One-year-old Shayla is new to LWB’s Foster Care Program but is known to many as a previous resident of LWB’s Heartbridge Healing Home. Shayla was born with cranial meningocele, and she spent time recovering from her surgery with the loving nannies at Heartbridge. Recently graduating, she is now in LWB’s Guiyang Foster Care Program… and we can’t wait to watch her grow and flourish! Read more.
When I was a little girl, I remember seeing the passport of my friend’s father, and as I turned each page and saw the entry and exit stamps from different countries, I thought inside how wonderful it would be to someday have a little blue book of my own. I didn’t get that first passport until I was 35, when I adopted my first child from China, but I still remember the excitement I felt when the immigration officer firmly put his red stamp in it. I still feel that same excitement every time I land in China – and by the time you read this, I will probably be standing in the immigration line yet again.
Each time I make a trip to check on the children in our programs, I of course reflect back on previous journeys. I always have the same prayer leading up to departure: that any child who truly needs our help will somehow cross my path. Read more.
LWB first met Emily a year ago, and who could forget her! This spunky little girl with a big personality was dealing with multiple special needs, including three missing limbs, cleft lip, and a heart defect. Emily had her cleft lip surgery during our 2012 Cleft Medical Exchange last April and then stayed at Heartbridge Healing Home before and after her heart surgery. In December Emily, now named Jennai, was adopted by her American family. Read more.
Seven year old Gracie had a rough year. She was diagnosed with lupus and became very sick. In order to treat her lupus, she had to receive chemotherapy. Knowing she was going to lose her hair, she chose to donate her hair to Locks of Love before it fell out. This prompted her friends to start a Facebook page for her called Hats for Gracie. Gracie received many, many hats and notes of love and support that lifted her spirits. Gracie is doing well now and wants to do her part to give back to others.
Gracie has a little brother and sister who were adopted from China. She knows firsthand how poor nutrition can affect a child in care, and she wants to do her best to help provide nourishment to the children still waiting. Read more.
Blowing kisses is one of Elizabeth’s favorite things to do! Considering all this beautiful 17-month-old girl has been through in the past few months, it’s quite a testament to her resilient spirit. Read more.
In the 1980s, many of us sang along with Tommy Tutone: “Jenny, Jenny, you’re the girl for me. You don’t know me but you make me so happy.” Now we bring you the story of Jenny from Heartbridge Healing Home, a girl in desperate need of a family who brings happiness to all of us as we see her sweet personality emerging each month. This is her story.
A few months ago, we were contacted by an orphanage about a baby girl in their care who was extremely ill. She had an infected colostomy, was running high fevers, and getting weaker by the day. Read more.
Elizabeth is our newest resident at LWB’s Heartbridge Healing Home, arriving in late January following surgery for her heart issues. Elizabeth has already shown that she is a sweet but feisty little fighter, having battled through surgery and several infections only to bounce back and charm everyone around her. Elizabeth will receive careful monitoring, nutritious feedings, and plenty of TLC from our Heartbridge nannies. Read more.
When Russia announced it was closing its international adoption program, social media exploded with opinions. Friends would forward me articles on international adoption and say, “Don’t read the comments section!” So of course I did. And I would read the words posted from people vehemently opposed to international adoption and wonder where our humanity has gone.
“Let them stay in their own country.”
“Why should we take their problem kids?”
“No more importing foreign children!”
While we wish we could post the photo of every child we helped in 2012, we hope you will enjoy this much shorter snapshot of some of the joys of this last year!
In January, we celebrated our Unity Fund, which works to heal poor, rural children so that families can stay together. HeQing’s father had no financial means to heal his precious daughter’s heart, and we are so grateful to our donors who gave her this second chance at a healthy life. As you can see, her smile absolutely lit up the hospital ward! Read more.
Our #1 photo of the year, as chosen by our supporters, is giggly little Colin. This gorgeous baby was extremely sick when he came into our hands. He was born with a complex abdominal issue that required emergency surgery immediately after birth, but we were not called until he was over a week old. This photo was taken at our Heartbridge Healing Home when he was three months old, the first healthy month of his life. He was just starting to play with his hands, hold his head up, and look around the room – AND he had learned to charm all the nannies with his precious smiles and giggles.
We hope you have enjoyed this closer look at the photos that made us smile and touched our hearts in 2012. We feel honored to be the keepers of these precious records of the lives of these children and look forward to sharing them with their forever families one day!
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