Just Like You…

… that’s the title of a video about children with Down Syndrome. It is very informative and i love how they point out the differences between everyone and that Down Syndrome does not definite who they are. This video really does cover lots of aspects of Down Syndrome and how a child with Downs needs help but they still want to do everything other kids do. They try their best.

The 3 kids with Down Syndrome in the video proudly show that they are indeed different but that doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome, just being who they are and live a full life with support from their family and friends. Their best friends share great testimony on their behalf.

Watch the video then read on:

My little Heath has Down Syndrome too. And as it is said in the video, ‘It’s just part of what makes me who i am.’ But it is only a part of it. He is much more than Down Syndrome.

But unfortunately, the society he was born into sees only his Down Syndrome and they only see it as a disability  Which is why Heath spends his days sitting in a wheelchair, doing nothing, absolutely nothing but stared at whatever happens to be before him. Because where he is from, being different from what is considered “normal” is unacceptable.

‘Once you learn what Down Syndrome is, you get use to it. Because when you have the knowledge and you understand, it’s easy to accept.’

12 year old Heath, is a cutie who needs his family asap.
12-year-old Heath, is a cutie who needs his family asap.

His only hope is to be adopted by a loving family who has the knowledge and understands that Down Syndrome is not a disability; a caring family who lives in a society which will accept him, just as he is; a little boy who just needs to be shown tender loving care, who will just thrive in such care. Could you be the one to give him such love?

‘She sees you for you, who you are on the inside.’

Please see my Heath for who he is, see that he is a little boy with much need but most of all, see his potential. Can you imagine what he could accomplish with a supportive family behind him?

‘I’m worth the wait…’

Indeed, he will be a blessing to the family who welcomes him with open arms and hearts.

My little Heath has a full grant! (We, his advocates, are so grateful to all the generous donors who made this possible.) Which means his forever family need only come up with the initial fees for commitment and home study and that is completely doable.

Money is now not a hurdle. We just need a family to step up. Are you his family? Please click on his name or picture to find out more or contact Reece’s Rainbow.

Will you share Heath‘s story far and wide so that his family maybe found? Do pray for him; for his daily needs and for a forever family to come for him.

syc

Looking Beyond…

Meet Angelina.

This sweetie needs a family. Would you be able to help?

She is an orphan in Eastern Europe. According to her file, she has the following health issues:

Congenital dysfunction, myelocele of lumbosacral part of spinal cord (had surgery); internal hydrocephalus, flail legs with dysfunction of pelvis/hips, delay of psychological development.

Sounds overwhelming?

But her medical conditions do not define her! She is not spina bifida and the dysfunctions it brings, she is not psychological delay. NO. She is simply a little kid who needs a loving mummy and daddy to help her work around and work with her health conditions and live a full life despite of these medical issues.

If we were defined by our problems, if God only saw our problems, none of us would be here today.

So please look beyond her various conditions and see the little girl who can blossom under the attentive, loving care of a wonderful family. Look into her eyes and see that she can have a great future with a family willing to support and encourage her.

Do you see her? Is she your little girl? Do you feel your heart beat a little faster? If so, do contact Reece’s Rainbow for details about adopting her.

Even if you can’t or don’t feel adopting is the way for you, you can still pray for her; for her daily needs and definitely for her forever family to step forward.

You can also help her by giving towards her adoption grant so that a lack of funds would not be the reason she can’t have  a family. You can click on her name or picture to go to her profile page to donate.

Thank you.

syc

Why?…

If you are a parent to a little child, this is one word which you will have a love-hate relationship with. You will love that your child is curious enough to want to learn more about the world around him/her but the never-ending nature of their “why’s” will make you hate the word.

i have been asked why many times by my son and i love it, except when it is “why” number 1496. i have also been asked why by people who are trying to understand my actions or thought-processes.

One of the “why’s” i have been asked recently is why do i do what i do for these special needs orphans, why do i want to get involved, why do i spend all this time, advocating for, praying for and almost constantly talking about them?

Well, i’m going to “borrow” Michelle’s words (she blogs at Imagery of My Heart):

The only answer I can give here is that once your eyes are opened to a need, it’s hard to be quiet about it. You want to shout it from the rooftops. You want others to care even though they’d rather look away. And that is what happened to me. I couldn’t look away anymore. I may not be able to get anyone else to take up the cause of advocacy, but I cannot be silent. If something I post gets a waiting child just a little more exposure so his/her family can find them, it’s worthwhile. If it makes just one person look at their life and re-evaluate “needs” then it is worthwhile. If one person contributes to an adoption fund for one child, it is worthwhile. Surely these children are some of “the least of these” spoken of by Jesus Christ. How can I turn my back on them?

The words of Jesus she speaks about is taken from this passage: Matthew 25:35-40

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

So i’m asking you today NOT to turn away and meet Ashton.

Isn’t that grin just adorable?

Ashton is just 2 years old and has no knowledge of what a loving family would mean. He was born with Spinal Bifida of lumbar area with hydrocephaly; lower smoldering paraparesis. And it is most likely his disability which made him an orphan.

Whatever the reason he became an orphan is not what i want to discuss today. What i want to highlight is how we can help him as of today; how can we help one of the least of these.

We can pray for him; for his daily needs and for his forever family to come for him.

We can share his story so that his chances of finding a family would increase as more will get to know about him.

We can contribute to his adoption grant so that his forever family will have an easier journey in bringing him home. Click on his picture or name to go to his profile page where there is a Donate button. No amount is too small.

Do you see him and think he would be perfect in our family? If so, do contact Reece’s Rainbow for more information about Ashton.

Thank you.

syc

PS: please hop over to Imagery of My Heart: The “Why’s” to read about more “why’s” of international adoption.