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Advocacy: Jenny

12 year old Jenny has been diagnosed with vision impairments (congenital Myopia and Strabismus). Due to her high Myopia and Strabismus, she wears glasses. Her file also indicates that she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, but this appears to be a misdiagnosis. It appears as though there was a concern that Jenny had Down Syndrome when she was one year old and a chromosome test was done. The results seem to indicate she does not have DS (per review by an international adoption physician) and the orphanage said they would be willing to have another test done should a family request it. However the diagnosis of DS has been included in her medical records. , Jenny is waiting for a family on the shared list!

Jenny has normal motion development and adaptability. She can walk, run, jump, climb, and stand on one foot. She can also play on the big slide and swings, and knows how to catch a ball.
Jenny likes to choose her own outfits, and matches her clothes and trousers by herself. She has formed good living habits. She can also adapt to the environment quickly and communicate with
strangers freely. Jenny can express herself completely. She understands cause and effect, and can easily explain it to others. She can express her own opinions and ideas. Jenny is in grade 4
at her primary school. She gets along well with her classmates and takes an active part in activities at school. Jenny has a hard time learning new things. Her receptive ability is not very well,
but with repeated education and help, she can gain new knowledge. She has difficulty looking at the board as well as reading and writing because of her vision impairments.
Although this limits her in her school work, Jenny makes all the effort to learn. She has good study habits, and can finish her homework on time after school. She can even say some fruits in English,, such as apple, banana, and orange. Jenny is a very thoughtful little girl, always asking her caretakers for permission. She has a ready smile, and loves to watch tv, sing songs, dance, and play outside.

A friend of mine adopted her best friend and she got to meet her and spend quite a few hours with her. , From Vicki: “She does not have Down Syndrome. I am trying now, with the help of the foster organization, to see if we can have that changed. Such a shame, to think that having that on her file may deny, her a chance of a family. , She is so sweet and has been on the shared list for almost 2 years. 🙁 I had the privilege of being with her for almost 4 hours, and my Chun speaks with her on the phone every, few weeks.” , Email Vicki for more information: v.vanno@gmail.com

Project Pasaga: Urgent Aid to the Philippines

MAA Staff visit Hospicio de San Jose
The news of the destruction and devastation that has affected the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan is frightening. , We know that many people are without food, clean water, clothing, and other basic human necessities.
Madison Adoption Associates is particularly concerned for the children who reside in Hospicio de San Jose (HSJ). , From past experience we are aware that HSJ floods very easily. , Due to the power outages in the Philippines, we have not been able to contact HSJ directly, although we have been informed that all of the children are safe.
Madison Adoption Associates is launching “Project Pagasa” to provide aid to HSJ and other orphanages in the Philippines. , Pagasa means “hope”. , We wish to provide some hope for these children and to ensure that they continue to be safe during this distressing time.
Madison Adoption Associates will match donations – up to a total of $10,000 – to assist the children who are suffering due to this disaster. , 100% of donations will go directly to the children of the Philippines. , This would mean a total of $20,000 going to the children in need.
If you would like to contribute to Project Pagasa, please make a donation through PayPal.
Madison Adoption Associates is a 501(c)3 agency and tax receipts will be provided for all donations.
Thank you!
Madison Adoption Associates

Typhoon in the Philippines

Madison has deep connections in the Philippines.,  We support orphanages, advocate for Filipino children and families, and serve American families that have and are in the process of adopting from the Philippines. In addition, we have friend there living and working and perhaps even now, suffering., ,  Please now that everyone at Madison is praying for the people of the Philippines. We are praying and working to help in any way possible.

As soon as Diana is made aware about specifics regarding orphanages and children that are directly connected to MAA and our families she will contact you. This is an utmost priority for her and we all understand how on edge many of you may be at this time.,  We do know that many of the children that Madison is working to aid are alive and being relocated to a safer facility at this time.

Please know that Madison will be launching, a fundraiser later today in order to send financial aid directly to the Philippines.,  MAA will match the money raised. A Constant Contact from Sara Lang at MAA will be going out today to all Madison families and friends.

Peace and Healing and Rest and Restoration to the people of the Philippines.

 

Advocacy: Marshall

11 year old Marshall was newly listed with Madison Adoption Associates via an orphanage partnership. , He is diagnosed as having post-operative dropsy of the brain (likely post-operative hydrocephalus).

From his file: Marshall has normal mental development. Because he suffers dropsy of the brain, we reported him to the Tomorrow Plan and according to the plan, on Aug.14 2006, he was treated in Children,,¦¾šs Hospital. On Aug.25 2006, he received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and on Sep.7 2006, he was discharged. He recovered well, then on Feb.26 2009 he received another surgery for the ventriculoperitoneal shunt and was released on Mar.13 2009. At the age of 2 years, he can point out the names of kids, at the age of 3 years, he can imitate to draw simple shapes, can call a yi, at the age of 4-5 years, he can walk and say simple sentences, due to the reason of Obstructive dropsy of brain, he is easy to fall down. now the balance ability is better, the pronunciation is clear, and he is more extrovert, can communicate with others. He can take care of himself, he is cute and polite, will help the younger brothers and sisters in daily time.

Videos available here:

Contact Sara at: sara@madisonadoption.com for more information or to review his file!

Please contact Sara for the password to the vimeo links.

Advocacy: Four Precious Children with Downs Syndrome

These four older children with Down Syndrome are from my son’s orphanage and they just had their paperwork completed. , They are listed with Madison Adoption Associates via an orphanage partnership and are in need of very special, loving, and patient families.

12 year old Shephard has normal limb development and delayed mental development. Upon admission, he was 6 years old and he was curious and careful. After a period of time, he understood how things worked and became more open. At the age of 7 years, he was receiving the special education in the institute. He took part in more games, study, and work activities. His self-management was improved, but his accepting ability was poor compared to other kids. At the age of 8 years, his observing ability was improved and he could understand the language. He could try to imitate simple words, but his pronunciation was not clear. At the age of 10 years, he could do simple math and finish simple intelligence games under the guidance of his teachers. At the age of 12 years, he could tell the difference between things and had his own thoughts and abilities. He likes to help the younger kids. Now he can understand directions, can express simple sentences, can count
1-10, can paint, and can memorize things slowly. He is open, ready to smile, can get along with others well, and likes playing with kids in the playground. He likes playing basketball and riding the bike. He also likes drawing and watching cartoon with his friends.

9 year old Roger has normal limb development and delayed mental development. Upon admission, he was 4 years old. At that time, he could walk alone, felt strange about the new place, and was careful to get to know new people. After a period of time, he learned how things worked and liked to get to know new people and got along with others well. At the age of 5 years, he could go up and down stairs holding the rail, could clap his hands along to the rhythm of music, could pick his favorite toys, and could share toys and food with other kids. At the age of 7 years, he could jump off the ground, could draw 3 parts of the body, and could pick up and throw a ball. At the age of 9 years, his self-management was improved and he knew his gender. , He could eat and drink independently, take a bath, and put on his clothes independently. Now he is receiving the special education in the institute. He can imitate drawing pictures, can recognize common colors, can run
and jump, and can have simple motion with his friends. He would like to do some work, but his language is delayed and he can only speak some simple words unclearly, He can understand the directions and he is gentle, shy, and likes familiar people close to him. Roger can get along well with other kids, likes playing games, enjoys basketball, and likes riding bikes with kids in the playground. Occasionally he is obstinate, but telling him a story can make him smile.

9 year old Trudy has normal limb development and delayed mental development compared to other children. Upon admission, she was 1 year old and she was careful in her new surroundings. After a period of time, she began to understand how things worked and she was polite to people and got along well with others. At the age of 2 years, she could walk alone, was curious about new things, her hand-eye coordination was improved, and she could express her emotion. At the age of 4 years, she could have eat and drink independently and could recognize people, places and objects, but her expression was poor. At the age of 6 years, she was receiving the special education in the institute. , Her self-management was improved under the guidance of the teacher, but her accepting ability was not good compared to other kids of her age. At the age of 8 years, she could speak simple numbers and words, could draw, could finish some simple jigsaw puzzles, and could play with
the toy blocks. Now she can wave her body along with the rhythm of the music, can read simple children,,¦¾šs songs and words, and can count 1-10, but her expression is still poor. Trudy is open, likes music, can get along well with other kids, likes helping people, and wants to be praised. She is happy when watching cartoons and walking outside. , Trudy is diagnosed with Hep B as well.

11 year old Bree has normal limb development. Upon admission, she was 1 year old. After growing accustomed to life in the social welfare center, she began to understand how things worked, She was polite and could get along well with people. At the age of 2 years, she could walk, but could not speak. She began to hold the spoon to eat and hold the bottle to drink. She could recognize some familiar people and places. At the age of 4 years, she could listen to the music and stories and could draw simple shapes. At the age of 6 years, she could pick up a ball and had flexible motion of the hands. , She could join some simple work and games. At the age of 8 years, she could imitate adult,,¦¾šs action, could obey the game rules,and could understand the directions. At the age of 10 years, she could go up and down stairs, could put on clothes and shoes independently, and could help adults. Now she cannot speak, but she can make sounds of ,,¦¦Åyiyiyaya,,š. She can
count 1-10, can recognize big and small, but cannot concentrate in the special education class. Bree is open, can get along well with others, likes playing with kids in the playground, and likes playing on the slide and swing. Everyone likes staying with her and sharing joy with her.

*All of these children will soon be listed on Reece’s Rainbow!
For more information on any of these precious children or to review their files, contact Sara at: sara@madisonadoption.com.

Kevin.

There is a child on the MAA China Waiting Child list, (available here) that I have wept over.,  He was born in the same year that my son was born. He was born the same year as my daughter too. And, I look at him and I see them. That is why the tears come.

He has endured so much and on top of his suffering he does not have a Mommy and a Daddy to help him navigate his days and his hurts and give him hope.

I would give so much to see this child smile.,  And, I am not going to stop praying until he is home.

Please take a look at the MAA China Waiting Child list and help us advocate for Kevin. He already has the (wonderful) Shriners in Cincinnati, Ohio offering the medical care he needs for his burns. He just needs a committed and willing family to say yes to him.

If it is you, please contact Madison.

If it is not you, please spread the word and help this precious, amazing, survivor come home.

 

Visa Processing

Dear Families-

Just wanted to share with you the message we received,  from
Rebecca of Joint Council:

Dear Colleagues,

We’ve received a number of inquiries regarding the effects of the U.S.
federal government shutdown on visa processing for adoptions and other
services related to intercountry adoption.,  A reminder that USCIS and NBC
are both fee for services offices and, therefore, not affected by the
shutdown.,  The Bureau of Consular Affairs is also not effected by the
shutdown.,  Therefore, there should be no issues with adoption cases relating
to the federal government shutdown.,  This being said, if you have families
traveling overseas we recommend you contact the Embassy that will process
the visa, just in case.

Documentary: Girl, Adopted.

From producers/directors, Melanie Judd and Susan Motamed:

Global Voices Girl Adopted

“Girl, Adopted is a contemporary coming-of-age story that follows 13-year-old Weynsht from her orphanage in urban Ethiopia to an adoptive American family in rural Arkansas. The film captures an irrepressibly adolescent Weynsht as she works to figure out who she is in the aftermath of her adoption. The, film follows her struggle to find love among strangers in the U.S. and to understand what to make of this love on an unexpected return trip to Ethiopia.
“Weynsht’s story offers a real-time, child’s-eye view of being adopted across race and culture. Without taking a pro- or anti-adoption position, it acknowledges the complexity involved in this increasingly common experience. The film revolves around the central question: what is it like to get everything you need but to lose everything you know?”

, , Girl, Adopted will air on the World Channel series “Global Voices” on Sunday, September 29 at 10pm EST.

Don’t get World Channel in your area? Don’t worry! Girl, Adopted will be available to view online for 30 days after it airs at WorldChannel.org.

Visit the movie’s official Facebook page or website for more information

Belonging.

IMG_3108

A nice woman was introducing my family to someone she knew.

“This is Katie.”, she said. I smiled and offered my hand. The kids were like little squirrels at my feet.

“This one”, she said pointing at my middle son, “this one is hers.”

The little place in my gut that still tightens when I know what is coming next started to tug my smile away.,  “And, she adopted these two.”

Her intention were nothing but kind. She adores my little family. Did I mention the she I am referring to is over ninety years old, and she even went over and put her arm around my oldest son and said so lovingly, “I just love this boy.”,  She loves the boy that was adopted., ,  I am grateful because I love him too. He is amazing, and what, a pleasure it is as a parent when you know that someone else can delight in your children.

Still I went home thinking about those words, with no anger or frustration at her.,  Because her intention was love. I think intention is important. I think we can not overlook it and jump to anger.

As we walked back to the car I tried to decide to bring it up or not to the kids. Had they heard? Did it sink into their minds?,  Honestly, they had not been paying attention.,  In fact if I remember correctly the boys were playing Batman verses Hulk all the while their sister jumped silly over their wrestling bodies.,  So, I squeezed them and kissed those heads and told them they were so loved. We walked on.

The middle one, he is mine. I mean I birthed him, and he has my eyes. The marks on my stomach are evidence of those nine months being stretched.

But, what about the other two. The ones that I did not carry.,  Was that not the point?

Is not part of adoption to take a child that has been removed from the security and rhythm of belonging and bring them back into the fold of a family?

They did belong. They once were someone’s. Even if it was just for that nine months they grew so strong and perfectly , inside the womb of their birthmothers. That was belonging.

And, then something happened.

And, it was awful. Because it is awful when, a child goes from what is familiar to what is so very lonely.

Being let go is lonely.

Being surrendered is lonely.

Being dropped off at a gate in front of an orphanage is lonely.

Becoming an orphan means losing all sense of belonging.

Yes. The middle one is mine.,  Stretch,  marks.

But, so is the eldest. He is mine because we became family on paper, a contract of governments,, , much like a marriage, a covenant of Momma and Daddy and son.

And, so is the youngest. She is mine because I singed my name to those documents and I waited the months and I navigated the process in order to proclaim that she very much so belonged once more.

For these, the two I do not have stretch marks as evidence, I sat at a tattoo parlor and endured the point of a needle.,  Now all three of them have left their marks on Mom.

They may not have always been mine, true, true, true.

But, since the day I said yes I know what I have been.

Unquestioningly.,  Unwavering.,  I have been theirs.

Adoption can take a child that has lost the most precious love he has ever known, and give him once again a precious love.

It is not a program. It is not a system. It is not a fad. It is not a movement.

Adoption is the seal of belonging.

These kids, they are all mine. Because I birthed one. Because I adopted two. That makes us belong. That makes us family.

Three kids. Three continents. You should see my stretch marks.

 

(Tonight, my heart is so full of emotion and thought and prayer for this family. They are not an MAA family, but I read their story and I can not let it go.,  I am linking here to the blog: Because of Love so that you have an opportunity to share in the love that this family has for their son, Cruz, who died before he was able to come home from Ethiopia this week. He died before coming home, but he did not die an orphan. This is a powerful story, and I hope you can reach out to this family with love and support.)