Adopting a Special Needs Child? What Might Happen?

Today i want you to meet a sweetheart named Justine.

Isn’t she pretty? i bet you that she would be even prettier if she has lovely long hair with a pretty bow in it. But her hair has been chopped off as it always is for special needs orphans who have been sent to live in an institute, most likely an adult mental institution.

Justine has congenital microcephaly and autism but she is fully mobile and active. However, there are these cautionary notes in her file: “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.”

Sounds a little shocking, maybe even frightening?

But it goes on to say: “These children all have TREMENDOUS potential for improvement, and deserve to have a life outside these four walls.”

And indeed they do have amazing potential… i have read about the amazing improvements these precious ones have made with the aid of a loving family, many times over, in my year advocating for these orphans.

i recently read a most wonderful post from a wonderful mummy who just came home a few months ago with her beautiful daughter from Eastern Europe. Her daughter has many needs and they have a long journey in helping her recover from the lack of medical care in the institution she was at. And yes some of her issues will be long-term and some can sound quite scary but she is now loved with all the love a family can give and that has made all the difference.

Listen to what this wonderful mummy says might happen to you if you adopted a special needs child:

It might make you keenly aware of how fragile the human body is, and how amazing the human spirit is, and how quickly things can change – every. single. day. And you might come to realize what a good thing this daily reminder is. It is not a curse or a burden, it is a BLESSING. Because you begin to understand that so many things you worry about are frivolous and insignificant. When you begin to realize this, you start to loosen your grip on those things and turn more of your attention to the things (ie. people) that do matter. You might go out and enjoy watching your kids play in the backyard today because you know that you could be at the hospital with a child who has broken a hip or needs neurosurgery tomorrow.

Yes you read that correctly… “it is a BLESSING.”

So do you think Justine is that blessing which has been missing from your family? If so, please contact Reece’s Rainbow for more details.

Even if you are not Justine‘s forever family, you can help her in her journey to having a caring family. You can share her story so that others may come to know about her and share about her and who knows, you might just be that link to her forever family.

You can also pray for Justine‘s daily needs and for her forever family to come for her as soon as possible.

You can make her forever family’s journey to her that much easier by contributing to her adoption grant. International adoptions are ridiculously expensive. Please help by clicking on her name or picture to go to her profile page to donate.

Thank you.

syc

Please go here to read the whole post i quoted from.