Have a Sibling with Down Syndrome…

This is a recent photo – a bit over a month ago… isn’t she such a cutie? She needs her family to come for her today…

Have you read my “imagining” for my lovely Heather? In June, i wrote a blog post for the Reece’s Rainbow Prayer Warrior’s blog, please read it before going on in today’s post.

As you can tell from that previous post, i really imagine Heather having a most fantastic time with a sibling; a sibling who will love her, care for her and look out for her best interests. A brother or sister who would encourage her and be her cheerleader.

But what i did not cover in that post is how Heather might impact or change the life of that sibling. In the video below, Ashley, who has a sister with Down Syndrome and whose family will be adopting a special needs child, covers that wonderfully.

Before you watch the video Ashley made, i want you to hold a few phrases in your head while you watch the video. Notice when and about whom these words describe.

  • unconditional love
  • not a burden
  • so much joy
  • such a blessing

Got the phrases? OK, now watch the video.

My thoughts on having a sibling with Down syndrome…. – YouTube.

i remember meeting a little girl with Down Syndrome myself, when i was a little girl. She was the niece of my Uncle’s wife. i only met her a couple of times but what i do remember is her smile and her readiness to accept people for who they are, just as they are. i have the picture in my mind of her so gently stroking my face.

What Ashley says of her sister is what my lovely Heather will bring to the family who adopts her. She will show that unconditional love. She will not be a burden but a joy and a blessing.

Maybe as you consider whether or not you could be Heather‘s family, you also worry about the children already in your family.

In the video, at about the 7.5 minute mark, Ashley answers the question whether or not she will find it a burden to take care of her sibling for the rest of her life, should the need arises.

This is what she says: “I would not want her to go to anyone else but me.

Sure there was fear and uncertainty at the beginning of her relationship with her special needs sibling. Which relationship was not filled with doubts at the very start? But with time, that all went away, and what replaced it was love, true sisterly love.

A love i pray and hope with all my heart that my dear little Heather will get to experience.

My lovely Heather is perfectly healthy except for that extra chromosome which gives her that extra portion of sweetness. She needs a family. She should not be growing up in an institution or orphanage. She should be hugged and held by a loving mother and a caring father. She should be playing with siblings who love her to bits.

Are you her family? If there is a tugging at your heart, please don’t ignore it. Contact Reece’s Rainbow to find out more about Heather and about adopting her.

This month, September, is my lovely Heather‘s birthday month. She is 11. This is my 4th post for her special month. i pray and hope that these posts have made an impact; that you now know my little Heather and care for her.

Do continue to pray for Heather‘s daily needs and most of all, pray for her forever family to find her.

Do also donate to Heather‘s adoption grant. A bigger grant would hopefully get her more notice and bring her closer to finding a family. Click on her name or picture to get to her profile page where there is a Donate button. If you do make a donation, please leave a comment below so i can get in touch and send you a thank-you gift.

i leave you with Ashley’s words about her sister who has Down Syndrome : “She is my sunshine on a cloudy day.

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Through No Fault of Her Own…

This sweet 11-year-old is waiting for her forever family.

Meet Kate.

Isn’t that smile simply radiant? That smile simply lights up the room. That smile hides the fact that Kate is an orphan, an orphan who is HIV+. Otherwise she is an 11 year-old who is simply waiting for a family to come and call her their own.

Being HIV+ is through no fault of her own. It was likely passed onto her during her birth by her mother. HIV could also be the cause of her being orphaned. We don’t know. But what we do know is that she needs a family to love her and help her navigate life.

Without a family coming forward for her, she would be turned out onto the streets when she turns 16; in less than 5 years’ time. At 16, with a tiny bit of money given to her by the orphanage and likely just the clothes on her back, no skills or proper education, i can not imagine how she would find a job, a place to live and live a decent life.

Her profile says that she is sociable and interacts easily. She would make a great addition to any family. And her medical condition is so very manageable.

Please pray for her, for her daily needs, for  her forever family to find her.

If you are considering adoption, maybe she is the one for your family? Do contact Reece’s Rainbow for more information.

Her adoption grant is also not very big. The estimated costs of adopting from her region is US$35,000. The bigger her grant, the faster her forever family can reach her. Please click on her name or picture to go to her profile page for more information and to donate.

Thank you for caring.

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What’s It Like To Have Down Syndrome?

Melissa Riggio has Down Syndrome, and she talks about her life, her classes, her hopes and dreams.

Please read about what she has to say here:

What’s It Like To Have Down Syndrome? — National Geographic Kids.

i hope and pray that one day my sweet Heather would also be able to express herself and tell us about her day at school, her dream job and talk about her friends.

But my lovely Heather would only be able to do that if she has the same educational opportunities as Melissa and the only way that Heather can have the same prospects is outside of her home country.

This is a recent photo – a bit over a month ago… she needs her family to come for her today…

She is an orphan. She is a special needs orphan. Without a loving family, she will not get the resources to enable her to have a future like Melissa does.

Reece’s Rainbow is the advocate website which lists special needs orphans, helps get them exposure which hopefully, prayerfully will bring their forever family to them.

i am doing my best to help Heather get attention too. This month, September, is her birthday month. (We don’t know exactly which day.) So i am writing a post dedicated to her every Monday in September. This is my third post. (See here for 2nd post and 1st post.)

So i’m asking again, please join me in praying for little Heather. Praying that she will be given the opportunities which Melissa has. Pray that her forever family will find her and bring her home quickly. Pray that her daily needs to be met while she is at her orphanage.

If you are considering adoption at all, please do consider my little Heather. (Click on her name or picture to read more about her on her profile page.) Or contact Reece’s Rainbow to find out more about adopting her.

Do contribute to her adoption grant (Click on her name or picture to get to her profile page where she has a donate button), which is very small at the moment. A larger adoption grant would increase her chances of being noticed. It would also help her forever family reach her faster. Please donate, every little bit helps.

If you do contribute to Heather‘s adoption grant, please leave a comment below with your email address so that i can send you a little Thank You (hand-crafted) gift.

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