Waiting for Mommy and Daddy

It's time to highlight some waiting kiddos! Let me tell you, EVERY child on "my list" is important to me, but there is something that feels even more urgent when there are special needs kiddos on my list. These kiddos do not have a good chance at long and fruitful lives in Ghana. But in the USA? Here, they could receive therapies and assistance that could allow them to live long, happy, and active lives! They just need someone who can take a "chance" on them. No, we don't have all of the answers about everything their special needs entail. We won't, as long as they are in Ghana. The resources just aren't there. WHO will see one of these children and KNOW that they are called to step out in faith to adopt them? WHO is ready to love them forever, no matter what their future potential is? I know you are out there. I feel stymied by my inability to spread the word farther, but I believe somehow, these children will find their families.

These kiddos are at a large government orphanage. We have only just begun to work with this orphanage, but so far things are going very well. The care is less than ideal, but once a family is through court we may be able to place the children in private foster care. For all of these children, family size and age requirements have been waived, and some fees have been reduced.

K & K are 2 and 4 year old brothers that can be adopted together, or separately. They have very low muscle tone (hypotonia). They do not yet walk or talk, but they are incredibly expressive! They make great eye contact and have amazingly beautiful smiles! When I met these little guys my impression was that with the right interventions they could go very far.

A is a baby girl, less than one year old. She is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, she is not developing on schedule and her head appears to be smaller than normal. She may be micro cephalic, but no formal diagnosis has been made. When I met A in June she was very much like a newborn, doing all of those wonderfully cute newborn things! Currently, we are doing everything we can to move A to a private foster family where she can receive more individualized care.

P is a VERY special 4-5 year old boy! Recently one of our families traveled to meet their daughter at the same orphanage. The mom was sure to tell me that "You *must* find a family for Paul next!" Paul has cerebral palsy, but that doesn't stop him from greeting visitors with much enthusiasm. He gives "high 5s" and the biggest brightest smiles you ever saw! He doesn't walk or talk yet, but with therapy in the U.S. he may progress beautifully.

M is an adorable 2-3 year old girl. She is currently in a very loving private foster care situation. In fact, her foster family has requested an "open adoption" with her new adoptive family! M has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She does not yet walk or talk, but with appropriate intervention she may make great strides.

These kiddos can be matched with families who have approved homestudies. If you have an approved homestudy and would like more information on one or more of these children (including photos) please email me at anita@adoptionadvocates.org. Families that don't yet have a homestudy cannot be matched with any of these children, but they would be free to apply in the hopes of adopting in the future.

Anita

P.S. Always remember that the only placing agency in Ghana is the Department of Social Welfare. All official matches are made by DSW. AAI and our partners assist families to navigate the process in Ghana and the U.S..

Baby Girl O

I don't make it a regular habit to post about waiting children on my blog, but sometimes I really feel there is a need. Who knows...maybe there is someone out there that will happen across this post, and discover their daughter?

This is Baby Girl "O." She waits in Ghana. She waits for her family to discover her. She was abandoned in an orphanage earlier this year. When I met her I don't even think they had given her a name yet. I've given her "O" because that's the letter her orphanage starts with. It's a sad reality that some of the babies who are abandoned at this orphanage don't live. But Baby girl? She's a survivor.

I got to cuddle with little "O" during my visit to Ghana in June. She felt like a tiny 1-2 month old newborn to me--looked every bit the part as well. Somehow, the orphanage estimated her to be 7 months old. Honestly, 7 weeks seemed more accurate, but what do I know? At the time I met O she was squishy and warm and wiggly, like most young babies. She cooed, and her spit bubbled up in the cutest way possible. =-) Her hands were in fists, but she has a lifetime to learn how to open them. Her head seemed small to me, but she has a lifetime to overcome that as well. Her heart (her spirit, her soul) seemed completely normal--ready to give all the love she has.

Little O is developmentally delayed. There is no diagnosis. She may not even be taken for a medical until someone steps up and says, "Yes, I will make this child my daughter." When she does get a medical, a doctor who has never seen her before will look her over for a few minutes and then note any "irregularities" in her health. They may say "microcephaly" or "developmentally delayed" or "crossed eyes." We don't know.

Here's what we do know. Baby O needs a family! She NEEDS a family. She has people who can give her food, and change her diaper, and bath her each day. She does not have a single person who gives her the love that only a mommy and daddy can give. Nobody wakes up in the middle of the night just to feel her chest rising and falling. Nobody is trying to learn about her unique personality--to distinguish her "I am hungry" cry from her "I am in pain" cry.

It's not usual for such a young child to be available for adoption in Ghana. But because of Baby O's perceived special needs, she is eligible for international adoption. The staff at her orphanage aren't really sure if any American family would find "value" in Baby O. They aren't sure any family would ever love her enough to sacrifice the time and money required to adopt her. I know in my heart this isn't true. However, I also know in my heart that we must cast the net WIDE so that her adoptive parents can find her.

If we found a family that could move forward with paperwork and fees very quickly, Baby O could be legally adopted within the month! Within the month! That is so very quick for an international adoption. But if Baby O's family can't move forward that fast, that's okay. We just need to find them. Baby O's fees will be reduced (although there are still fees involved). Because of her special needs, families who don't fit within the normal Ghana requirements can apply to adopt her. Large families are fine!

If you aren't her family, can you do me a favor? Can you help me find them? Maybe you can re-post on your blog, or on facebook? Maybe you can send an email to your friends and family (who can send an email to theirs). Her family is out there. Together, we can find them.

Thanks,

Anita

Waiting Children!

These children have loving families!

Hi all,

This really is my personal blog so I try not to make it solely about my work with AAI, but this news merits sharing!!! For the first time EVER in 4 years I would say that we have a "waiting child list." This is so bitter sweet. Bitter to know that these precious ones do not know the love of a family right now. Sweet that they have been freed for adoption by Ghana Social Welfare and will know the love of a family as soon as we find them!!

Now that I have a 10.5 year old, I realize how young a 6, 7, or 8 year old is. But in the world of international adoption, anybody older than 6 has much less of a chance to be adopted than kids under six years. I understand why that is a reality. Families adopting "older" children need to be prepared for the realities of that challenge. But OH (!) what a blessing it can be when the right kids are matched with the right family! If you've been blessed by older child adoption I encourage you to post a comment so that others can be encouraged by you!

I can't speak about older child adoption but I can speak about Special Needs adoption!!! Among our waiting children are 3 precious young girls that are going to bless the socks off of their future family! Seriously folks, adding "special needs" to your life doesn't have to be a big deal. The thing is, once you know your child as your child, the special need becomes smaller in your mind. You somehow see past the g-tube, or the swolleness, or the immobility, or the threats, and instead just see your child. And you would do anything for your child! Just like older child adoption, obviously, a family needs to be prepared for the realities of the special need. But OH (!) what a blessing it can be when you open your heart to someone that may not be "perfect" on the outside but is perfect in every way that matters!

Right now AAI has been asked to advocate for 10 children that we don't currently have families for. Let me share a bit about them...

REGULAR ADOPTION PROGRAM:

Lynn is a 7 year old girl. She is healthy and beautiful. She is living a great private foster home in Teshie. Her adoption will go through in Accra Region.

Bea is a 6 year old girl. She is healthy and adorable! She is living in a fabulous group foster home in Teshie. Her adoption will go through in Accra Region.

Jo-Jo is a 7 year boy. He loves to pose for the camera! He is healthy. He lives in the same great group foster home as Bea. His adoption will go through Accra Region.

**Lynn, Bea, and Jo-Jo are from the same tribe and same area. It's possible that two of them could be adopted together (families with 4 or less children preferred if being placed together).

Corey is an 8 year old boy. He is healthy and seriously cute as a bug! Corey lives at Great Mission International Orphanage (aka CKO). His adoption will be completed in Volta Region.

DeeDee and Ceelo are siblings! DeeDee is 10 years old, and a great big sister to her baby brother. Ceelo is just 4 years old. These wonderful kids are healthy. I hear great things about them, especially DeeDee. They are living at GMI (aka CKO) and their adoption will be completed in Volta Region.p

Toby is a 6 year old boy. Because of paperwork delay, Toby has already been waiting for her family for over a year! He is absolutely precious. Toby is healthy, and lives in a great foster home in Bolgatanga. His adoption will be completed in the Upper East Region.

SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM:

Tess is such a sweetheart! She is a 3 year old girl living with CP (we believe it is minor). We're told that Tess scoots around on her bum because she is THAT determined to be mobile! We're told that she has typical cognitive abilities.

Anna is a winner! She is a 4 year old girl living with CP (we believe it to be moderate). Anna also suffers from seizures sometimes. We're told that her cognitive abilities are normal. Tess isn't mobile, but she sure looks happy in her stroller!

Mae-Mae is a survivor! She is a one year old, living with hydrocephalus. Mae-Mae was abandoned at the hospital as a baby. She had surgery to place a shunt at 8 months old. The shunt is doing a beautiful job of draining the excess fluid off of her brain. In the last few months Mae-Mae's appearance has changed greatly (although she was always beautiful).

**For the special needs children, biological families will not be involved. They are "wards of the state" in Ghana. We will expedite the adoption process as much as possible, and fees are reduced. Ghana does not have faith that we can find families for these children, but *I* believe with all of my heart that their families are out there!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED....

AAI cannot "hold" children for families. However, if you have an approved homestudy or can update your homestudy VERY quickly, and are interested in adopting any of these children, please email me at aaighana@gmail.com. I have photos of all of these LEGALLY FREE FOR ADOPTION children and would be happy to share them privately with seriously interested families.

If you are interested but haven't begun a homestudy, it won't be possible to match you with one of these children at this time. HOWEVER, we always need families for older (than 6) and special needs children!!! You can get started today! [And you never know. Several of these children may still be waiting when you are ready.]

IF YOU ARE AN ADVOCATE...

Please consider forward info about these wonderful and deserving children to your blog, FB, yahoo groups, or personal email contacts. There ARE families for these children. It's all about getting the word out. I am glad that our program has expanded, but having a "waiting child list" is not what we want. These children deserve families RIGHT NOW!

Love,

Anita

Searching for you, E and F's families...

Are you Mr. E.'s family? Or possibly Mr. F's family?

I can't wait for you to meet Mr. E.! Even though his paperwork says he's 5, we're thinking he's definitely more like 8 years old. He is currently living in a very loving foster home, with several friends and his two cousins. He has started school now and looks very proud in his new uniform! I haven't gotten to meet Mr. E yet, but he looks very smiley and easy-going in photos. A family I know has gotten to meet him and told me yesterday that he has a bit of her heart already. Whomever adopts Mr. E. is adding a very special child to their family!

Mr. F. is the life of the party! He's 7 on paper but we think he could be 1-2 years older. It's very hard to tell when a child has endured prolonged malnutrition. Mr. F. seems to be a very healthy boy. He has been in foster care for quite some time. Unfortunately, his first adoptive family changed their minds far into the process. I'm told that Mr. F. has healed well though, and looking forward to meeting his new FOR GOOD family! I have been privileged to meet Mr. F. His outgoing personality helps everybody to feel welcome within a minute or two. Even though Mr. F. hasn't had gone to school consistently in his life, his English skills are fabulous!

So many families don't feel comfortable adopting a child over the age of 6. A lot of families are hoping to adopt girls. I know that Mr. E and Mr. F's families will look at these boys and see all of the potential that is within them! I know that their families will realize that there is still a LOT of childhood left for an 8 year old. They are not "hard" or used up. They are just sweet little boys, legally free for adoption, that are waiting to meet the family that will see them and know that they have just seen their son for the first time.

So many times I have families return from Ghana and then tell me how wonderful the "older" children are. Before the trip they wouldn't have imagined being open to an 8-10 year old, but after the trip the children are more than just their age. The children are sweet little kiddos; still very accepting of love and cuddles; still very loving and very in need of a family.

If you think that either of these two boys (or potentially both!) could be yours, please email me at anita@adoptionadvocates.org. Families with homestudies can pursue an adoption immediately through Ghana's Department of Social Welfare.