This Year

This year has gone by in a blur.  We are so grateful for every child we met.  They are amazing individuals and such a gift.  Every picture we see, every minute we spent with them was our privilege.  As we look back through the year the blur is made up of small moments. Little bits of time for holding a hand, drying a tear. giving and extra lollipop.  Having a short snuggle or getting a hug.  These little moments are just perfect.  A moment to connect, to give love and to feel that instant of bonding.  All these children are special and so need the love of a family.  So as 2013 ends, we celebrate with the new families of 2013.  Those that were matched or met their children this year.  Here are

click here to see The Children of 2013

From the 2013 Superkids team, Erin, Darla, Chelsea, Gongzhan, Rocky and Pat, and the Gladney team, April, Wendy, Lindsay and Mary,  we wish everyone a peaceful and joyous New Year that is full of the Love of family.  

The Children of 2013

Exciting news

Exciting news!  Dr. Darla visited Shanghai and visited with our children there this week.  She was in Shanghai and spent the day visiting with our children.  So cool!  She spent her time and all to get great information on the wonderful children there.  Yeah Darla!  You rock!

I am so grateful for our wonderful volunteers this year.  Darla donated her time this Summer and now!   Darla has children, a busy practice and she used her precious time to help waiting children find families.   Erin has the same spirit.  She has five children.  She home schools and has a super busy life.  Her dedication in helping waiting children find families is amazing!  Chelsea our intern has decided to dedicate her adoption. We have another waiting child advocate who is always there for us.  Suzanne has showed strength and dedication as well.  She is always there for the kids.  Volunteers from past trips also showed great spirits and love for the children.  Diane, Karen and Kathy, we are so grateful for all you have contributed.  Dr.  Eileen, you rock too!  You are always there for the children even when you are supposed to be having fun at a picnic and I ask for a consult on a waiting child.  

Many advocates from Internet groups have shared and supported the children by sharing posts and spreading the word about the wonderful waiting children.  So as the year draws to a close, Thank you all. Your spirits are amazing and they make each and every heart sing!  Each child that comes home is a victory.  If we can't change the world all at once, you change the world one child at a time.

Here is a quote to sum up our belief.
     
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. - Mahatma Gandhi

Here are some pics from past trips and this years trip. You rock ladies!

Wonderful volunteers, thank you all so much for the care and dedication you show to children.

Reflection

As the holidays are here and the year is drawing to a close, I reflect on all the trips to China we have completed.  We are trying to sum up changes we have made over he past years.  In 2007 when we first started going to China, I was amazed at how many children could be in an orphanage.  I was heart broken for some of our little ones.  I saw so many waiting children with special needs and yet potential adoptive parents, Social workers and the whole adoption community were only talking about the girls in the healthy infant program.   My heart broke each night for the kids with special needs.  How would they ever find families who would love them? I saw much more fear of special needs in those days.

As the times changed and China moved into more of a waiting child program, many of these children with special have found forever families.  In fact I am amazed at the change in attitude about special needs.  Not only with amazing adoptive parents being open to many more special needs but also change in attitudes toward special needs in China as well.  It just goes to show what role education can play in making changes.
On my first trips to the orphanages I noticed children with limb differences or their hand or arm had their sleeves rolled down covering the arm.  I shared through our translator the story of a friend I knew with a limb difference.  She went on to become a doctor.  I asked the nannies to roll up the sleeves of their children with upper extremity limb differences.  I told them this would help the children learn to use both arms and help them do more things for themselves.  The nannies were willing to try.  I have seen a big change in the care of these children.  They are encouraged to use both hands and arms. They side with the difference is no longer hidden under their sleeve.   I have had an older boy explain  his limb difference to me and show me both hands and arms pointing and clearly explaining.  Accepting his body as it is.  Navigating me through the differences without sadness.  It is just how he is.  Perfect in all aspects to me and I think to him too! Its education about you being different yet still able to lead a wonderful and live a productive life that made this change.  

All these things make my heart sing.  More kids finding homes, children more accepted with special needs. A true change in attitude here and in China!  Attitudes change and we grow and explore new challenges education plays such a pivotal role.  We are so grateful for these changes.

Lastly I want to  leave you with a final thought.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world-  Nelson Mandela    

Here are some pictures of children with limb differences for you to reflect on.

Advocacy Monday!

 
Today we are advocating for a special boy.  He has been featured in our Guang Ming star email.  We call him Billy.  He met us with his best friend Bea and came in holding her hand.  Many people ask about Bea but not Billy.  We are highlighting Billy because we don't want him to be left behind.   He is at a disadvantage just by being a boy.  Girls get picked first and boys wait and wait.   So here is what we know about Billy.

He is six years old.  He is smart.  He recited a poem. He wrote his name in simple Chinese characters.  He could copy shapes.  He even imitated English words. He completed all the fine motor tasks presented.  He still cannot tie his shoes but is otherwise independent in self care.

Billy goes to the campus school.  they say he really likes school.  The caregivers describe him as a quick learner.  His favorite color is yellow and his favorite animal is a panda bear.

Billy's medical need is differences in both his hands and in his right foot.  These differences do not slow this handsome boy one bit.   He is so sweet and so cute and so smart.  It would be so great to find a family who would work to keep Billy and Bea together.  We do not want Billy to be left behind just because he is a boy.
Could you open your heart to this boy with limb differences who is so smart and sweet?

If you have any questions about Billy, contact me at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com

All They Want

As the holiday approaches we are all thinking how different daily life is for our children who wait in a country on the other side of the world.  Our waiting children are in cold orphanages.  They will not wake for a holiday and get a special breakfast.  They won't be held by Moms and Dads.  They will be alone without family.  Their day will be roughly the same as every other day.  The same bowl of congee, same snacks, baths, same toys. Nothing different.

Here we celebrate and a new year will begin.  We hope it will not be more of the same for these beautiful waiting children.  Every one is so special, amazing and unique.  They deserve to be celebrated, cherished and loved.  We want the New Year to bring Hope for each and every waiting child that they too can have a forever family.  Doesn't it make you want to run there and scoop them up so they could be Home for the holidays?

These beautiful children wait.  Could they be part of your family?

If you want more information about any of these beautiful waiting children, contact me at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com 

I Have Found My Family!

Actually the Ding, Ding Ding Ding happened a little while ago.   We were so caught up in sharing children's stories, we never celebrated publicly.

This little beauty found a family who transferred to adopt her.  They knew she was their daughter, we knew they were her parents.  I am so happy for them both.  So is the whole team!  So our Princessa( our little nickname for her) now has a forever family.  Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!!

Yeah Princessa!  We are so so happy for you!!!

All They Need

Hi everyone,

If you are joining me from Erin Martin's blog for the first time, Welcome.  We are doing a special joint advocacy joint post today today.  Erin and I both have a heart for waiting children.  As the Holidays approach, it makes us dwell on home, family and the joy that a forever family can bring.  We know how much these children need a forever family.  They all have the same special need.  That need is Downs Syndrome.  These beautiful children need structure, routine and consistency to maximize their potential.  We want to help them find their forever families, live life to their fullest potential and not spend another Holiday in an orphanage. They are such happy children.  Their happiness is contagious and they made us happy just spending time with them.  The thought of any of these precious waiting children coming home gives a whole new meaning to being Home for the holidays. So help us advocate for these wonderful children.  Share the post and send positive energy.  We hope they will all find forever families.

Charlotte is a beautiful girl who is 5 years old.  She is described by her caregivers as playful.  She speaks in long sentences and talks a lot with her friends.  Charlotte was able to stack cups and place larger objects in smaller objects.  She had a good pincer grasp.  She liked to draw shapes but she could not write her own name yet.  She can walk and run and really enjoyed playing with our van driver, Mr. Li.  Charlotte attends Kindergarten outside the orphanage.   

Alan is a sweet boy who is almost three.  He is just learning how to walk and does so by holding the caregivers hand.  The caregivers say he rarely cries.  He holds onto the table and cruises along.  He likes to play by himself.  He plays with the stacking cups  Alan can move from his back to his belly to sitting on the floor.  He crawls with his belly on the floor.  His favorite foods are rice and fruit.  

Amelia is a beautiful one and a half year old girl.  She was making simple sounds and turned when she called her name.  She had a scar by her right ear.  She has low muscle tone and a bit of a tongue thrust.  She enjoys being cuddled.  She likes to be fed first in her room.  She is sitting with support and tried to belly crawl but could not move forward or backwards yet. 

It takes a special family with an amazing heart to guide these precious children on their Journeys.  Are you a parent who can open your heart to any one of these children?  All they need to be happy is a forever family!

If you have stopped at the Superkids blog first, click here to go to Erin Martin's blog to read about the other three children we are advocating for.  If you would like any more information about these children, feel free to contact me at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com or Erin at  erinmrtn@yahoo.com