Rana

This time next year, Rana could be home with your family enjoying the holidays!  Rana is a lovely 5 ½ years old little girl.   She has a diagnosis of cleft palate and mental retardation. Her physical and motor development are similar to her peers.  She can walk, run, jump and go up and down stairs by herself.  She can pass a ball when playing. 

Her language development and mental development are delayed compared to her peers. She is able to say simple words family and peers’ names and use polite words.  She knows the difference between big and small and inner and outer.  At that time her file was prepared a year ago, she was not yet fully potty trained during nap and night time.

Rana is described as active. She enjoys playing with toys, listening to music is quiet and has a gentle nature. She has a ready smile and is energetic.  She likes to play ball and pass the ball to her peers and caregivers. 

Could Rana be your daughter? Contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information about Rana.

Roger

Roger is ready to celebrate his next Christmas with your family!  Roger is 2 ½ years old and has a listed need of CHD (PFO), hearing loss in both ears, and growth development delay. His file mentions that he uses a hearing aid.

Roger’s file was prepared when he was 14 months old. At that time, he was rolling over, could lift his head while lying on his stomach, and could follow moving objects.  He expresses joy by moving his arms and stamping his feet and giggling.  He asks for comfort when he cries and when he sees food, he gets excited to eat.  

Roger is described as quiet and fond of listening to music.  He enjoys playing games, and is close to his caregivers and classmates.  His favorite toys are musical toys.

We are seeking an update on Roger and are hopeful to see some progress in his development.

Could Roger be your son? Contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information about Roger.

Family Friday!! {MATCHES!}

It is time to announce matches! Most of theses children are from China, but the brothers are from Taiwan! Help us celebrate today by liking and sharing this post!

I was recently in Mexico and got to watch a baby sea turtle release. We all cheered them on as they instinctively headed toward the water. Something about the way we all stood there cheering them on reminded me of our Gladney Superkids team as we think of the children we advocate for (just stay with me, I know I'm being a little cheesy). We love announcing matches!

Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day {Family Story}

My family is so very thankful for the gift of adoption. We have seen such a transformation of this sweet girl who walked in to meet her new family July 30, 2018 for the first time. I don’t think any of us knew what to think and we were ALL scared. 

As of today she gets amazing medical care, therapy, preschool, and a family who loves her. I know many tell us how we have changed her life but I can guarantee you she has made each of us better even in these short 4 months. 

Thank you God for showing us the gift of adoption by sending your son, and thank you Gladney for helping us experience love like none other!  We are thankful!

Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day {Family Story}

This year I have been blessed with the most amazing gift ever, my daughter Mia, who I adopted from China this past September. She has changed my world for the better and has put purpose to my life. 

I’m thankful for the people who have been put in my life to make this adoption happen. I’m thankful to have a supportive family who loves Mia unconditionally! These things aren’t coincidental, it was meant to be, and for that I’m forever grateful. 

With the addition of Mia to our family, Thanksgiving had taken on a new meaning. It’s a time to reflect on how truly blessed we are and a time to give thanks. Our family traditions takes on a new purpose, to show Mia the importance of family and friends and the love that connects us. To take the time to give gratitude to those who are with us and to those who are no longer. It’s a time to give thanks to the creator for all he has given to us. 

Mia has added the key ingredients to show us that it’s a time in our lives to slow down and enjoy the little things. It’s a time to give thanks and to be at peace with what god has given to us. These are the moments I hope to share with my daughter! 

River

Four year old River is waiting for you!  She has a diagnosis of congenital cataract in the right eye. This does not stop River from getting to where she wants to go! She is fond of playing outdoors.  River can walk without support and can avoid obstacles when she is walking and is able to locate her bed at night.

River's cognitive and verbal development is delayed compared to her peers. She needs some assistance with feeding and dressing herself, however she can take off her shoes.

River is quiet and has a gentle nature. She is okay playing alone but will play with other children if they are around. She does not argue nor take toys from others. She likes the toys that can make sounds, and she likes outdoor activities.

River needs a family that will be able to give her one on one attention, help her develop a sense of security and help boost her self- confidence.

Could River be your daughter? Contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information about River.

Rae

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday sweet Rae. Happy birthday to you!

Rae will soon be two!  For her birthday, she would love nothing more than to have a family of her own in process to bring her home!  Rae's initial diagnosis was albinism and delayed development.  She has had some hospitalizations and additional diagnosis that are listed in her file.  We are seeking clarification and an update on her medical needs and development progress since file preparation.

Rae's file was prepared when she was a year old.  At the time, was she described as an introverted child who liked to be alone.  She has normal hearing and low vision- able to see things that are close to her.  She has noted developmental delays and we are hoping that an update will show her progress over the last year.

Interested in viewing Rae's file and being notified when her update arrives?  Contact superkids@gladney.org for more information on this sweet girl!

Who Are We? And What Do We Do?

As I am preparing for another trip to Taiwan; packing my suitcase full of lollipops, Legos, and fruit snacks, I started thinking about how these trips have become such a big part of what we do and that maybe some of you don't know exactly why we make this trek half way across the world twice a year.

As you can see, we don't exactly travel light!

I have been working with Superkids since 2013. In that time I have taken 11 trips to Asia and taken over 50,000 photos of children in orphanages. I have seen hundreds of children go from being part of a social system to treasured members of a family. I have been moved to tears by the hard things I have seen and by the precious, amazing things I have seen. I have endured the long, grueling flights and the re-entry into everyday life when it seems it cannot be real that the two worlds I have experienced are both continuing simultaneously on opposite sides of the world. Here is a post that I wrote after my first trip with Superkids to China.

Why do we do it? What is our goal? And are we achieving what we set out to do?

Why? That is always an important consideration. We do it for a few reasons. We go so that we can add to the files prepared for the child and help to bring the child to life. It is one thing to read a file, it is something else to speak with someone who met the child.  Seeing pictures and getting reports from professionals who have personally interacted with the child can give prospective adoptive parents a lot of reassurance as they make the decision of whether this child is a good fit for their family. 

We do it because we want children to be in families who are prepared to parent that child. This is a situation where knowledge is power. The more they know the more successful the family will be.

We also do it to shine a light on children that might otherwise be overlooked. Sometimes it is older children who do not need us to tell their story, but rather need us to provide a platform so that they can tell their own story to the world. I think of one young man we all loved. We met him several times and the last time we met him we were not going to interview him because we did not want to cause him pain that he was still waiting. But he came into the room and he insisted. He needed people to see him and hear his story. Guess what? By the next time we went he wasn't there anymore. He was at home with his family. 

Our goals not only include the things mentioned above, but also to provide caregiver training and professional advice to the people overseeing the care of the children so that the lives of the children we meet and all of the other children in the orphanages we go to can be a little better each time we go. 

And finally, are we achieving our goals? Yes and no. Like I said, we have seen so many amazing children come home and do well. That is the most beautiful thing to witness and to know that we had a part in making it happen. But, we want to do more. We are constantly needing to change as laws in the countries we work in change. And we are always looking for new opportunities and new ways to work to better the lives of children in these countries. 

The work we do is important. And you all have supported us so faithfully. Please help us by following our upcoming trip. Like our Facebook page, share our posts, join our private Facebook group. Every like, share, and comment can help us reach more people and help more children.

That is our biggest goal. And trust me, the children we see are worth every mile traveled and every minute of sleep lost. 

Rick & Ryder [TWINS!!!}

Rick and Ryder are 2 year old twin boys and, let me tell you, it is double the cuteness for sure! 

Both boys have CHD and HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy). Rick is the more outgoing of the two, but both like to smile. 

Rick

We got an update on the boys when they were almost 18 months. At that time Rick was crawling for short distances and sitting with assistance. He was also vocalizing, but not saying words. Ryder was rolling over but not yet crawling. When they give Ryder a bottle, he tastes it to see if it is milk formula and if it is not he will not drink it. 

Ryder

These sweet little guys need a family who can meet them where they are and help them reach their fullest potentials! For more information please contact us at superkids@gladney.org.

Ray

Ray is not quite 2 years old and is a bright, charming baby boy. He started rolling over at 5 months, crawling at 9 months, and pulling to a stand at 9 months. At 11 months he was taking steps and walking in a baby walker. 

His file was prepared when he was 11 months old, so the information we have is from that time. He moves toys from hand to hand and bangs them together. He holds his own bottle and does fine motor things such as tearing paper into small pieces. He responds when his name is called and laughs when he is teased. He gets excited when he sees his favorite caregiver and cries when he is frightened. He smiles at himself in the mirror, and who can blame him? 

Ray has a "port wine” birthmark. The file indicates that he has one leg that is possibly slightly shorter than the other. It sure does not seem to be slowing him down in any way! 

Could this cute little guy be your son? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Roy

My goodness! I opened up a file this morning to read through it and the cutest little pictures reached out and grabbed me. Then I watched his videos and I was done, smitten, totally smitten.

See what I mean!?

This is Roy. He is 4 years old and is doing everything you would expect a curious, active 4 year old boy to do. His file describes him as very smart and cute. He lives in a foster home and gets along well there. When he fights with other children he is able to easily express himself to tell his foster mom what the issue was and why he is upset.

He likes to go swimming and to pretend that he is Superman. He enjoys playing outside and can jump rope, kick balls, and climb in the toy castle on the playground.

This sweet little guy was taken in for treatment when a caregiver noticed his left eye had a white spot in it. He had a malignant tumor in his eye and his left eye had to be removed. The entire tumor was removed and test revealed no other cancer. He not has an ocular prosthesis. He does not have any on-going treatment for cancer.

Roy is waiting for his family! Could he be your son? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Rueben

Are you ready to lose your heart to a 2 year old boy? Don't say I didn't warn you! 

Rueben is a darling baby boy whose development seems to be amazing. His file was prepared when he was 1, so the information we have is from that time. 

This cute little guy was crawling and walking at age 1. He could bang blocks together and stack up to 4 blocks. He was starting to say a few words such as mama and baba. He understands no and can follow simple instructions. 

He has a special need that we will be happy to discuss with interested families. His file also indicates that he has short lower limbs, but this is mentioned briefly and is not apparent in photos. 

Could Rueben be your son? Somebody go scoop this baby up! Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Oakley

Oakley sounds like a little ray of sunshine! When her foster dad arrives home she runs in circles around him because she is so excited. And sometimes she just jumps up and down when she is happy. 

She is 4 years old and has some hand and foot deformities and a possible genetic bone condition. She loves to have her photo taken and often makes everyone laugh as she poses for photos. 

This little sweetheart is well loved by everyone who knows her. Could she be the missing piece in your life?  Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information about sweet Oakley.

Olive

Olive is 8 years old and likes to do crafts and play house. She has a long attention span and can focus on whatever she is doing for a long time.

She likes to play outside, climbing, running, and jumping are some of her favorite activities. She can jump rope and likes to play chasing games. She follows rules well and is generally liked by the other children.

Olive speaks clearly and appropriately for her age. She can count, recognizes shapes, and knows colors. She is learning to read and write Mandarin.

She has been treated for an arachnoid cyst. She received treatment in Beijing. She does now wear a brace on one foot, but there is not a lot of information about this in her file. It just says that the treatment is successful.

Could Olive be your daughter? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more details.

Oceana

Sweet, sweet Oceana is a 4 year old little girl who loves to ride on a little wooden horse and also loves to eat!

She has CHD (Dextrocardia Congenital heart disease Single ventricle Common atrioventricular  valve, CDFI: little regurgitate on Atrial  septal  defect(osmium  premium defect and osmium se cundum  defect)  Trunks  arterioles  communis(I  mode) ) to be exact.

She likes to play on the toy piano and listen to music. She also likes to dance to the music! She sounds just darling! And she needs to get home so she can receive the medical care she needs.

Could Oceana be your daughter? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Rhys

Edited to add that we were heartbroken when we recently found out that darling little Rhys passed away.

Rhys is a darling, chubby 22 month old baby boy. He was only 11 months old when his file was prepared, so the information we have is from that time. 

His file indicates that he is developmentally delayed, but that is difficult to determine in a child that is that young. At that time he loved taking a bath and would kick his legs in the water to splash his caregiver when he was in the tub. He was rolling and playing with toys. 

He laughs easily and sounds like a precious, darling baby who needs a family to help him flourish. Could he be your son? Contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information. 

Ralph

Ralph is a precious 2 year old boy who has already overcome so many obstacles in his little life. He was born with CHD, anal atresia, and some other related needs. He has had surgery for both of these needs. 

His file was prepared when he was 18 months old. At that time he was crawling and gaining weight very well. He likes to be cuddled by the caregiver when he is drinking his bottle. He plays well with other children and is described as active and observant. 

This sweet little guy is waiting for a family. Could he be your son? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Stuart {Update!!}

We got an update for Stuart and he is so cute and doing so well that I just had to share it in a new post! This little guy is just adorable! Look at him "talking on the phone"!

He is walking now and running. He follows simple instructions and can point to body parts when asked. He isn't speaking clearly yet, but he is only 20 months old, so that is to be expected. He feeds himself snacks and his update states that is development is similar to other children his age.

This sweet little guy has cerebral hypoplasia according to his file. He has had a CT scan and we have the report from that scan. His right hand is a little bit stiff and harder for him to use, but by all reports we have received that is the only obvious issue he has.

Could Stuart be your son? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org for more information.

Reed

Reed is only 2 years old and he is described as a lovely, smart little boy. 

He has limb differences that make certain things a little more difficult for him, but he can always figure out a way to do what he wants to do. He grabs balls and doesn’t want to let go. 

He is very sensitive to adult’s facial expressions and does not like it if his caregivers tease him and pretend to be upset at him. He looks at them as if to say, “Why are you getting angry, I have not done anything wrong?!” 

His file was prepared when he was around 18 months old and at that time he was crawling and could put blocks into a cup and take them out again. He could also scribble on a piece of paper with a crayon. 

Reed needs a family! Could he be your son? Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org or more information.

Raina

Raina just turned 2 and she is is described as a quiet, gentle, happy baby girl who does not cry very often. It is easy to get a smile from this little sweetie. 

Her file was prepared when she was 11 months old. At that time she was sitting independent and recognized her name. She was also beginning to babble. She enjoys playing with toys that light up and make noises. She has postoperative meningocele and tethered cord. 

And her favorite things? If you have not already lost your heart to little little sweetheart you are about to! She loves to be cuddled! Wouldn’t it be a privilege to be the one to do all that cuddling? 

Raina needs a family who can provide the medical care she will need and who will help her reach her fullest potential. Please contact us at superkids@gladney.org if that could be you!