This month our manager gave her a new doll. Yasmin was very pleased with the doll and immediately began to “care” for her. She said she was very pretty and loved that her eyes were able to open and shut. Yasmin was happy and eager to share her toy with her foster sister.

Yasmin has made great progress over the past year. She has started attending the local kindergarten and now seems much more focused in her daily routine. Yasmin needs an additional sponsor at $35 per month to help fund her foster care placement. Sponsors will receive monthly monthly update and photos of this lively, cute girl. Please consider sponsoring Yasmin and sharing with us as we watch her continue to develop with the love and under the watchful eye of her foster family.

Sponsor Yasmin in foster care

Well—I broke my own rule on this trip—thankfully in the back seat of a van and after we had already left the orphanage.  Sometimes the need is just so immense.  It is a sobering experience to hold a tiny baby and know she needs immediate medical help, and then have to put her down and walk away.  I visited five orphanages in five days, and our list of children needing medical assistance grew and grew.

Many times I have thought that if any of us ever opened our front door to find a baby lying there – blue and struggling to breathe or severely malnourished, we would move heaven and earth to help her right that moment.  We would take her to the emergency room, call the local newspaper to get the story out, do anything necessary to make sure that baby had a second chance.  None of us would walk away from that one single baby in our path.

But when you are in an ORPHANAGE, surrounded by kids, and you look around realizing that every child needs some sort of assistance……where do you begin?  How do you decide?   I have learned there is no good way – and so you begin with ONE.  One life at a time.  And you pray for the others to stay strong until it is their turn and ask God to forgive you for getting on a jet plane and going back to your full pantry and warm home and so often needless spending on things you honestly don’t even need.   All the while knowing in your heart that children are lying in orphanage cribs right this very moment going hungry and struggling with medical needs.

I think we are all guilty of forgetting what we have.  I rarely think to give thanks for central heat.  Running water?  Glass windows?  How many of us stand in front of 4-5 pairs of shoes each day (or more) deciding which pair to wear, never thinking of how many kids don’t own a single pair.  How many of us eat more than a meager bowl of rice each day and yet forget our blessings?  I would definitely have to raise my hand many times, and I am ashamed that it takes returning to rural China to bring me back to the reality of how many kids are orphaned.  Of how many kids are alone.  Of how many kids are waiting for just one person to fully believe in them.

On this trip, as wide eyed children froze and held their breaths when they saw the crackers in our bag, too scared to even hope that perhaps one would be for them, my mind went to my own kids coming home from school in the afternoon and thinking nothing of making a whole frozen pizza or a hot can of soup for a snack.   I thought of the bowl of fruit on my counter they can always choose from.  And how we can have an entire freezer full of food and yet they can innocently look at me and say, “mom, there’s nothing to eat in this house.”

And then I suddenly came back to the moment and realized that a nanny was placing a tiny baby with frostbite in my hands, and explaining that she was found in the mountains and the tops of her ears could not be saved.  And my heart broke yet again by the immense needs of so many children in this world.

Today I ask you to pause for a moment and ask if you have also become complacent at times about the urgent situations facing so many orphaned children.   It is so easy to put it out of our minds when that baby is not right outside our doorstep, and yet I can assure you that tiny baby is very real and very much in need right this moment for someone to care about her life.

So for the little girl we met with heart disease or the baby boy with a facial tumor or the tiny baby with clubfoot and cleft -  can you make a $5 or $10 gift to help them find healing?   I promise you won’t regret it.  When we count our own blessings and then pay it forward – we really can change the lives of children in need.

Amy Eldridge, Executive Director

The city of Liuzhi has mostly Yi and Miao people (80% minority), and is the closest city to the Long Horn Miao, one of the smallest ethnic groups in China. The village closest to Liuzhi only has 100 families left. Many anthropologists call the Long Horn Miao one of the most unique cultures in the world, a living “eco museum”. They are completely self-sufficient, and the children cannot marry outside of the village, nor can anyone marry in. Long Horn Miao are known for their hair that they wind around cow horns on their head, and the total weight can be over 10 pounds!

The next morning we met with Director Wu from the orphanage, and she was so very kind. The orphanage in this city is small, but the babies and children were obviously well loved.

Some of the great kids we met included a little toddler who had a failed spinal surgery so she can sadly cannot walk. Oh, she was smart! She was sitting in her little chair just watching us, and each time I went up to her she would lower her eyes as if maybe if she didn’t look at me I would go away.

There was one little baby they showed us who had the BEST smile. He has club feet, a clenched fist and one turned in ear. He just lit up the room with his grin whenever we talked to him. I do hope we can help him medically.

One of their children with cleft was zooming every which way in her walker and was SO curious and full of life. I can’t wait for her to be chosen by a family as she was just so adorable.  Maire tried to hold her for awhile, but there was just too much to see and do with the toys we brought, so she quickly wanted down to explore.

My favorite little boy was a preschooler with severe CP in both of his hands who was sitting on a little stool when we came in. When he saw the crackers we had brought, he scooted over with his legs and asked for one. His tiny little hands were all curled up though, and it was quite difficult for him to grab the cracker, but once he got it…..oh he was so happy! All in all, I think he ate about thirty crackers before his nanny finally caught on and said “no more,” as she was worried about the stomachache he was probably going to get. Whenever he would finish one, he would scoot over to me or Arlene and ask for another. He was just so sweet. It is so unfair that some children are born into bodies that keep them “trapped” – especially for those children who are poor or orphaned, and who will never have a chance at finding healing through therapy.

We met the most beautiful twelve-year-old girl with scoliosis who also had a failed surgery. You know how some people just have an “aura” of sweetness and gentleness? Well, that was her. The orphanage has not filed paperwork on her, but we encouraged them that a family WOULD want to adopt her. If she cannot be adopted, then I am wondering if we could bring her to the US for surgery. She was so gentle, and she made sure each child had crackers and toys. She is not currently in school but she said she loved music, so we want to buy her a keyboard.

This orphanage has so many older, healthy kids. They have SO little. We asked the director if there was anything we could buy for the kids to help them, and so we went to a department store to get the older kids some things, and it was SO much fun. We went to get backpacks, but then as we passed each aisle, we would say, ‘do the kids have umbrellas to walk to school with when it rains?” and the director would shake her head no, so in would go ten umbrellas. Ditto for socks, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, jump ropes, basketballs, pens, pencils, etc. We had quite the crowd watching us check out, but oh, what a treat to be able to help the older kids with the most basic of needs for such a small amount of funding!

This orphanage was very small and clean and felt more like a home than an institution. We had to smile when we saw all the crayon marks on the white walls. A universal event, I guess, when a crayon ends up in the hands of a small child!

Liuzhi only takes in about seventeen kids a year (it was explained that minority groups do not abandon their children very often), but many of the babies who are left are found with very complex medical needs. Sadly, in this mountainous area, when babies are abandoned it is often very cold, and so some babies pass away before ever making it to the orphanage. The staff here try their very best with every child in their care, and I do hope we can help them more in the future when they bring in a baby with complex medical needs.

Much too soon it was time to head to the train station for the next part of our trip. Everyone was so worried because our Chinese director Lily was heading in the opposite direction to catch a train to Zhaotong Yunnan to visit our foster care program there, while the foreigners (us) were catching a train back to Guiyang by ourselves. There was lots of conversation about whether we could make it on our own, and after we reassured them again and again that we would be fine, they still insisted on taking us onto the train themselves to make sure we were settled. The people we met here were SO very kind. We were all sad to say goodbye and look forward to returning to this very special city someday.

Amy Eldridge, Executive Director

On the tenth day of Christmas, we are thankful for all of our amazing team members in China, who give of themselves each and every day to bring love and hope to orphaned children. The stigma surrounding children born with special needs in China is so enormous that many people feel working with those who are orphaned is bad luck or not a job of which to be proud. LWB has been extraordinarily blessed to have built a network of kindhearted, caring staff members throughout China who live our vision statement each day:

“To provide the most loving and compassionate help possible to orphaned and impoverished children in China, and to show the world that every child, regardless of  his or her needs, deserves to experience love and be treated with dignity and care.”

For all of our teachers, caregivers, managers, doctors, and volunteers on the ground in China — you are changing lives every day! We are SO grateful for your commitment and passion to make this world a better place.

Sweet Isaiah – HCHH grad

Neil was all smiles

Eoin won the “Chunky Monkey” award

We have moved two children with Down Syndrome into foster care in Xinxiang, and the orphanage staff told us that they are just amazed at their progress now that they are in a one-on-one setting. We think it is pretty obvious how much Junie loves her mama! Our foster care director encouraged the orphanage to file adoption paperwork on both children, to give them a chance at finding a permanent family.

Junie loves her foster mom, and the feeling is mutual!

Our team had a wonderful time visiting with all the other kids as well.  Lauren, who is always so welcoming to our foster care manager, invited her newfound friends into her home. She is being adopted to the US in just a few weeks, and our team already introduced her to the Silly Bandz craze. As you will see from this photo, Lauren decided Silly Bandz are pretty wonderful to adorn your wrists!

Thank you for the gifts!

Our volunteers were really taken with Daniel. He has been on the shared list for quite some time, with no family choosing him yet. He has severe scoliosis, and really needs to be adopted to get the proper medical treatment. He was SO sociable, talking to everyone and wanting to be right in the action. He loved the ball and racecars our team gave him. We are really hoping that a family will see his photo and want more information on him. He is such a smart and fun little boy, and he hasn’t let his scoliosis stop him in any way. He really needs a family so that he can have the future he deserves!  If you would like more information on Daniel, please contact us at adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com.

Many of the babies today were feeling so much better after their surgeries earlier in the week. John was awake most of the day today and was very alert and curious. He was so happy that he was allowed to start eating again.

John is doing beautifully

Harris was a very happy camper today and super active! The student nurses took turns strolling him up and down the hallway, and our volunteers discovered he has a wonderful throwing arm (with an orange).

Playing catch with Maureen

Louise looked beautiful after her surgery. She is such a tiny little baby – and so good natured.

Little Louise

Daisy is a quiet and happy baby as well. The team has decided that Daisy is the perfect English name for her, because she is beautiful, quiet and peaceful. She loves to look around and be carried, but will not make a fuss if you are too busy to do so. Her sweet cooing has even charmed the busy doctors, and they love holding and talking to her.

Daisy has everyone wrapped around her finger

Our team learned today that Wade has dimples! He had been very unsure of them up until today, but he has finally accepted that they are just silly and fun to laugh at. : -)

Finally a big smile from Wade!

Fenn is still not happy with most of our team following his palate surgery yesterday, but he gave Dr. Ness a tiny grin this evening.

Fenn should hopefully feel much better tomorrow

Whitney was resting when the team arrived but woke up and quietly watched the doctors and nurses do their morning rounds. She is still not feeling very well either, but her nanny is very attentive and right there to fulfill her every need.

Whitney post op

Hayden returned from surgery and was sleeping in her caregivers arms. Her lip looks wonderful, and we are sure she will be feeling much better tomorrow.

Hayden as Sleeping Beauty

Mr. Smiley, Joel, was not so happy today since he was not allowed to eat before surgery! But once he was put on the table to roll back to the OR, he perked up and looked quite brave. His repair is just beautiful, and he was already trying to smile soon after he returned from the recovery room.

Joel heading back to the OR

We have admitted several more rural children for repairs. Fang is a 13 year old girl who has never had her palate repaired. She has a twin brother and lives on a rural farm with her grandmother and grandfather. Her older sister works to support the family. They are very happy that we have agreed to accept her case. We are waiting for more information and then will put her on our website for funding.

Xuan Yu is a 15 month old baby whose family spent all of their money on her lip repair, and so now they don’t have any funds left to repair her palate. She was brought to the hospital by her mom and dad, grandmother and grandfather. They all live together in the countryside, and waited anxiously for the news on whether she would qualify. Dr. Ness is going to do her surgery tomorrow. If you would like to help this family, you can visit her donation page here.

The family of Meng Yi send their deepest thanks to the people who funded her surgery. We learned that her father was killed in September in an accident at the factory where he worked. Her mother and grandfather work as farmers and really struggle to make ends meet. We are so happy that we could help them in this way.

Sweet Little Meng Yi

We said goodbye today to Payton and Melissa as they are both doing great post-op. The family who funded Payton’s surgery got to meet her today in the hospital. We all think it is so wonderful that their new daughter whom they just adopted was one of our Anhui Cleft Home babies. Some of you might remember little Jo, who was sent to our home from Fujian. She now has a wonderful adoptive family to love her forever. That is the exact happy ending we love hearing for the babies we heal.

Melissa getting one final check up before discharge

How amazing that Jo (on right) who was healed in our Anhui cleft home, was being adopted at the same time that our cleft team was there.  We love these little serendipity moments!

Zachary and Yasmine were both not feeling well today after their palate repairs. Yasmine had a wide bilateral palate, so she was struggling with the pain. Maureen and Jenn started making balloon animals for them, which cheered them up quite a bit. We all hope they both feel better tomorrow.

Poor Yasmine wasn’t feeling well today post-surgery

De Teng continues to do a great job helping with the team and the children. He is in dental school in the Henan province, and so today he learned the story from our team of the infamous tooth fairy. Everyone has enjoyed working with him, and today Jenn gave him a gold coin from the US to wish him luck in the future.

Two more days of surgery left!  Thanks again for all of your good wishes for the kids.  Our team can feel the support all the way to China!

I wanted to update everyone on our little Samuel. A few weeks ago I told you about this little boy’s strong spirit in a blog titled “Fighting for His Life… Again”.

Well, our little guy is improving every day.

The doctors are slowly weaning him off the respirator and hope he will be able to breathe unassisted soon. This is wonderful news, but I can’t stop thinking about this little guy. Perhaps it is because my oldest son’s name is Samuel, but mostly I think it is because I thought he was alone and didn’t really have anyone who cared about him. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

First of all, so many people cared about Samuel and helped with funding his surgery; the hospital has helped tremendously with his bill; we have heard from many people from around the world who are saying prayers for this little guy; and today we learned that the nurses who take care of Samuel bought him new clothes—a very important part of the New Year tradition. He looks adorable in his new ensemble. Samuel is not alone; many, many, many people care about him—what a wonderful way to start a New Year!

Xin Nián Kuài Lè, Samuel!

Kate Finco
Medical Co-Director

Once, in a not so distant land, lived a young prince. Even though he lived surrounded by friends, the prince did not smile very much. However there were two things that he was waiting for that could make him smile. He waited for a chance to learn in school, and he waited for a family that would be his forever.

One day, visitors arrived. They were taking photos of all of his friends with such excitement that the prince was immediately shy. In fact, he was so shy that whenever one of the visitors looked his way, he would pretend to be ASLEEP. He didn’t want to be disappointed if the visitors weren’t there to help bring him those two big wishes.

But the visitors from Love Without Boundaries did notice the prince. They would sneak peeks at the prince to catch him carefully looking out of the corner of his eyes watching them, wondering why they were there. They were so delighted at the prince’s cleverness and air of strength that they named him “Rocky.”

Rocky soon received his first wish. The visitors opened a Believe In Me school in Rocky’s land and enrolled him. Rocky enjoyed school. His teachers even gave him a walker so that he could walk around like his friends. True to Rocky’s personality, the walker was different. He much preferred to scoot around in his favorite toy car! Rocky’s teachers quickly taught him that the walker was for the classroom and the car was for the playground. In school, Rocky blossomed into a social, smiling boy.

The visitors came back again and again to see how Rocky and his friends were doing in school. By then, Rocky was showing how much he loved art projects in school but saved his smiles for those who knew him best. Finally, one of the visitors that had been following Rocky’s progress for over a year picked him up for a hug and Rocky squealed with delight, tickling and playing with the visitor who was now an honorary ai yi.

Now, dear reader, the rest of this story waits to be written. Rocky received his first wish and has been going to school. He has blossomed into a sweet, funny, smiling little boy. In fact, he has blossomed SO much that his orphanage has submitted his paperwork and placed him on the shared waiting list in hopes that Rocky’s family will see him and bring him home. Please help Love Without Boundaries tell Rocky’s story far and wide so that this very special young boy can receive his second wish and give this tale a happy ending.

I have some wonderful news to share!  Both ten-year-old Jie and baby Gracie have had surgery and are doing great!  

Jie’s surgery was Thursday and took five hours.  Although she is in intensive care, she has had her ventilator removed and is doing very well.  Gracie’s surgery–also a very long surgery–was performed on Friday and was a total success!  She is also recovering in intensive care.

The doctors have said that both girls look great!  We are all so happy that they have both had this chance to be healed!

Karen Maunu
Medical Director

Meanwhile, the physical therapists that work with some of the kids with special needs in the Loudi orphanage were planning on traveling to a hospital in a neighboring province for some additional training funded by LWB.  A few folks put their heads together and requested that Matthew be allowed to attend the training as well to take a course in massage, an occupation commonly performed by people in China with visual impairments. The SWI said they would consider employing him to perform the daily stretching and massage from which some of the children in the SWI could benefit.  Matthew left for the training just a few days before his 18th birthday.  We just received a report back from one of our LWB staff in China about Matthew’s first week.

“This afternoon I have been to the hospital and visited Matthew. Matthew is doing very fine. According to the hospital physical therapist, Matthew shows great interest in learning the therapy skills. He is learning very earnest. The hospital therapists speak high of him and are very patient in teaching him.”

We are so proud of Matthew’s efforts and hope that this specialized vocational training allows him the opportunity to find his special place in this world.  Best wishes as you continue your adventure, Matthew!

Melissa Widenhofer
Loudi Education Coordinator