Lots of Love and a Busy Day at Shanghai Children's Home

 

Today, I joyfully returned to the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH) - for the 5th time!  I have grown so attached to the children and staff here.  They are a second family.

Most of today, I trained SCH caregivers and rehabilitation staff.  I was graciously received by Sonya, Roy and Valen.  I am happy to say that I had a great day!  In the morning, I evaluated children with a variety of needs and presented ideas and methods for treatment.  In the afternoon, I worked intensely with caregivers in charge of caring for orphans with cerebral palsy (CP).  

Once again, I was impressed with the caregivers, particularly those in charge of children with CP.  Children with CP usually respond very well to proper intervention.  The caregivers at SCH really love these kids and had so many insightful questions and ideas.  I demonstrated techniques that improve positioning, breathing, and movement so that these children have an improved quality of life, and the caregivers an easier job.  

I worked a long time with a beautiful boy with severe CP.  He was very difficult to position and without proper positioning, it is difficult for children with CP to move at all.  His caregiver, however, was bright and eager to learn.  She quickly learned how to set his body into good alignment and...... in 1 ,2 3, she positioned him without my help so that he could lift his head up and say "goodbye" to us.  

Children like this boy will unlikely find a forever family to call his own.  But helping children learn to sit up, so that they can see people face to face and view the world, brings them out of darkness and into some light.  

As our day came to a close, I was blessed to observe a beautiful expression of love between two waiting children.  A boy with only mild issues shared his cookie with the boy who had severe cerebral palsy.  

What a great day!

Getting ready to evaluate partnership children.  More to come soon.

Peace,

Pat,

PT

More Adventures with Edna

 Gongzhan and Edna on the high speed train

On Saturday morning Gongzhan, Edna and I traveled to TaiChung via high speed train.  This is no easy job considering the amount of luggage we had.  I am sending you some photos of Edna on the train.  The trip to Taichung, which is in the center of Taiwan, only took an hour.  The train runs thru mountains, fields and cities.  In the midst of mountains, remote areas, or cities we could see very beautiful temples.  Taichung is a large city.  Not like new york, but still large.  

We checked into our hotel and then were off to a quick lunch and meeting with the officials from the New Hope program.  They are very gracious.  I gave a presentation and Gongzhan did much work on the program with them. Everyone had a great time taking pictures with Edna.  She was an honored guest. 

It is clear that Gongzhan is very well respected. Traveling with him is an honor.  The officials from New Hope hosted us for dinner at a restaurant that specialized in seafood.  We saw fish lips, frogs, kidneys from who knows what animal, and lastly crocodile jaws.  I was good with everything but the crocodile.

Gongzhan, Edna, and New Hope Staff

 

The next day I was off to Shanghai.  On my way to the airport, my facilitator, Mr. Yeh decided I needed more sightseeing, so on the way to the airport, he stopped at the Grand Palace Hotel, host to Madame Chiang Kai-shek  Kai Sheck.  We also visited the Tomb of the Martyrs. I thought Mr. Yeh was great. 

I arrived in Shanghai without a problem but Edna got stopped for a security scan.  They were quite inquisitive about her.  I explained we are celebrating 125 years at the Gladney Center and it's Adoption month. They just shook their heads and let us through.  I was met at the airport by Roy from Shanghai Children's Home.  Edna and I both received a gracious welcome.  The last time I saw Roy was in NYC.  

Tomorrow I begin evaluating the partnership children from the Shanghai Children's Home.  I can't wait to see the kids.


Pat,
PT

Travels with Edna and a Great Day at Chengyi Orphanage

Gongzhan, Edna, and I made it to Taipei!

As part of Gladney's 125th Anniversary Celebration, Gladney staff, families, and volunteers are taking life size cutouts of Edna Gladney wherever they go.  When I arrived at JFK, Gongzhan was there - with Edna!

 

 Note Edna's stylish rain gear.

Edna enjoyed the airport. They let her thru security because they said she was not much to scan as she is a cardboard cutout.  We arrived in Tokyo aprox 14 hours later.  Good flight, but due to limited seating Edna was stuck in the overhead bin.  She did not mind the bin except during turbulence.  

Here is Gongzhan and Edna in Tokyo airport.  

 Edna looks refreshed , Gongzhan not so much. We had a moment when we realized Edna did not have a passport or visa.  She cleared security easily.  

Here were are in the hotel after a good nights sleep. 

 Here is Edna and Mr. Yeh our facilitator. We lost Edna for a while today because we forgot she was in the trunk.

 

 Here is Edna at the Chengyi orphanage. 

Today we visited the Chengyi orphanage in Taipei.  The director and staff welcomed us graciously.  It is clear they care deeply about all the children under their care.  There are older children without issues as well as special needs children for whom we will try to find forever families.  

I met two boys at Chengyi today and they were so great!  One boy is eight and is supposed to have trouble focusing.  He was well connected, he followed all my directions.  He was the sweetest boy whose focus was excellent when working with me.  He was such a beautiful spirit!  The second boy is ten and had been diagnosed with ADHD, but he no longer needs medication.  He has been at the orphanage over 4 years, goes to school, and is an excellent student.  He was a delight! 

Each boy drew me a picture and the older boy identified the things on his picture in English words because he is already learning English in school.  He was so sweet and his eyes sparkled. 

These two boys are happy and playful and so need forever families.  I wanted to take them both home with me.  They are just out there waiting for a family to love them and say they matter.  For right now they matter to me and I will think of them here dreaming of their forever families.   

More tomorrow, 

Pat,

PT

The Magic of Adoption

Less than 24 hours to go before I leave for China.  I was shocked today when we lost power for the first time since the storm.  Of course it was right after I put all my extra clothes into wash.  I had several minutes of anxiety and then remembered how many people have been without power since Saturday.  Needless to say the power is now back on and clothes are drying.

Today I am reflecting on something Janet Fink (Superkids founder) once said to me.  She said she did not want to miss out on the magic of adopting.  I think there is an amazing magic of a child that is grown in your heart.  Of that child finding his or her way to you, the parent.  Also, the magic of this new person you get to meet who will be part of the center of your family.  I think of the parents and the children as two glimmering lights on opposites of the world, waiting to unite.  I am uniquely lucky to be part of the process that brings these lights together.  I have been lucky to meet some of the parents who are adopting children from the partnership program.  I feel very lucky to be assisting in this process.  How happy and lucky can I be to meet all these wonderful children and so many great families! I can just feel the magic.

Pat

PT

Our Mission

I am thinking a lot about what my mission is in China and Taiwan this trip.  Every time I travel it is with a great deal of hope and thoughtfulness about the future.  I meet many children when I am in China.  I meet a large number of children with minor disabilities.  Many of their issues are not really considered disabilities here in the USA.  They don't effect how the kids will live nor will they make life harder in the long term.  These are the children who are part of the partnership program with the Shanghai Children's Home. Our goal with the partnership children is to help them find their forever families.  We speak to prospective parents and try to give them an idea of what the children are like.

There are many other children that I get to meet and work with who have serious  medical issues.  These children will probably not find forever families.  My goal with these children is to make them feel special and loved - to assist in their rehabilitation and with any special needs they have.  I think about these children when I get in bed at night.

Today, let's think about all the children in orphanages, not just in China, but around the world.  Let's send all the positive energy we can to all these children.  I hope they can know that in some way, there are people who love them.

Peace,

Pat

PT 

More than 1,000 Steps

This journey will be more than 1000 steps.  Much more.  I am leaving with Gongzhan Wu (Gladney VP and director of the Asia Program) on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd and the latest itinerary reads like this.

NY to Tokyo               6737 miles

Tokyo to Taipei           1330 miles

Taipei to Shanghai      427 miles

Shanghai to Harbin     1041 miles

Harbin to Jiamushi      3.5 hours by car (mileage? maybe 150 miles)  

That would make 9685 miles one way.

Returning I go from:

                            Jiamushi to Harbin              150 miles(roughly)

                            Harbin to Beijing                  659 miles               

                            Beijing to Tokyo                   1307 miles

                            Tokyo to Home                    6737 miles  

That makes 8853 miles on the return trip.

Total 18,538 miles in all.  I cannot believe it.  The distance around the earth at the equator is 24,901 miles so I will not equal that.  If I started at JFK and went 18,538 miles to the west I would fly more than half way around the world and end up somewhere in Italy.  Please pass the spaghetti.  But then again didn't spaghetti come from China?     

 Although this will be an exciting but arduous journey it is for an important purpose.  To help children find their forever families, and for those children who will never find forever families to provide whatever comfort, caring and joy we can offer to them and to their caregivers.  I am the lucky one.  I will be meeting so many amazing children in all these cities.  I cannot wait for this journey to begin.  Wish I could go tonight.  The only problem is my suitcase is not packed.  Better wait till Wednesday. 

Peace,

Pat Marcus

PT   

Preparation Begins

Even the longest journey begins with but one step.  I am about to begin a journey of many steps.  It will be from NYC to Tokyo to TaiPei, TaiPei to Shanghai China and Shanghai to Jiamusi.  I will be traveling with Gongzhan Wu who is in charge of the Asia program at Gladney.  Our purpose is to bring information about our waiting children program to Taiwan.  We will then be in Shanghai to meet more Gladney designated children from the Shanghai Childrens Home, spend time with the rehabilitation staff and the children in the orphanage.    We will then fly to Northern China to speak with caregivers and staff in an orphanage there.  All in ten days.

That will be many steps.  Many new faces, new opportunities to get to know the wonderful children and make a difference.  As a volunteer for Superkids my goal is to make a difference in the lives of children who are waiting for forever families and those who will never find their own special family.  I feel so lucky to be part of this program.

Every day from now to Nov 2,  I will be packing, preparing and eagerly anticipating this trip.  Hope I have enough room in my suitcase for all I want to bring.  Will keep you all updated.

Pat,
PT