The issue of orphans and children in need has been one that has been close to me heart for a long time. About 8.5 years ago I heard a segment on the radio about adoption. Since that point I have wanted to open my home up to these kids. It has been my passion to advocate, support, sponsor, and hopefully one day to adopt. I have seen God work some wonderful miracles in our lives to bring us to this point where we may be able to start that journey at long last! He has blessed us with the resources, friendships, a large enough home, and a great location with much support. I cannot wait!
In the mean time, I have had my heart break for a number of children listed on Reece's Rainbow. These kids NEED homes with families that will love and nurture them so that they can blossom. In their homelands they do not have those opportunities. Their countries do not yet have a culture of acceptance of special needs, so they sit in orphanages, baby homes, and mental institutions. At age 4 most children are moved to adult mental institutions where they receive very little to no stimulation. They receive just enough food and care to stay alive, and sometimes not even that. There just is no support available for them. Special needs range from Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, crossed eyes, heart conditions, Spina Bifida, Cleft Lip & Palate, Club feet, deafness, visual impairments, missing limbs, HIV+, etc. Many are well treated here in the USA, but in their home country these therapies and such are not available to them.
Here are the profiles of a few of these special children. They need FAMILIES to step up for them! The ones most desperate are the ones that are getting close to aging out of the system. Adoption is no longer an option for these kids after they turn 16. At that point their fates are sealed. Please click on their names for more information.
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| Boy, Born Jan. 26th, 1998 (he will be 16 in a little over a year!) |
Emmitt has Spina Bifida. He cannot walk, and probably spends most of his time in a crib. A crib! He should be in a loving home, where he can experience life! He already has a grant through Reece's Rainbow to help lower the adoptive family's out of pocket expenses. Someone that met him said this about him, "
He is very friendly, funny, and talkative. He desperately seeks out attention. He was talking to my husband, and holding Zack’s hand, which he then put on top of his head for Zack to rub his hair. He is extremely intelligent, and just precious! I brought him paper and crayons, and he drew me a flower. 
"
***UPDATE!! EMMITT's FAMILY HAS FOUND HIM!!****
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| Boy, Born Sept 2004 |
Kristopher has Cerebral Palsy and crossed eyes. His fate will be like Emmitt's. Just a precious little guy! Don't you just want to grab him out of that crib and tickle him!?
http://reecesrainbow.org/26298/kristopher
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| Girl, Born March 1999 |
Rania has Down Syndrome, and will be turning 14 in March. Her time is running out as well. Isn't she beautiful? http://reecesrainbow.org/38660/rania
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| Boy, Born May 15, 2003 |
Eric has HIV. He is likely receiving medication for it but I am not sure. HIV is very easy to manage. See
http://www.projecthopeful.org/ for more info. He looks like an active normal boy, wrestling that stuff alligator! What a great brother he would make!
http://reecesrainbow.org/3461/eric2801
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| Girl, born Feb 2007 |
Charlotte has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease). She spent her first 4 yrs of life in a crib. She is doing well and loves to cuddle. They are working on getting her bones strong enough so that they can put rods in her legs so she can walk. She would do best in a home without large pets or younger children as she is fragile. What a cutie!!
http://reecesrainbow.org/40923/charlotte
***UPDATE Charlotte's family has found her!!
Please do not let financial barriers hold you back. The United States is the wealthiest nation in all of history. We waste more money than most people in the world dream of making. Budgeting, grants & fund raising opportunities will get you there! Contrary to popular belief, most people that adopt are not wealthy! I will post more about these things later on.
