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Chelsea adopted from China
"Thank you for being part of our story and for your kindness and generosity." |
Shannon R.
China 2018
China 2018
Hi!
Chelsea and I arrived home a few weeks ago. I cannot begin to thank you all enough for the grant that your organization provided us. The money was instrumental in ensuring our travel was successful and any unforeseen costs were covered. However, I want to also give thanks beyond the money. The treatment of my family and this adoption by your staff was amazing.
During a stressful final few weeks of the adoption process, it was a wonderful calm to work with you all and to feel all of the support. Your mission is changing lives for generations.
My sweet daughter is 11. She was in the orphanage since she was 2 or 3. Her file had her listed as blind and having cerebral palsy. Many families viewed her file and declined to proceed due to her listed medical needs (this according to her orphanage social worker).
As we grew closer to travel, it became apparent to me that Chelsea was not blind but was visually impaired. I was also uncertain that cerebral palsy was the cause of her disability.
When the orphanage officials turned her over to me, they handed me a child who was sweet and loving with a never ending smile, but conversely with a deep sadness in her eyes and a hunched over posture. The first seconds I saw her, she opened bags of snacks - shoving the entire bag in her mouth, food flying everywhere. They handed me a bag of diapers and told me she was diapered at night.
The child before me now is an entirely different girl. Her light started shining loudly and brightly the moment we began our journey together. We ditched the night time diapers on Day 2 and she never once had an accident. Her belly is now full and she lets me know when she is done eating, rather than storing food in her mouth. Her previously shaved and clipped hair is growing - she asked for long hair the first day she became my daughter - long hair and earrings.
The girl I was told was blind now loudly exclaims every color (in English) that she sees - she sees colors - she is NOT blind. We thought perhaps she had CVI (a brain perception disorder affecting vision) - she does NOT. She has small optic nerves and is near sighted. She gets her first pair of glasses ever today. Hormone testing happens this week to ensure she doesn't have a deficiency causing the small optic nerves.
Her pediatrician is doubtful on the cerebral palsy diagnosis. Chelsea does in fact have a club foot and was placed in a wheelchair full time several years ago. Our pediatrician feels my daughters leg spasticity and weakness may be a direct effect of not using her legs due to the untreated club foot.
Referrals and appointments are happening.
Chelsea has completed 3 weeks of 5th grade in our local public elementary school with many many support services to help her make her way.
My daughter is the greatest joy in our life. We all needed her more than she needed us I am certain. She is loving, kind, thankful, and smiles every minute she can. She knows when she accomplishes something new and she shreaks with joy over it. She loves her brother and my son loves her dearly. She has a long road ahead of her as she learns how to use her eyes and learns to read, as we explore how to treat her legs and foot and help her get as mobile as possible. But thanks to you all, we were able to start down that road ASAP and bring my baby girl home without further delay.
On a side note, I spoke with Cynthia prior to my departure to bring Chelsea home. We talked a lot about the wheelchair the orphanage would give her. The wheelchair was no good and fell apart on the street in China. Having a stroller (Cynthia's suggestion) was a life saver.
We did it. My sweet girl did it. She is brave and wonderful and a testament to what love and family can rapidly do to change a life.
I have attached pictures of Chelsea from the day they handed her to me (red puffer jacket in wheelchair) and pics through this week. The transition is evident in pictures.
My sweet girl loves to learn English, she LOVES to sing and she sounds beautiful doing so, and she LOVES piano.
Thank you for being part of our story and for your kindness and generosity.
Love to you all,
The R Family
Chelsea and I arrived home a few weeks ago. I cannot begin to thank you all enough for the grant that your organization provided us. The money was instrumental in ensuring our travel was successful and any unforeseen costs were covered. However, I want to also give thanks beyond the money. The treatment of my family and this adoption by your staff was amazing.
During a stressful final few weeks of the adoption process, it was a wonderful calm to work with you all and to feel all of the support. Your mission is changing lives for generations.
My sweet daughter is 11. She was in the orphanage since she was 2 or 3. Her file had her listed as blind and having cerebral palsy. Many families viewed her file and declined to proceed due to her listed medical needs (this according to her orphanage social worker).
As we grew closer to travel, it became apparent to me that Chelsea was not blind but was visually impaired. I was also uncertain that cerebral palsy was the cause of her disability.
When the orphanage officials turned her over to me, they handed me a child who was sweet and loving with a never ending smile, but conversely with a deep sadness in her eyes and a hunched over posture. The first seconds I saw her, she opened bags of snacks - shoving the entire bag in her mouth, food flying everywhere. They handed me a bag of diapers and told me she was diapered at night.
The child before me now is an entirely different girl. Her light started shining loudly and brightly the moment we began our journey together. We ditched the night time diapers on Day 2 and she never once had an accident. Her belly is now full and she lets me know when she is done eating, rather than storing food in her mouth. Her previously shaved and clipped hair is growing - she asked for long hair the first day she became my daughter - long hair and earrings.
The girl I was told was blind now loudly exclaims every color (in English) that she sees - she sees colors - she is NOT blind. We thought perhaps she had CVI (a brain perception disorder affecting vision) - she does NOT. She has small optic nerves and is near sighted. She gets her first pair of glasses ever today. Hormone testing happens this week to ensure she doesn't have a deficiency causing the small optic nerves.
Her pediatrician is doubtful on the cerebral palsy diagnosis. Chelsea does in fact have a club foot and was placed in a wheelchair full time several years ago. Our pediatrician feels my daughters leg spasticity and weakness may be a direct effect of not using her legs due to the untreated club foot.
Referrals and appointments are happening.
Chelsea has completed 3 weeks of 5th grade in our local public elementary school with many many support services to help her make her way.
My daughter is the greatest joy in our life. We all needed her more than she needed us I am certain. She is loving, kind, thankful, and smiles every minute she can. She knows when she accomplishes something new and she shreaks with joy over it. She loves her brother and my son loves her dearly. She has a long road ahead of her as she learns how to use her eyes and learns to read, as we explore how to treat her legs and foot and help her get as mobile as possible. But thanks to you all, we were able to start down that road ASAP and bring my baby girl home without further delay.
On a side note, I spoke with Cynthia prior to my departure to bring Chelsea home. We talked a lot about the wheelchair the orphanage would give her. The wheelchair was no good and fell apart on the street in China. Having a stroller (Cynthia's suggestion) was a life saver.
We did it. My sweet girl did it. She is brave and wonderful and a testament to what love and family can rapidly do to change a life.
I have attached pictures of Chelsea from the day they handed her to me (red puffer jacket in wheelchair) and pics through this week. The transition is evident in pictures.
My sweet girl loves to learn English, she LOVES to sing and she sounds beautiful doing so, and she LOVES piano.
Thank you for being part of our story and for your kindness and generosity.
Love to you all,
The R Family
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