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I am so happy to be able to introduce you to a little boy who is like a didi (Chinese for “brother”) to me. Sure, Barry is actually a seven-year-old boy waiting for a mom and dad in China, and I was just a visitor to his orphanage. However, over the past two summers, I have been blessed to spend time with Barry and get to know and love him JUST like my own didi.

Barry has seen many of his friends meet their parents in his short life, and now it’s his turn.

Barry is one of those kids with a special spark about him. He has such a big and cheerful personality, and everyone just loves being around him (from volunteers to ayis and other kids). He loves meeting new people and making new friends, always greeting them with a big smile! Honestly, he laughs so much of the time! He has a real cheeky side which comes out a lot.

Barry goes to school and tries hard most of the time, but like any seven-year-old boy, he much prefers playing with his friends! I spent a few weeks teaching his English class which was a lot of fun. He knows quite a bit of English, and can understand a lot. One funny thing about him is that when he talks to foreigners in Chinese, apparently he speaks like a foreigner so that we will understand him!

Barry has a physical special need which means he cannot walk; however, this does not really hold him back from too much in life. This year I was fortunate enough to be with him when he was given his own brand new wheelchair! He now speeds around the place in his new wheels and loves having races with two of his friends who also have wheelchairs!

One thing I SEE is that Barry’s personality far outshines his special need. In fact, after spending so much time with him, I realised that I never thought about his special need. It just was the way it was. He is very capable and has overcome many obstacles. Barry is so bright, funny, cute, charming. Above all else, though, he is loveable and has so much love to give to a family of his own.

~Robert Molloy is the Advocacy Coordinator for Bring Me Hope Foundation, an organization that runs summer camps for orphans in China. Robert’s blog is “Eyes Opened, Heart Changed.”

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