LWB Community

David’s Sweet Tooth…and Sweet Heart!

Delightful
Adorable
Very sweet
Independent
Docile

David is a sweet boy with a sweet tooth!  His foster mother reports that he just loves candy.  But he’s also sweet-hearted enough to share candy with his friends (much to the delight of his proud foster mother).

David is a playful seven-year-old who likes to play hide and go seek with friends and pick flowers outside.   His mild demeanor shows in his face, but don’t let him fool you…he is full of little boy busy-ness!  In fact, in the photo above, you can see the stitches he got on his head after he took a tumble while playing with a friend…how typical of a seven-year old boy!
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Hank: LWB’s Featured Child of the Week

Hank is an adorable seven-month-old baby who has a dazzling smile!  This little boy came to the Medical program when he was only days old.  He was in critical condition and, at three days old, was moved to the hospital.  Hank was born with a urologic defect called anal atresia and immediately received the first of a three-stage surgery.  Without this surgery, Hank would have died within days.  
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The Unity Fund at Work

We are so grateful to everyone who helps make our Unity Fund for impoverished families in China a reality. This fund was a dream of ours for a long time, as rural families who could not afford medical care for their children would occasionally ask us if their children would qualify for surgery if they were orphaned. Our goal with this medical fund was to help keep families together – and we celebrate each and every time we are able to provide life changing medical care to families in need.
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Art for the Heart

To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.  ~Schumann

Todd’s foster father had a very heavy heart before Todd had his recent heart surgery.  He had been so anxious about his little foster son for so long and could barely sleep at night due to worry.  This is the story of Todd’s surgery and recovery and how art literally helped his heart to heal…and helped to lighten his foster father’s heart.
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A Day In the Life of Two Medical Volunteers

In the last installment of our series, “A Day in the Life”, we’re turning the spotlight onto two incredible volunteers in LWB’s Medical Program. LWB had its beginnings in healing children with medical issues and is now proud to have 31 volunteers dedicated to its Medical Program alone! Cathy Langguth is a fairly new volunteer who has just begun working with LWB in the Heart Surgery Fund, while Nancy Delpha, LWB’s Associate Medical Director, has been with LWB since its inception. Their heartfelt motivations for why they volunteer for LWB are echoed by many of the other LWB volunteers who could not be profiled here individually.

Nancy Delpha: In August 2003 I was privileged to travel to China with Amy Eldridge on a visit to Guangdong province where we visited two orphanages and were able to assess the needs of some of the children living there. Amy founded LWB after we returned from that trip, and I have been involved as a volunteer with LWB ever since in at least a small role including administrative work, foster care, and medical where I now devote my time.
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Running Through China: Thoughts Before Boarding

The bags are full to brimming with medical supplies and baby vitamins; we’ve got bubbles and matchbox cars and necklaces and stickers; and just like on my adoption trips…..I have a million different thoughts and emotions running through my mind as I prepare to board the plane to China for our week-long visit with many of the people involved with LWB.
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Annie and How She Inspired the First Meeting of the LWB-Spain!

Annie from Anhui is a three-year old girl with a heart defect so complex it could not be treated in China.  So LWB-Spain worked on a plan to allow her to come to Spain to receive the surgery. After much work, much bureaucracy, and much waiting, she finally arrived at the beginning of April and is being taken care of by a top team of surgeons. In fact, we are thrilled to report that she underwent surgery this week, and the risky procedure was declared a success!
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Watch What I Can Do!

“Watch what I can do!”

Last summer, we featured Janie from our Xiao Xian foster care program in a piece called “The Face of Determination”.  Some of you may remember that Janie wished she could walk and run like the other children and was determined to do so; in fact, I nicknamed her Miss Determination! She would push a stool around or walk by hanging onto the wall. Janie wanted nothing more than to walk like her friends, and she begged her foster mom to “fix” her legs.

Janie, who is now four years old, went to An Orphan’s Wish to have her legs straightened and strengthened. Thanks to the Trowers and the wonderful treatment she received in Guilin, Janie’s dream came true! But don’t take our word for it — you can see the Janie’s joy for yourself as she demonstrates her newfound independence.
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A Day In the Life of the Ladies of Human Resources

Did you realize that LWB has a Human Resources Department? Managing the 170 volunteers from around the world who make LWB run is one of those behind the scenes operations that most people don’t really consider.   However, without our HR department to recruit, hire and train volunteers…LWB would grind to a halt! Our HR department consists of three amazing women who were kind enough to give us a glimpse into their lives with LWB.

Kristine Fornek, Human Resources Director for LWB: As a new first-time Mom to an incredible six year old son who is taking the world by storm (seen hamming it up in the top photo), I am kept rather busy…my own world has been ROCKED and I’m loving life!  I work full time during the day as a recruiter and spend time after work with my son doing homework, reading, games, etc. After dinner and bedtime stories, it’s time for LWB. I get correspondence from volunteers all over the world. I work with an incredible team of women, and together we do things like process and track new applicants, assist Program Managers with their hiring needs, document job descriptions, etc. No two days are alike, and that is one aspect that makes this role so enjoyable.
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Crossing Paths

Zane

A mom in Spain moves heaven and heart to make sure her child is well, even if this child is thousands of kilometers away and she has not yet been able to kiss her in person.   In the process, this mom also dramatically changed the life of another child waiting in China.
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