The Great Wall

I am getting ready for this trip to China. Doing outreach to families, conferencing daily with Gongzhan, April and Janet, making personal preparations( clothes, phone, etc.) thinking about what I really do in China.  Gongzhan and I were speaking the other day and we were reviewing all my trips to China.  This will be my 6 th trip.  I have been in five provinces and seven cities.  I have hundreds of pictures and am often asked to show my pictures of China.  I do this and sometimes people are surprised.  Almost all my pictures are of the inside of orphanages.

My cousin asked me to come by his office to see my pictures. I showed him and he said, very nice but all your pictures are of orphanages, children.  Are there any adults in China?  Did you see anything else?  Not so much.  What about the Great wall???  I've seen a Great wall.  A Great wall of children. Tall, short, smiling, crying, laughing, It breaks my heart.  Some will find families, some won't.  So many children.  How can we make a difference.  Have you heard the starfish story?  A grandma and grandson are walking a beach littered with starfish. Grandma leans down and picks one up throws it back into the water and the grandson says, grandma, look at all these starfish.  what difference will it make throwing one starfish back?  How does it matter?    Grandma says, it matters to the starfish.

We can all make a difference to a child.  Raise awareness, advocate, talk about waiting children let people know they are out there.  As long as we do this, they are not alone and forgotten.  Every child that finds a family is one less starfish stranded on the beach. I like my beach free of starfish baking in the sun.  I like all the starfish swimming happily in the ocean and all children with forever families.

Pat

I am still fundraising for this trip so if you can help, visit my trip page on the link below.  My goal is $3000 more for this trip.  See more why we need the funds in upcoming blogs but briefly, travel to china is expensive, we try to make the most of each trip and move between at least three cities.  We also bring supplies, toys, sensory cushions, and books to orphanage rehab staff who are forever grateful.  Here is the link. http://ontheirown.org/join-the-challenge   Follow the link and contribute under my name.

Peace,

Adoption Found Me in a New Way

 

Pat with teens from SCH

I am Pat Marcus and have worked for more than 25 years as a pediatric physical therapist.  Up to 50 percent of my practice has encompassed adopted babies and children.  I have worked with children from Eastern Europe,  Africa, Asia, and South America . The greatest majority of children have come from Asia and Russia.  I have always been amazed at the courage of the families and the children who find each other and become a forever family.

One day when working with a family who had adopted a daughter with special needs from China, the mom asked me if I would like to help more children from her daughters orphanage.  Of course I would.  Ha!!  I thought fundraiser for a playground or formula.  No no..  What she had in mind was hands on help.  Go to china, hold the babies, train the caregivers, do some hands on therapy,  Wow.  All that is great but I Hate to travel.  Can I get there by boat?  Hate to fly, even hated it pre 9/11.  I am not sure why planes stay in the air and there are all those people who have to maintain and service them.  Are we really sure about all that.  Not like a car if the check engine light goes on can you pull into the nearest gas station.

OK, get past the travel and the plane, there are children who could use love and help and I am there.  We partner with the Gladney Center for Adoption and Gongzhan Wu arranges our entry to the Shanghai Children's Home.  Our first trip included, myself, another PT, and Janet Fink, Superkids' founder.

We had eight days round trip.  Boy did we rock that trip.  I flew without dying of fright, we saw so many children in the orphanage, it was overwhelming.  Half a day spent with rehabilitation professionals in china, half a day in the orphanage activity rooms, children neither walkers coming in class after class, at least 15 children at a time.  We worked on tummy time, facilitated crawling and movement to prevent developmental delays.  We tried to keep a count and thought we worked with 200 children in the afternoons that week.  very night we all came home, hot tired and cried in the shower.  How many children were there.  Would they ever find families.  We left after a week, exhausted, sad, happy but anxious to go back.

Each trip has been different.  I have cried and laughed, held many waiting children, gotten many high fives and hopefully helped.  So far in China I have visited, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing, Hunan,  Harbin and Jiamusi.  In Taiwan, I have visited, Taipei and Taichung.  This upcoming trip I will go to Jiangxi provence.  Heavens, China in the summer.  Please say prayers for me, for strength, for wisdom and for families to love these children.  We know I already do. 

So if it's in your heart please help me help these kids.  It is my heart and love to help children experience the joy, sense of belonging of a forever family. Hopefully it is in yours too.  

Peace, Pat

How Superkids Began

JEANNIE'S STORY

BY JANET & STEPHEN FINK

In February 2005, we traveled with our son to Shanghai to adopt our daughter, Jeannie. Jeannie was a special needs orphan living at the Shanghai Children's Home (SCH), one of China's nicest and largest special needs orphanages.

Jeannie was placed in SCH at age three months because her eyes flickered rapidly and crossed (her eyes are now straight). Jeannie's special needs status made her difficult to place for adoption and we received her referral when she was almost two years old.

On Februrary 16^th, we went to SCH to take Jeannie home. As we entered her nursery, a large gang of toddlers hobbled over, arms reaching forward calling, “Mama!” to each of us. We were overwhelmed with joy at seeing Jeannie dressed up for her special day in the midst of the chaos and happy cacophony of the SCH Snoopy room. The Snoopy room serves as home, dining hall, playground, and classroom for about twenty toddlers with various medical conditions – all happy, energetic, and wonderful.

Jeannie bonded with us immediately, especially when we helped feed everyone congee for lunch. Jeannie loved playing peek-a-boo with her new big brother, stacking paper, and taking walks outside in the rain. She was happy, inquisitive, and we were a terrific family of four.

Children with mild medical issues can show significant motor and speech delays. Although Jeannie was intellectually and physically healthy, her visual issues and monocular vision affected her development. She was afraid to walk and had trouble targeting objects, so her muscles atrophied. She walked pigeon-toed, falling down frequently. She could not feed herself, roll a ball, or turn pages in a book.

Jeannie started physical, occupational, and speech therapy as soon as we returned to New York. Within a month, Jeannie's feet straightened 70%, she fed herself (constantly) with a fork and only fell occasionally. Blessed with outstanding therapists, she started to catch up.

Jeannie made such astounding progress with therapy that we naturally wished she could have received these needed services in the orphanage. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all orphans could receive these vital services, even those without special needs! Early therapies would make a tremendous difference for hard-to-place children, who need and deserve all the advantages we can give them.

From these wishes, with the help of the Gladney Center and some incredible therapists, Superkids was born and took it's first trip to the Shanghai Children's Home in 2007. Since then, Superkids has expanded it's services to children living in Ethiopia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Taiwan. Please follow our blog to catch up on our latest trips. http://superkidscharity.blogspot.com/

 Janet and Jeannie

Jeannie is now nine and half. She is an outstanding reader and singer. She loves to swim, fence, and laugh everyday with her big brother.

Superkids is making it's 7th trip to China next week.  Superkids' physical therapist, Pat Marcus, will travel with Gongzhan Wu (Gladney VP and Director of Asia Programs) to Shanghai and the Jiangxi province.  (Read her post below to learn more about her u ).  Pat is passionate about advocating for orphans!  She gives them a voice and a chance to find a forever family.

Ready Set GOoooing Back to China this Month!

Ready, Set, GO!!!!

Well here we go again friends.  Guess who is going to China.  Just when I think the summer will be without action, boring and a time to catch up,  the phone rings, email dings and Gongzhan and I will be going to China.  Maybe Edna Gladney will join us.  Good thing I am a woman of action.  I love the doing of each new adventure.  There is very little time to prepare for this trip.  I can't wait just to be there and have time with the children.

Just to catch everyone up, I am the first Superkids therapist ( since 2007) and China is my area of focus.  This will be my sixth trip to China.  I go to China (sometimes with a team, sometimes with Gladney VP Gongzhan Wu) to help make a difference in the life of orphaned children in China.  We train caregivers, rehab professionals and profile waiting (children immediately available through Gladney who are over the age of 2 or who have minor - significant medical conditions) .  We also hold, care for and spend time with children who will never find forever families.  This is the hardest part of what we do.  To hold a child in my arms and know they may never find a family.

What do I need to do in the next 19 days? 

• Fundraising

I am still fundraising for this trip so if you can help, visit my trip page on the link below.  My goal is $3000 more for this trip.  See more why we need the funds in upcoming blogs but briefly, travel to china is expensive, we try to make the most of each trip and move between at least three cities.  We also bring supplies, toys, sensory cushions, and books to orphanage rehab staff who are forever grateful.  Here is the link. http://ontheirown.org/join-the-challenge   Follow the link and contribute under my name.

Let's see, what else do I need to do?

Renew my visa, buy a new suite case (my last one was trashed in other trips), buy travel insurance ( I never leave home without it),set up international plan for my phone (this saves money), figure out how to fit 10 days of clothes, a sensory swing, and things needed by the orphanages children all into the suitcase I have not bought yet.

Did I forget anything? Oh yes - evaluate profiles and do as much leg work as I can on profiles of waiting children designated to Gladney.  Yes, I bolded this because this is most important.

For more information about Gladney's Waiting Child Program and the children designated to Gladney please visit Gladney's Asia Waiting Child Blog http://asiawaitingchild.wordpress.com/

-  get my life , paperwork in order, dog coverage, etc.

Oh my gosh!!!!

Does anyone out there have ideas on how to stay cool in southern china???

Peace, 

Pat

Boys are Great Too!

Found a great video on the Internet recently about adoption of boys.  I will repost the link here for anyone who wants to check it out.  When I first went to China I expected to see all girls in the orphanages.  Surprisingly that is not what I found.  In my travels I have seen more like the ratio of 60/40. Girls to boys.  Reports on the shared list are 25% girls to 75% boys  Why ???  I do not know.  Here is a reason I never knew of until recently.  Girls are picked more readily than boys when pre adoptive parents ask to be matched with children.  I was uneducated as to this and could not believe it when I found out.  So now being an orphan boy makes you less likely to find a forever family than being an orphan girl.  Who could believe this??

When I first went to China, saw the children and spoke with social workers about them I did not understand the whole concept of special needs.  Children who are missing a hand or fingers, have a skin condition or, have a repaired heart defect are all considered special needs.  They would not be considered that here.  Also children who are over the age of 5 are considered special needs.  Why??  Because there is less of a chance of them being adopted.  All this was enough for me to shed many tears on my first several trips to China.  I guess I thought that very few would consider a special needs adoption.  I am so happy to be proven wrong, again and again as pre adoptive parents call me about children.  You know what they ask?   What is the child like, I get some questions about medical needs but more than anything it's, "tell me about what this child is like?".  What is the child like as a person?  I can say I have been so pleasantly surprised.  Focus is much less on disability than who that child is.  All I can say is you guys rock.  Yeah pre adoptive parents!!!!!  I'm in your corner.

So, let's hope everyone can open their hearts to boys as well as girls, ability instead of disability and all children in orphanages worldwide.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ijggNs2Ask&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Peace,

Pat

What Everyone Can Do

Last year this month I was on a plane coming home from Shanghai, China after meeting many waiting children.  These children are finally being united with their new families.  I read all the adoption blogs for these children and watch their journeys.  http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com/adoption/international/china-adoption-blogs.  These children are so brave meeting new parents and going to another country.  I watch them walk in and meet their adoptive parents in china where I have met them.  It's a funny experience to see them at the orphanage, walking around Shanghai or in the market I have been to.  The parents are so wonderful, opening their hearts to children who are older or have some special need. I feel the magic, emotion and excitement of this new beginning all through their written word.

I talk to many prospective adoptive parents once I am home. I consult with doctors and other therapists on many of the children we see on our trips.  When people ask me" what can I do to help?" I say,  Get the word out.  There are many children in orphanages or foster care in China with very mild or already resolved special needs.  I think if everyone knew how great these children are, it would make a difference.  So the number one thing you can all do is raise awareness.   

cant medical needs.  I spend as much time as I can, holding, loving and working with these children as well.  I work in the orphanage rooms and also in the rehabilitation areas to help the caregivers and therapists develop activities for these children.  They are not forgotten.  I carry each and every child in my heart.  This is something everyone can do.

There are also many children in the orphanages who have significant medical needs.  I spend as much time as I can, holding, loving and working with these children as well.  I work in the orphanage rooms and also in the rehabilitation areas to help the caregivers and therapists develop activities for these children.  They are not forgotten.  I carry each and every child in my heart.  This is something everyone can do.

Pat Marcus,
Physical Therapist

Pat Reflects

I have had time to reflect on my trp to Tiawan and China this November and would like to share what the trip ment to me with all of you.  I have been to China 5 times  and now for the first time to Taiwan.  Every trip I always feel was better than the last.  This trip was the most amazing trip because of the people.  In the beginning, when you expierence a different culture, you have to reflect on what everything means but by now this culture shock has faded and I was so much more able to focus on the people and their stories.   

That is the thing that made this trip,  the people.   Our facilitator in Tiawan, Mr Yeh.  a retired axillary police officer.  He is a grandfather and took such great care of us.  He took us everywhere in his WiFi equipped cab.  He took me several places on the way from the train to the airport and had me pose for pictures wherever he took me.   The boys i met in the Chingyi  orphanage were amazing.  One boy had been there about 5 years.  The orphanage staff told me this boy liked to have pillow fights but did not like doing his chores.  I had all i could do to keep a straight face.  

In Shanghai,  I delivered a shared care packages for some of the children.  There was a little girl who was barely walking in march, walking by November and was running when that family brought her home in January.  I had one child who just got a care package and then shared a balloon with another child.  At the foster care station, I asked a matched child if she had anything to say to her soon to be adoptive parents.   She said  "  Mother, father, I love you".  There was not a dry eye in the room.  I was asked by another child , "is there a family for me?"  I am touched again and again by the children and the people.

Three of the children from my November trip are still waiting for their forever families.  It saddens me greatly that it's the boys always left waiting. I find I'm left advocating for many more boys than girls.  You can read about all these waiting children on the Gladney Asia waiting children page.

Peace and prayers for waiting children everywhere.

Pat