LWB has many programs in Anhui province.  Through the years, we have come to know a number of lovely older children from Anhui who have been waiting so long for their chance to find a family. We have featured several of them in the past few months, such as Brianna, Michelle and Wendy – all students in our Believe in Me Huainan school in Anhui.

Ten-year- old Maryn was once a student at the same Believe in Me school in Anhui and was good friends with all of these girls.  She had the good fortune to be adopted and has been home with her family for two and a half years.  When her family learned that Maryn’s friends had the same chance as she did to have families of their own, they decided to share a bit of their story to encourage folks to consider these lovely Anhui girls and older children in general. They have likened their exhilarating experience to “taking the plunge.”

Maryn (in the blue dress) with her BIM friends

It was a normal day in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Peoples Republic of China, in August of 2009, and, by normal, I mean hot and humid.  It was anything but a normal day for my husband and me because we were in China!  We were there having come together as a new family of three with our daughter who had heard, just days before, the name by which she would come to be known over the coming days, weeks, months and now years, Maryn.  She had reached the advanced age of eight years the day before we met on August 3, 2009, and now we were family.

On that hot day, the hotel pool not only looked inviting, but we were ready to take the advice of other adoptive parents who recommended getting into the pool with our child because it would foster attachment as she would be forced to rely on us and cling to us for survival.  The only problem was our daughter hadn’t talked to the same people we’d talked to about attachment, and she didn’t have the same appreciation for the cooling relief of a large swimming pool two strangers were beckoning her to enjoy.  She wanted nothing to do with the pool and maintained her distance on the lounge chair, sweaty but safe.

Three short weeks later we were at home doing well in our new life as a family.  Labor Day was upon us and pools would be closing after that weekend.  We knew swimming lessons were in Maryn’s future, but how would we make that happen?  In the days leading up to the weekend, I used my language skills to inform Maryn that we were going to Cousin Jenny’s house to swim.  Soon after we arrived, we walked to the neighborhood pool.  I stopped to put our bags on the chairs and turned to see Maryn heading down the steps into the shallow end without hesitation.

Fear not.  This isn’t a story about water safety or how quickly a child can get into a pool when your back is turned.  The pool is merely a metaphor for older child adoption. Maryn was never in danger as she stepped into that pool and the truth is neither were we.  We knew all along that we wanted to adopt an older child and had time to prepare, but there were many times we felt overwhelmed by the possibilities.  Just as when you are standing with your toes on the edge looking into the pool below, when considering older child adoption you may find yourself filled with apprehension and questions before deciding to jump in.  Will we be in over our heads?  Will the lifesaver be there if we need help?  What will it feel like if we take the plunge?

When our dream came true and we walked into Maryn’s life, we found that what we were least prepared for was the joy.  I can tell you this:  the deep end is very deep in our pool of love.  Maryn is a delight.  She is sunshine and happiness, a love bug, a smiley, happy girl.  She is a shining star.  She is our daughter.

Having a child by any means requires a leap of faith.  Building our family through older child adoption is the greatest thing we have ever done.  We are a blessed family.  Perhaps an “older” child all of about 8, 10, 12 or 13 years will be just the right blessing for your family, too.  Take the plunge.  We know you will find it so much more than just refreshing.

~ Rebecca and Tom, Maryn’s proud parents

Michelle, Wendy, and many other incredible older children are waiting.  Have you considered taking the plunge? If so, please contact our Adoption Assistance Team at adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com if you have any questions about any children we have featured on our blog.

Love Without Boundaries proudly advocates for adoption but is not an adoption agency. We invite you to contact adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com with questions about a child we have featured and encourage you to contact your local adoption agency for more information about China’s Waiting Child Program.

She likes to take him outside to walk in their vegetable garden, and she loves telling our local manager what a thoughtful and sweet little boy he is. We are such huge supporters of foster care for orphaned children as we believe every child deserves to grow up in a family setting versus growing up in an institution. We would like to thank all of the wonderful supporters who help with this important program. You are giving a foundation of love that will last a lifetime.

The Chinese symbol for “strength” can mean many different things:  inner emotional strength, mental strength and will, or physical strength. We’d like to introduce you to a girl who embodies strength in all areas of her life.

Wendy is a young girl in our Believe in Me Huainan school who is determined to grow stronger physically as well as academically.   Wendy was excited for the challenge of starting public school this fall and is making progress there.  She is meeting her goals one at a time, improving in self control and participation in class.   She enjoys math and gets along well with other children.  Additionally she participates in special events like the jump rope competition. Her teachers have noticed her strength and diligence.

Strength is part of who Wendy is today, and as she challenges herself, is likely to become something by which she defines herself.

The Chinese character for “strength”

Wendy is 12 years old and is waiting for a permanent family. If would like to learn more about Wendy, please contact our adoption advocacy volunteers at adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com. We welcome your assistance in our efforts to help Wendy become part of a permanent family before she ages out of the adoption program.

Love Without Boundaries proudly advocates for adoption but is not an adoption agency. We invite you to contact adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com with questions about a child we have featured and encourage you to contact your local adoption agency for more information about China’s Waiting Child Program.

Ricki was delayed developmentally, and so our nannies in the home worked hard to encourage her muscle development. In this photo she was not quite strong enough to hold her head up yet, but her smile was very strong. Just a week later she was holding her head up on her own!

This tender photo was taken on the day that sweet Maggie graduated from our Anhui Healing Home as her nanny was saying goodbye. Maggie had earned the nickname “Fussiest Baby” because she would only be content in the arms of her nanny. But Maggie didn’t want to just be held; she wanted to be sang to as well while her nanny walked around with her. Obviously from this photo it is clear that her nanny didn’t mind that at all – and so there were lots of lullabies sung to Maggie to keep her happy! We are so thankful for our loving and patient caregivers in our healing homes who are watching over some of the most vulnerable orphaned babies of all.

Kyra received surgery in May 2011 to repair her cleft lip. She spent her initial recovery time at our Anhui Healing Home and was moved to a wonderful foster care family in July. She celebrated her first birthday in September!

Kyra has adjusted very well to her new family life and loves to play with her older foster brother. Her favorite foods are congee and egg yolks, but she will also try most of the foods that her foster mother gives her. When she gets sleepy at night, Kyra loves to be in her foster grandmother’s arms until she falls asleep. She is now able to stand alone but still needs some assistance walking. It won’t be long before she is running after her foster brother and the other children in the neighborhood.

Kyra is in need of three sponsors at $35 per month to support her care. Sponsors will receive monthly updates and photos. Please consider supporting Kyra and sharing in our joy each month as we watch her grow.

Shawn Michael has been at the Lu’An, Anhui, orphanage for nearly half a year. He has cerebral palsy, doesn’t eat very well, and gets sick easily, but he is a good boy. A few weeks ago it was found that Shawn Michael cried seriously when his right leg was touched. LWB’s Orphanage Assistance program sponsors a nurse in this orphanage to provide medical care to the children there. The nurse thought that Shawn Michael might have a leg fracture or cyst within his leg. He was taken to the hospital for an X-ray of his leg, and it was determined that he has inherited Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, and he did have a fracture. With tender care he is doing better now, but Shawn faces an uncertain future since his bones are easily broken. Now he rests in bed. When he is happy, he will call “mama.” Sometimes he will speak “ah, ah…” as if he would like to talk to you.

The orphanage is very worried about his future. LWB is hoping he will be able to be adopted so that he could receive treatment for OI that is not available in China before he grows too much and has to endure too many fractures. We are also checking to see if we can help him nutritionally. We would welcome your donation for Shawn Michael’s medical care and nutritional needs, and we will be sure to update you on how this sweet young boy is doing.

Lucy lives with her foster parents and older foster sister, Beth, in Fuyang, Anhui Province. She has been with her foster family for four years and has received surgery to repair a heart defect. Recently, when asked to describe Lucy’s personality, our China program manager described her as simply “lovely.” She says that whenever she visits, Lucy runs to greet her and will lean up against her and ask if she has brought any treats. She also loves to pose for photos.

Lucy loves to sing and dance with her older sister. She also likes to draw. Beth shows her how to draw, and Lucy loves to copy her. Lucy’s foster sister also reads to her. Lucy is six years old and attends kindergarten, where she has settled well, although her language skills remain behind those of her peers.

Lucy currently has no sponsors to pay for her foster care placement and is in urgent need of three sponsors at $35 per month. Each sponsor will receive a monthly report and photos of Lucy and be able to be a part of her life. Every child deserves to know the love of a family. Please consider supporting lovely Lucy in her foster family.

This handsome young man is Will, formerly a resident of LWB’s Anhui Cleft Healing Home (ACHH) where his precious life was saved! After recovering enough to be discharged from ACHH, Will now lives in the area of Anhui that we’ve named “Zhang Village.”   Zhang Village is a tightly-knit community of foster families who take wonderful care of children who need a bit of extra tender love and care. Currently we are waiting on news that Will’s file has shown up on the shared list. We feel that this will happen very soon and hope a loving family will come forward for him. In the meantime, we need to help Will’s foster family pay for him to attend kindergarten so he can continue to grow and develop as he prepares for life with his forever family.

We hope that this will be Will’s last year in Zhang Village, and we want to make it a great one! If you are interested in being a sponsor, please visit his sponsor page. For $20 per month, you can help Will enjoy his kindergarten year, and in return you will receive quarterly updates on his progress, including new photos. As the saying goes “Where there’s a ‘Will’ there’s a way,” — so please help Will find his way and be prepared for his future family!

Shayna is a beautiful baby girl who is in LWB’s Healing Homes program at our Anhui Cleft Healing Home (ACHH). Shayna was born in Fuyang in February this year with a cleft lip and palate and has a very sweet personality. At three weeks of age, she was hospitalized for myocarditis at a local hospital and overcame this serious illness over the next two weeks. She was brought to ACHH directly from the hospital and slept quite a bit that first week, but she quickly began to show us her curious nature by looking all about the room whenever she was awake.

If there ever was a carefree baby, Shayna is it! She rarely gets fussy and adores her nannies. She smiles so readily that just eye contact from her nanny during feeding makes her take a break just to smile back. She gained weight quickly and had a double chin by the end of June. By the end of July Shayna was able to hold a toy and could even shake a rattle to entertain herself.

While we were waiting for funding for Shayna’s cleft surgery, we were notified of an available bed at the hospital. Rather than lose this opportunity to heal Shayna, we went ahead and moved her for surgery. She had her life-changing cleft lip surgery on August 3rd and is now even more beautiful! But Shayna is still in need of additional sponsors to fund her surgery. If you can help Shayna and would like to receive updates on this sweet baby, we would welcome your donation in any amount.