Thanks to Pam and Erin, who helped Frank and invited 7 children to our Party! Let me introduce you. Sweet Colin and Leo are together, in a mental institution. They have been listed a long time.
Janna and Stellan are in the same Laying Down room, unless one was transferred.
Jordan is often overlooked.
Wilson is an older boy. He needs a daddy! He is only HIV+, and with medicine nowadays, that can easily be taken care of.
Marshall is still young, the perfect age!

Colin

Boy, Born December 16, 2002

Colin has the most striking blue eyes! He was born with CP and is not able to walk on his own yet. His upper body seems to be fine, but his legs are affected by the spasticity. Colin has tremendous potential for improvement with therapy and a loving family. He is medically healthy outside of his CP.

From his medical records: microcephaly, CP, spastic tetraplegia

As with all children living in these difficult conditions, this child’s cognitive development has regressed significantly since he/she was younger. It is of crucial importance that any family considering the adoption of an older child from the mental institution setting be well prepared for what to expect with regards to how the neglect and lack of adequate medical care and nourishment has affected this child. These children all have TREMENDOUS potential for improvement, and deserve to have a life outside these four walls.

These children are truly living on borrowed time, and families should be home study approved before an official commitment can be made for this child.

Janna

Girl, born January 2005

Look at Janna’s long lovely fingers!

Janna has a congential anomaly of the brain. Both pictures we have of her she is lying down — she desperately needs a family to rescue her. Once she is transferred, she will likely be left in bed for the rest of her days.

There are many children in this orphanage who could be adopted together.

FACING IMMINENT TRANSFER!

From a family who met her in 2012:

I did not see her moving much but she would arch her back occasionally and make a few noises. She desperately wanted to move though. Desperately! She was the only child I ever saw that was given toys (I would suspect it was because the other kids would likely throw them out of the crib but Janna would keep them in the crib and play with them). The fact that she would play purposefully with toys speaks volumes about her cognitive ability. She would dangle the toys over her face and wiggle them around. She could move all of her limbs but did not seem to have enough strength to sit up on her own (although she almost did it). I do not know if she can roll herself over but when she did move she seemed to have more trunk and upper body strength then I expected. She was given one opportunity to sit up and be on her tummy and SHE LOVED IT! She reached for toys and enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror.

If I had to guess (and again it’s just a guess) I would guess that she has hydrocephalus and seizures. If that is true, I believe the care takers are hesitant to touch or move her. They may not understand hydrocephalus and seizures and are afraid to trigger one.

What touched me the most was every time I would rub her head or hands she looked at me like it was the most soothing thing that had ever happened to her – I will never forget that look. It was as if years of horrible memories were released and she soaked up the gentle attention.

My heart is absolutely broken for her… Janna is 7 years old and is living at the orphanage on borrowed time. It is believed that she will be transferred to a mental institution in September 2012. However if a family commits to adopt her the orphanage director may keep her at the orphanage until they come. I cannot even bring myself to think of her life in a mental institution, she is far too sweet and too gentle to deal with what she would experience. Please…someone…rescue Janna

Leo

Boy, Born December 4, 2002

Leo’s needs are mostly physical. He is a happy and social child.

From his medical records: lower paraplegia, secondary arthrogryposis, right-side scoliosis, convergent squint

$50.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Donations are tax deductible.

Stellan

Boy, born July 2008

Such handsome brown eyes!

Stellan has Cerebal Palsy. He’s another one who will greatly benefit from being part of a family!

From a family who met him in 2012:

Despite his obvious lack of proper nutrition he was very strong. He stuck his feet out of his crib on the floor and pulled himself to a standing position. He cannot walk but with help he can take some steps. I strongly suspect this is due more to lack of opportunity than actual loss of ability. He is able to sit up and pull up on his crib. He vocalized vowel sounds and made good eye contact. I believe that given a chance and some therapy he would be able to walk and be at least semi-independent.

I really cannot speak to his mental ability because I just did not get to spend enough time with him. There was one special day that visitors came to the orphanage so the staff let him out of his crib. That’s how I got a picture of him in a stroller. It was very hard to get a picture of him because he was very near a toy and he was obsessed with getting to it and playing with it. I could not get his attention as he was fixated on the toy. Who could blame him? I would do the same thing for a toy too if I was never allowed to play with one. So I do not know if his obsessive behavior was again due to the institutionalization or connected to some ‘special need’, I just want to mention it so that a family that considers him has a good picture of him and his behavior so that can prepare to help him. He seemed to just pull and toss toys. Like most institutionalized children he has not learned how to play purposefully with toys. No one has taught him so he does not know any better.

I did notice Stellan licking his hands a lot. When you are in an environment that is void of sensory stimulation you will find ways to get it. His oral sensory seeking can be corrected rather easily with things like chewy vibrating toys, chew sticks, vibrating toothbrushes, crunchy foods, etc. His licking really just speaks to his level of neglect and it is just so sad to me.

The one thing I will always remember about Stellan is that he had a very sweet demeanor. Despite his lot in life he was very happy and very sweet. No child EVER deserves a life sentenced to a mental institution but especially a child like Stellan, who really has the chance to blossom with some opportunity to work on his abilities. I just know in my heart that with some therapy and some love, he could be a completely changed boy. Please…someone…rescue Stellan.

$365.50 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Donations are tax deductible.

Jordan

Boy, born January 2005

Jordan is waving hello!

He has Down syndrome, and he seems very tiny for his age. The other picture we have of him, he is lying down — we have no other information about him, but it is possible he is not yet walking.

This sweet boy would thrive in a family!

$101.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Donations are tax deductible.

Wilson

Boy, born November 2006

HIV+

Wilson stands so proud and serious for his picture — hoping his parents will find him. Wilson is a very good boy who needs a family and will match to any family which loves children and is open to HIV child.

He is smart and well-behaved, kind and patient. He is doing very well with other children. He is open and friendly.

From his medical records we know that he has 4th clinic stage of HIV. He does NOT have any mental retardation but speech and psychological delay (common to all orphans). He has congenital abnormal development of gallbladder which does not bother him but was found due to regular ultrasound diagnostic. He also has protein deficiency so he is a kind of skinny.

He is an orphan, all his close family died. Before the orphanage he lived in his birth family. in his medical record he has residual effects of TB due to his birth family history of TB. He never had active TB but got adequate medical treatment because of his TB contact.

For more info and parent support on adopting and raising a child with HIV, please visit http://www.projecthopeful.org/