more information about me in my file and from my time in America, so you can contact my friends at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting me! I hope my friends at Great Wall find my Forever Family soon!
Hello! My name is Nathan and I am 8 years old! I was born with a cleft lip and palate but some nice doctors repaired this for me when I was younger and now I am doing much better! I was recently hosted in the United States over the holidays but now I am back in China waiting for my forever family! I had a great time visiting the science museum with my host family and I got along very well with the other kiddos! My host family said I was a great listener and am really good at behaving myself. My overall health seems to be great as well! If you’d like to learn more about me, contact my friends at Great Wall for more information! 
Hi there! My name is Nicholas and I am almost 11 years old. I was hosted in the United States over the Holidays but now I am back in China waiting for my good friends at Great Wall to help me find my Forever Family! I am a healthy boy that has some general developmental delays, but I don’t let that keep me down! I am in 3rd grade and I enjoy math. Sometimes I have a hard time concentrating in class, but with the guidance of my foster parents I have started to catch up in school. I like to play sports a lot, especially basketball! I am very good at expressing myself. I have good self-care abilities, I like playing outside and watching cartoons. You can contact my friends at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting me! I hope my friends at Great Wall find my Forever Family soon!
Hello! My name is Jian and I am 10 years old! I was hosted in the United States over the holidays but now I am back in China waiting for my forever family! My file indicates that I may have Thalassemia but my host mom states that she didn’t recognize this to be present! I visited a pediatrician, eye doctor, and dentist while I was here and am described as a very healthy kiddo overall. My host mother describes me as a happy kiddo who is very clever, respectful, and kind! While I was here in the U.S., I had a great time swimming, rock climbing, and spending time with my host brother. I even got to have my first birthday party while I was here! My favorite part of the party was blowing out the candles and having everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. I am a sweet kiddo who would love to come back to the United States. If you would like to learn more about me, contact my friends at Great Wall!
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“Lou” Finds Her Forever Family!
One of the distinguishing aspects of China’s Waiting Child adoption program is that families are able to find the child that they want to be matched with rather than simply receiving a referral from the country. While this is a huge part of the reason that so many families decide pursue their adoption through this program, as they can look for a child with a need that they feel comfortable with, it also means that every single family’s matching process is different. Some families begin their adoption journey knowing exactly what they’re looking for and exactly where they want to end up, while other families nay need a little bit more time to find their child. Below is the story of how one family came to be matched with a young lady named Lou. Lou participated in our China Orphan Hosting program, and as a 13 year old girl, she was in danger of aging out until her Forever Family found her!
We combed through all the list, the agencies, and online resources available. We talked with the many people we know that have adopted. We asked them countless questions. We went back to them and asked them more. We talked with them, we prayed with them. We prayed. We weren’t as afraid as we were before. We were even starting to feel ok with the idea that this child might live with us in our home forever because she couldn’t live on her own. We knew we were not looking for an infant or toddler. We knew there were lots of people that would be more likely to take them. We knew we were looking for a girl who was nearly “out of time”. So, we searched the “aging out list”. For us the “age out child” made sense. We are in our 40’s, we have children in their 20’s. We have a 4 bedroom home, with just the 2 of us. We have resources more than we need. Dad is very close to retiring from his career and has time, and a more flexible schedule than ever before. Mom is flexible and eager to have another daughter to love. We enjoyed our teenagers more than most of our friends. Our 20 somethings children are our best friends and we can’t imagine life without them. We even choose to hang out with 20 somethings from the local university. Most of them, Chinese, as we are very involved in the international student hosting program at the campus. This seemed like the perfect fit.- Learn more about the China matching process!
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China matching specialist
8 NEW Kids Need Families!
Mary is a cute little girl that is only one and a half years old. Mary has something called congenital leucoma which means she has a lack or loss of transparency of the corneas of her eyes. This condition does cause Mary’s vision to be impaired, however it appears that Mary can see and that she is not blind. There may be some treatments for this condition in the United States that Mary doesn’t currently have access to in China.
Mary’s file was prepared when she was only 10 months old, so as of that time Mary was sitting up by herself and learning how to crawl. Mary was also babbling and was starting to say some simple words. Mary’s caretakers described her as being curious and eager to discover the world around her. Mary liked being held and cuddled by her caregivers while being rocked in a rocking chair. Her caretakers said that she is a sweet, pleasant baby.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting baby Mary. We hope we are able to find Mary her Forever Family soon!
This sweet kiddo’s name is Landon, and he is 9 years old. He has been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, but it doesn’t appear to affect his daily life in any way. He’s currently in school and doing a fantastic job! His cognitive development is on target and he has a lot of friends within his school. We received an update for Landon last July, and at the time he was living with a foster family! He has always gotten along well with his caretakers and says that he loves them very much. If you’d like to learn more about Landon, please reach out to Great Wall!
Lilianna is a sweet little girl that just recently turned 3 years old. Lilianna has cerebral palsy and so her gross motor skills are delayed. She also has exotropia of her left eye and poor eyelid strength on her left eye as well. Lilianna was abandoned when she was about 3 months old and has been in an orphanage ever since.
Lilianna is able to crawl and will crawl with great vigor when she sees a toy or a snack that she wants. She can sit by herself against a wall but she needs a teacher’s help to sit independently. She has good fine motor skills and can pick up small objects with her thumb and index fingers easily. She is currently babbling but not saying words. She does know her own name and she will turn her head to look when someone is calling her name. She understands adult’s facial expressions and she can distinguish strangers from familiar people.
Lilianna is a quite, introverted little girl. She really likes to listen to music and to dance with the music when it’s playing. She enjoys playing with her peers and receiving cuddles from her caretakers. When she is upset her caretakers say that she will be comforted by being held.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting little Lilianna. We hope we are able to find Lilianna her Forever Family soon!
Bobby is a cute little guy that turned 1 years old this past September! Bobby was born with hydrocephalus and spina bifida. He has received surgeries for both needs and his file indicates that they were successful. He has a regular and consistent schedule and he has grown to become adjusted to his environment and his caretakers. His file indicates that he makes eye contact with his caretakers and he responds when his name is called. GWCA is currently working on getting an update. Contact a Matching Specialist if you would like to review his file! 
Jessa is an adorable little gal who turned 3 years old in December! Her file indicates that she has cerebral palsy but it is unclear how severe her condition is at this time. Her caretakers assist her daily with rehabilitation services to stimulate her cognitive and physical development. Jessa has a routine schedule and does not have any issues with her sleeping or eating habits. Since coming to the institute, she has had no serious illnesses. Great Wall is still working toward gathering updated information on her cerebral palsy. Contact one of our matching specialists if you would like to review her file! 
Ruthie is an amazing girl who just turned 7 in late March! When Ruthie was 1 year old, doctors observed that some parts of her brain were not developing fully. This effected her vision, language, and mobility. At age 2 Ruthie underwent a year and a half of rehabilitation, and was then able to walk without assistance and say a few words! At the time her file was prepared in 2014, Ruthie was doing great, even singing along to children’s songs and doing dances with the other kiddos! Her file indicates that she may be somewhat delayed cognitively, but we are working hard to find out more recent information for her. Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to review her file!
Marigold is a sweet little girl that is 8 and a half years old. Marigold was born with cleft lip and cleft palate, but she received a surgery when she was younger to correct her cleft lip and cleft palate. As of when her file was prepared back in 2013, she was able to walk and go up and down stairs by herself. Marigold was able to color and imitate drawing vertical lines on paper. Marigold was babbling at that time her file was prepared. Because she has a cleft lip and cleft palate her language has most likely been delayed to some extent. Her caregivers say that she has quick reactions and that she adapts to change quickly. She is an active girl that is fond of listening to music and she likes to dance. She is very energetic and likes to play with her friends. She also likes to play hand-clapping games with her caregivers.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Marigold. We hope we are able to find Marigold her Forever Family soon!
Click Here to Watch Marigold’s Video!
Zane is an adorable little guy who will be turning 2 years old this July! He was born with a cleft lip and palate and a congenital heart defect. According to his file, Zane’s physical development is delayed compared to his peers but his cognitive development is normal. He can understand simple commands and always giggles seeing familiar faces! He can clap his hands, roll over and hold toys with both of his hands. His file indicates that he demonstrates an attachment with his primary caregiver. Zane loves watching TV and listening to music. Because of his heart defect, Zane has to limit his strenuous physical activity. Contact one of our matching specialists if you are interested in reviewing his file!
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Forever Family Friday!
Hooray! We are delighted to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this little guy home forever! Congratulations from all of us at GWCA and CAN, we are so excited to see this kiddo come home.
We are currently advocating for many other children that are in need of Forever Families! If your family is interested in learning how you can be matched with one of them, our Matching Specialists would be more than happy to speak with you. One of the benefits of our China adoption program is that families can be matched at any point in the process, so you can find your kiddo right away and get started! Visit our Photo Listing today to learn more bout the kids that we’re advocating for!
- Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
- Contact our China Matching Specialists
- Learn more about adopting from China
Letter from an Adoptee
One of GWCA’s amazing adoptees recently wrote a letter about adoption for a March Madness fundraiser at her school and won one of the grand prizes! In her letter, she wrote about the impact that adoption has had on her life as it brought her to her Forever Family. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Ting!
In August the year of 2006 a couple decided to add a new addition to their family. On November 2 of 2009 a little girl was able to officially have a family of her own. What the little girl didn’t know was that it was all because of one organization that brought them together. That little girl was me. The “Great Wall China Adoption” agency has helped more than 9,000 children find their forever families. In addition, they help guide these families along the adoption process, from the multitudes of paperwork to traveling to their waiting child. Why is Great Wall China Adoption agency so special from the other adoption organizations? Well it’s because they have an international office in Beijing, the capital of China. Great Wall’s China Division is fully staffed by bi-lingual employees, who have strong relationships with the Chinese government. They are there for families every day of the week and not to mention, I’m here! Their mission is to help children around the world find loving and permanent families of their own. One of Great Wall’s core values is that children should grow up in a setting that offers them the “optimal conditions for full emotional, cultural and physical development”. I strongly agree. If a child is suddenly moved into a new environment that he or she has no clue as to where they are and who these people are who are trying to play with them, speak a totally different language and even smell different, a nurturing and loving environment is a must, in order to attach to that particular family. Great Wall China Adoption agency’s main goals are: to work with countries around the world to find homes for children who were abandoned and orphaned, help the United States and foreign governments to improve the international adoption process, to develop laws to protect children and act as ambassadors to educate people toward creating a better relationship between US and other countries. The organization was founded by President and CEO, Snow Wu, who has felt dedicated to helping children.
Every year on November 2nd, my “forever family day”, my family and I do something special like going to a Chinese restaurant and my parents give me a special gift that was brought from China while they went there to get me. I was around 7 months old when I was found in front of an orphanage gate with nothing but clothes and a pink blanket that was wrapped around me. I was taken in and cared for, provided with food, clothes, few toys and friends. When I was just turning 7, I met my parents. Of course at the time, I didn’t want to do anything with them, crying when I first met because the one place I knew was home and my friends, I would have to leave behind. Now as I look back, I am thankful for everything I have. For all the good memories and sometimes I look through all the videos and photos of when I was in China with my parents, and just smile and laugh. It was the Great Wall’s ambassadors that led my parents to the agency and Great Wall’s dedication, that my parents found me. It Great Wall which helped my parents come get me. It was Great Wall that helped me know what a family truly is.
The number of abandoned children in China has dropped steadily in the last decades but the numbers still remain too high. Today, almost all of China’s unwanted children have disabilities. In addition, Chinese law says kids can no longer be adopted at the age of 14. If you think about it, some people might not want a child who is has already established their personality or is mentally and physically ill. So those children will grow up knowing nobody ever wanted them. The estimated cost of adopting China is 20,000 to 25,000! But someone will spend that much, when they know that they’ll get a daughter or a son that they can call their own. People from the U.S. had adopted nearly 13,000 children from the 106 different countries in 2009, just a little more than two-thirds of all children come from only five countries: China (23%), Ethiopia (18%), Russia (12%), South Korea (8%) and Guatemala (6%). As you see here, more people like my parents, have decided to take a leap of faith and go through with adopting a child that is not their own blood. These families sometimes can’t create a family on their own so they look to adoption, desperate to have kids running around the house.
I want to give back to the people who helped me and many others to find an everlasting family. And I want a family to fall in love with the sound of a child’s laughter, their screaming, and their love. I want a family to be able to hug a child in their arms, to read a bedtime story. Or just simply hear the words “I love you”. You too can help many child or a waiting family.
For more information about GWCA’s China adoption program, contact our Matching Specialists or visit our Waiting Child Photo Listing today!
Contact ana@gwca.org today to learn how you can share your family’s adoption story!
Read More8 New Kids on the Block
Jacob is an amazing 12 year old boy that has cerebral palsy. One of our Great Wall staff members met Jacob when she visited China last month and she said that he is happy, smart, kind and charismatic kiddo! Jacob was just beaming with joy and enthusiasm the entire time our GWCA staff member was there! Our Great Wall staff member said that even though he has cerebral palsy that it doesn’t affect his ability to walk, run or dance. He does not need any assistance with getting around at all. He can play with his friends normally just like any other child. His CP also doesn’t affect his ability to write or pick up small objects. He can speak and have conversations, but his pronunciation is sometimes unclear due to his jaw muscles being quite tense. Jacob is in 5th grade and is one of the top students in his class. His caregivers say that he is very smart. He has great self-care abilities such as dressing himself, bathing himself and eating on his own. The caretakers at Jacob’s orphanage said that he is always asking when he will be getting a Mom and a Dad. Jacob told our Great Wall staff member that he really wants to be adopted!Jacob will age out of the China adoption system in about a year and a half, so he really needs to find his Forever Family soon. Will you be that family? If you are interested in learning more about Jacob, or if you would like to talk to the China Matching Specialist that met Jacob in China, please feel free to contact us! We look forward to helping Jacob find the parents he has always dreamed of! Watch My videos: Video #1, Video #2, Video #3
Chandler is an adorable little 2 year old who loves to smile! Chandler was born with aplasia of his optic nerve. There is limited information in his file regarding how this affects his vision, but Great Wall is working to get an update. At the age of 10 months he entered an infant program where he thrived. He was able to roll over, grasp toys, babble and giggle. At the age of 1 year and 4 months he could sit up on his own with some support, imitate adult’s words and actions, and has a routine schedule. He is described as being an introverted kiddo who loves listening to music and playing with rattles. Contact Great Wall if you’d like to review his file!
Jenna is an adorable 7 year old girl who is blind in her right eye. Her file indicates that she has some mobility impairment as well, but her orphanage has done a fantastic job providing her with rehabilitation services. Her caregivers have also provided her with sensory integration training to assist with her partial blindness! She loves to learn and spend time with her caregivers and teachers. Although she has some trouble walking, she loves sports and loves to play with balls and cars. If you’d like to review her full file, please reach out to Great Wall!
Marnie is a sweet 8 year old girl with mild cerebral palsy and an outer ear deformity. Although her outer ear formed a little differently, she is able to hear well! Her caretakers say that she loves to play games with the other children and does well studying and following along with her teacher. From her file, it sounds like Marnie can walk, but she may have trouble moving her right side. If you’d like to learn more about Marnie, please reach out to Great Wall!
Esther is a great little girl that just turned 12 years old. Esther’s right hand doesn’t work very well and her right foot has a little less flexibility than her left foot, but other than that she seems to be doing very well! She can walk, run and jump normally and she can write and do other tasks with her left hand. She has normal intelligence compared with her peers and she is in school in a regular class with other children. Her best subject in school is math. She can communicate well with adults. Like many young girls she likes going shopping and buying new clothes. She also likes playing with water toys and playing outside.
You can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting Esther. We hope we are able to find Esther her Forever Family soon!
Hello! My name is Abigail and I am 9 years old. My doctor’s say that I have cerebral palsy, but that doesn’t stop me from being a happy kiddo! I am very close to my caretakers, and love to spend time with the other kiddos in the orphanage! My file is a little outdated, but my friends at Great Wall are working hard to find out more about me! Please reach out to Great Wall if you’d like to learn more!
Sadie is a sweet girl who will be turning 10 this May! Sadie has significant hearing loss and unable to speak, but she does a wonderful job communicating her needs to her caregivers. She also has some motor delays, but is able to walk on her own without assistance. Sadie is partially deaf, but is sometimes able to hear music or hear her name being called by her caregivers! Her caregivers describe her as a generous, sweet kiddo who loves her teachers and the other children in the orphanage. She likes to study for school, and often sits in on other children’s lessons in order to learn more. She also loves to draw and will sometimes sing if she can hear the music playing. She does a wonderful job caring for herself and other children, and is extremely helpful to the caregivers. She can also write numbers and words and is always eager to learn more. If you’d like to review Sadie’s full file, please reach out to Great Wall!
Sally is a precious 10 year old girl who was born with cerebral palsy. She has been receiving rehabilitation services in her institute since she was 6 months old. She has great self-care ability and is able to follow directions well. Her caretakers mention that she gets along extremely well with other children and she often shares her toys when she sees that other kiddos are upset. She is loving, active and always smiling! Her file is a little outdated so GWCA is working hard to learn more about her progress. If you’d like to review her file, contact one of our Matching Specialists!
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