A Family’s Adoption Journey
6547 MILES TO HOME
What an incredible week we have had in the city of Guangzhou, however, we are ready to get home! Suitcases are packed. Ready for to take a train to Hong Kong and then hop a flight to the good ole’ USofA – 6547 miles to home!!! Spent the last morning in Guangzhou sleeping in, eating a late breakfast, sneaking some bread from the breakfast buffet to feed the koi fish in the pond, then enjoying a lunch with another adopting family.
A total of six families from our adoption agency traveled together and we so cherish each of them! Incredible that six more children now have families and are sons and daughters. Gives you chills to hear how god moved in mighty ways over the last year to unite these families with their children. We are grateful for how they all took care of duo and i as well. Our guide, Kelly, was also a precious gift as she took great care of us. We boarded a train from Guangzhou to get to Hong Kong. My incredibly silly son passed the time by making faces for the camera!
After arriving very late in the evening at our hotel, regal airport hotel, we ate dinner and went to sleep. The next morning we woke up early and boarded the flight to home. We happened to be flying on the same flight as our friends that just adopted a precious 2 year old girl and sat next to them. Made for a fun 12 hour flight! Duo slept a good half of the flight (thank goodness!) and watched movies the rest of the time. He was as happy as can be… lots of food, drinks, and cartoons!
We landed in seattle – duo is the newest citizen of the usa!!! That smile tells you how he feels about it!
We had a three hour layover in Seattle as we waited for our flight home to Portland. We walked around, ate more food, and watched all the airplanes on the runway. He was so exhausted from the time difference he slept the entire flight to Portland. We were the very last people off the flight because he wouldn’t wake up! Groggy and dazed Duo arrived home in Portland and I captured his first photo on the famous airport carpet!
The most incredibly talented and kind-hearted friend, Colette Hoekstra of coco photography, documented Duo’s homecoming. Through the adoption journey Colette provided photo sessions for families and donated all the profits to the adoption. We are forever grateful for her generosity! And we are so blessed by the amazing friends who welcomed Duo’s arrival home! Though he was exhausted he felt very loved, as did we. Thank you to everyone!
It feels like he never left. Like he has been here, a part of our family, forever. He jumped right in his bed, smiling and happy, feeling perfectly at home. We expected to rest in the week after getting home but we’ve done anything but rest. Duo has been ready for every adventure around the corner. He picked out a new bicycle, went to church (even chose to go with his siblings to the kids church), spent a day at the local aquarium, and has been having a blast playing with his brothers/sisters. We’ve been working on Phonics so he can start reading. I was shocked when he spelled out mom, dad, Duo, Evy, Noah, Jude, Piper, love, and fun. He knows all the ABC’s and can count in English. He communicates his needs in English very well. This morning he said “I want noodles and two eggs please.” He is learning hundreds of new words each day. So proud of him!
Guangzhou – Part 2
We have had a sweet time of fellowship and fun in Guangzhou this past week. As I am buried under a pile of clothes that I need to somehow figure out how to get back in the suitcase I thought I’d share a bit about our week. My husband returned home last week in order to care for our five children and so I pressed on alone in China with my new son, excited for the individual time to spend with him. It has been better than I could have hoped for. In Guangzhou there are so many adopting families and our agency put our entire travel group at the same hotel, which makes for a great sense of community in a foreign country. We have been able to explore the city, eat meals, and do activities together, all while supporting one another through the transition of adoption. The Garden Hotel changes the lobby decor frequently and i just love the new display. My poor son was not as thrilled when I made him go take a photo by it!
The hotel’s pond and garden area has been so lovely as well. Most mornings we eat breakfast and then go for a walk in the garden and take bread out to feed the koi fish. Such a nice little retreat.
Thankful for the older kids in our travel group as they have included our son in everything. They don’t let the language barrier stop them from having a good time. The first two or three days duo refused to engage with the other children, partly out of shyness but mostly because of insecurity. As the week progressed he began walking near them, then even sat with them at dinner, then he really came out of his shell at the swimming pool. Amazing to see his confidence grow so quickly.
I think I may need to buy a camera for him. He loves taking photos and videos of everything. At this moment he is watching a cartoon but recording it on his iPad! he and I have a fun game of taking fun selfies that leave him in a fit of giggles. He loves it so much!
We are beginning to work on some fine motor skills so sticker books and coloring with a fine tip marker have kept him busy as we pass the time in our hotel room.
He has also become quite silly when I ask to take a photo of him. Instead of the cute smile I used to get he will give me a cheesy grin, pretend he is asleep, stone cold face, or stick his tongue out. Photographers kids are the worst!!!
I snapped a few shots this week that I want to remember – the first is Duo’s breakfast. We go down to the buffet every morning and he fills two plates and one bowl full of food. This week he has been eating a hard boiled egg, bone broth, congee, fish balls (???), watermelon, fried noodles, rice, bok choy, and sushi. He tells me how many sushi he wants – today is was 8 pieces. For breakfast!
The second photo is a photo duo captured on my iPad when we ate dinner at a hibachi restaurant. He was enthralled with the chef and wanted to take a photo to show his dad.
The third photo is to remember the way duo sits against a wall when he is bored or waiting for something. He simply walks over to a wall and squats down. I used to do those exercises in boot camp and could hold it for seconds, much less minutes!!!
We went to shamian island for souvenir shopping. so impressed with a gift from china (they donate 100% of proceeds to orphans in china) and jenny’s place. Both stores are owned by believers and they were the kindest, most generous people. We bought an English/Mandarin bible and a Mandarin scripture wall hanging, as well as lots of gifts for the kids. I purchased a special gift to give Duo for each of this birthday’s until he is 18 years old.
This is a famous statue among the adopting family community – lots of sweet photos with newly adopted children posing cutely between the statue. My son was not as excited as I was to have him pose with the statue. He grumbled and pouted as I told him where to stand. Poor kid. Shopping for two hours and then posing for photos with some random statue… not his idea of a good time.
The next day we woke up early and went to the us consulate to apply for his immigrant visa. There has been some delays in processing visas over the last week but we are hoping his visa will be issued on time tomorrow so that the moment we land on American soil in Seattle he will be a us citizen!!
On our free day we decided to go to the Chimelong Safari park. I have been to a lot of zoos but this blew everything out of the water. The safari animals were all roaming around, cage free. There were 14 pandas and one of the momma pandas had triplets recently. A Jurassic exhibit was the highlight for the boys – dinosaurs!!!
Our time has been so amazing here. It is bittersweet to leave. Part of my heart will always stay in China. The people and the culture are beautiful and unique. It makes me very emotional to take my son from his homeland as it is such an important part of his life. I hope to always keep his culture present and give him the opportunity to return on a homeland tour one day. For now we will be packing our bags and making the long journey home tomorrow through Hong Kong, Seattle, and finally home to Portland. In a few days we will all be together as a family. We will all be reunited.
Orphan Hosting to adoption has been the sweetest journey – my children have spent the last 10 months praying, waiting, raising money, and preparing for their brother to come home. Soon. They will be back together again!!!
Guangzhou – Part 1
Leaving his birth province and heading to Guangzhou (southern China) to complete our adoption trip with a USA visa by the end of the week. We all flew together to GZ then my husband took a late night train to Hong Kong and from there will fly home to take care of our other children (Duo was not thrilled with the plan that his daddy was going to America early).
We had a 3 hour flight delay in to Guangzhou because of bad weather so we sat in a hot airport (no air-conditioning ) for three long long long hours. this is where i finally had to use a non-western toilet, aka squatty potty. China southern airlines was amazing, however, and provided drinks and meals to make up for the delay. We said goodbye to our guide, Emma, who has taken care of our every need in Beijing and Jinan. We boarded the plane and Duo’s smile was larger than life. He has said that he wants to be a pilot when he grows up so this was very exciting for him. The only other time he has been on an airplane was when he came to america for the summer hosting program. He was bouncing up and down in his seat with excitement, studying every part of the plane’s wing. The flight was a short and then we dropped off my husband at the train station where my son then proceeded to get carsick and vomited all over the backseat of a brand-new car. We tipped our driver well, very well.
Our guide took us to our new home away from home… the Garden Hotel. I have never in my life been to such a swanky hotel. It was an upgrade from our last hotel for sure. The great thing about this hotel is that a ton of adopting families stay here so we are able to connect with one another. Our entire travel group is staying here so it is comforting to have support and help as we all are walking through this transition. The garden hotel is beautiful. It has a waterfall, koi fish pond, garden area, indoor play room, the best breakfast I’ve ever had, and is located in the middle of the best restaurants around. Starbucks and H&M are across the street so we’ve already been there!!
Part of the visa process is a required medical exam and TB test. Duo had a height/weight check, eye/ear exam, and then a full physical exam with a focus on his special needs. A blood TB test was taken and results will be back in a couple days. He was so brave and followed all the instructions the doctors gave him. He did not resist the blood draw and walked away proudly showing off his band aid.
To celebrate completing the medical exam we went to a grocery store and I told him he could pick out anything in the entire store. He loaded the cart with Pringles (meat flavored), mints, pineapple gum, shrimp flavored chips, jello, and fruit gummies. He kept trying to grab bags of noodles and seaweed wraps but I tried to explain that we can’t cook them in our hotel room. At breakfast he loads up on noodles and seaweed. I am going to have to find some new recipes!!!
We visited the chen clan academy (also known as the Guangdong folk art museum or chen family temple). It was used to offer sacrifices to ancestors and for study. Now it shows off the characteristic guangdong architecture.
Inside was an incredible artist that was creating scrolls with the traditional Chinese calligraphy. We purchased a large scroll that says the Raney family in Chinese characters, a name plate for duo with his entire new name in Chinese characters, and a painting of a panda. duo was fascinated with watching the artist work.
We went to the pearl market for a bit of shopping. These strands of pearls are fresh and just beautiful. Many people buy a strand or two to make necklaces or bracelets for future wedding gifts for their children.
Duo and I are having a great time together as we continue bonding. While I desperately miss having my husband here I am grateful for the individual time with Duo. He is slowly letting me be his mother more each day. He is very independent as he has taken care of himself for so long and he struggles to allow me to be his mom. He doesn’t know what the role of a mother is and so we are starting at ground zero, helping him to break down the walls of security he has built. Letting me in and letting me help him is hard. But we are making steps towards it. Right now we are trying to bond through having fun – lots of being silly and laughing. Boundaries are very loose – letting him eat junk, drink sodas, stay up really late, and watch lots of television. When we get home we will begin tightening up on boundaries but for now this transition time to be fun. We are off to see baby pandas at the safari zoo!
Time Together
What a wonderful week it has been together. We spent five days all together in the capital city (Jinan) of the Shandong province. Most of our time was spent exploring the city, trying new foods, and bonding in the hotel room. Our morning ritual was letting duo go down to the hotel breakfast buffet – filling two plates of food and devouring them. Then we all walked to a local coffee shop where my husband and I had breakfast and coffee.
My husband gave Duo a special necklace that had the character for ‘family’ inscribed in it. Very precious and Duo has not taken it off since. They bonded so much during the week together. They would race up and down the hotel hallways, play games on the iPad, wrestle on the bed, playing hide and go seek in the bed comforter, do sticker books and build legos. They truly have a special relationship.
We went to a local market and duo chose grapes and cherries as a snack. He loves food, especially fruit and vegetables. He eats tons of boiled eggs, congee, rice, fruit, and vegetables. He still is weary of western food, especially chocolate, ice cream, and breads. He took a trip to Haagen Dasz for ice cream and he could only do a few bites before he pushed it away. He does not like cold foods as he is used to hot water, hot tea, and hot noodles.
We promised duo a remote control helicopter so our guide took us to walmart. My husband was snapping photos of all the products in Chinese… he was very excited as he found China’s version of Mr. Clean.
We spent an entire day walking through five-dragon spring park. One of the most peaceful, beautiful places I’ve ever been. Feeding small koi fish in the ponds, walking underneath hundreds of willow trees, gazing at the incredible architecture and details throughout.
You can hear music and singing all throughout the park. We thought it was a group or choir that came together to play but our guide said that it is simply people within the community that come together to sing and play music throughout the day. Someone brings sheet music, others bring instruments, and they spend time meeting one another and making beautiful music. We came upon several different groups of people that were doing this. Such a great way to build community!!!
Duo’s shirt says worth the wait. I bought this shirt a few months in to the adoption process when we were really exhausted and tired of waiting. So incredible to see him wear the shirt and he is absolutely worth the wait.
As we were walking through the city we stopped by a small temple where people were worshiping the warrior god.
On another day we explored daming lake park, which literally means lake of the great splendor. Again it was filled with hundreds of willow trees. So beautiful. The lotus flowers will begin blooming on the lily pads next month.
Again there were many groups of people gathered to sing and play instruments. We stopped for a while to hear this sweet couple play (she brought a microphone even!). Such a peaceful time to slow down and enjoy life.
We also saw a ton of bride and grooms taking wedding photos. Our guide is engaged to get married so she explained that couples go to a photo studio and rent gowns/tuxes many months before the wedding to take photos. They take a day or two worth of photos, both indoor and outdoor. It’s a big deal.
What a fun week we had together. Loved the city of Jinan. For five days we did not see a single person that was not Chinese and enjoyed being in a city that was not very influenced by the western culture. Now we are packing up to take a flight from Jinan to Guangzhou as that duo will have his medical exams and visa appointment with the us consulate. My husband will return home to take care of the rest of the children and we will return home next week. I truly believe god ordained this time for duo and I to bond. He and my husband have bonded so well but not it will just be the two of us so we will have some good time to bond without fun daddy around!!
Reunited
One of the things on my bucket list has been to ride a bullet train one day. Well i wasn’t quite prepared for the overwhelming crowds at the train station. It was one of the most stressful times of our traveling experience thus far. The station was huge and extremely crowded. We had to fight and push our way through the crowds to get to the trains, which i am learning is just the way you do things around here. Pushing people is the only way you will survive – push or be pushed.
The hour and a half train ride itself was so relaxing as we were able to enjoy seeing some of the countryside. Plus we had the cutest 4 year old boy sitting in front of us that Kyle taught magic tricks the whole trip. We arrived in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province, and were shocked at how big the city is. We were told it is one of the smaller cities in China, at only 7-8 million people, but that is a huge city in my book! Our guide, Emma, took us to the Jihua hotel so we could get settled in. My excitement was brimming as we unpacked in our room knowing this is where Duo would sleep the next evening. We settled in a bit but decided that we wanted to check out the city so we went exploring with only our hungry stomachs and a physical map of the surrounding area. We have not seen a single other non-Chinese person in this city. Not one. That means that we stood out a lot walking down the street. Somehow we came upon a mall and a pizza hut! Both of us have been a bit nauseous with trying some of the different foods so we decided to eat something a little less exotic; and pizza hut is nice here… a full menu of calamari, chicken dishes, seafood, and pizza of course.
Here is a photo of the endless stream of people coming to gather the spring water. we see them walking long distances with buckets in hand, just hoping the spring water will be available.
Mopeds and bicycles are everywhere. It’s one of the most incredible sights to see how all the bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists share the roads/sidewalks with no collisions. We have felt a bit like the video game, frogger, dodging everyone because we can’t seem to make sense of the traffic logic. It feels like mass chaos but it works!!!
Gotcha Day!
OK… now to Gotcha Day!!! We woke up early in the morning (3am early) and we were a bundle of nerves. The orphanage was running late so we had to wait several extra hours which felt like an eternity. Finally we got the call that they were near and so we met in a local hotel lobby. We were told that he had a very difficult morning – saying goodbye to all his friends, he got carsick on the 3 1/2 hour car ride, and he was so emotional he couldn’t eat lunch. So we went in to the moment not expecting smiles or hugs, remembering that scared little boy we met last summer and knowing this day was bittersweet for him. It was one of the hardest moments of my life to see the boy we love so much grieving so deeply. The orphanage official told us that he has been waiting for so long for a year to come get him and that he has been telling everyone that his family would come get him but that this moment was overwhelming for him.
his is when Duo broke down in to tears. He sobbed for about 45 minutes as we just held him in our laps, comforting him. Due to Duo’s age he has to consent to the adoption, which means he has to verbally tell the official that yes he wants to be adopted. He was so emotional and just cried and cried. We were at a loss for how to comfort him because of the language barrier. Our guide and the civil affairs officer (the beautiful lady in the yellow shirt) were angels from above during this time. They talked with him for about 15 minutes explaining what adoption means and showed him photos of our time hosting him to help him remember how much he loved america. He communicated that he was so upset because he didn’t want to leave his friends but that yes he did want to be adopted and go to america. He began to calm down as he consented to the adoption with his hand print as his signature.
Adoption always comes from a place of brokenness. Redemption and healing is hard. the pain and grief he experienced as he left all he knows is overwhelming for me to comprehend. While I know how much we love him and that a family is the design of a family, he doesn’t. He will learn to trust us and understand that our love is unconditional and forever. But that takes time and a lot of patience. For now we will slowly be learning how to be a family. He will be learning what a mom and a dad are. He will be learning that he is a son and a brother now. Those roles are foreign to him. So we now will spend the rest of the week learning together.
Everything our son brought from the orphanage. He has slept with this pillow with our photo on it every night for the last year. He had all of family and hosting photos – worn and tattered from looking at them. The sweet caregivers at the orphanage told him he could take any toys he could fit in to the spider man backpack (the one we gave him last year) and so there are several random, toys that he decided to bring. One was a treasured broken remote control car. Going to buy him a new one as soon as possible. So impressed with his orphanage. They gave us a camera filled with photos he had taken himself – we will go develop that film. They also gave us a USB flash drive with many photos from his childhood and a farewell that they taped on his last morning before the adoption. He was loved well.
The first morning together was so precious. He slept in bed with his dad and inched closer and closer through the night. Woke up to his smiles and giggles, jumping from bed to bed in delight. We went down to have breakfast and he was so excited – filled two plates full of food. He shoved food in his mouth faster than he could swallow. We ate a bit but then went down to the local coffee shop where we love the barista… she gets so excited to see us and practice her English.
We then went to the meet the officials at the notary office to finish signing papers. Duo went from a happy, bubbly kid to a confused, fearful boy. He sat in a chair, stiff and shaking, as we signed papers. We had planned to take a trip to the orphanage later this week to take photos, meet his friends, and see the spot he was found. But it was at this point that we decided to cancel our trip to the orphanage as we don’t want to harm the bonding/attachment process any further. While we would love to know more of his childhood we have to do what is best for him moving forward. So a change of plans means we will just stay in this city exploring parks, eating lots of food, and having fun together, all while he learns to trust us.
That smile. Thankful he feels safe and secure in our arms. Our Gotcha Day was better than I could have ever hoped for. He trusts enough to grieve in front of us and be comforted by us. Healing is happening.
A Father Prepares to Reunite with His Son
the first time we get to go camping together and he makes his first smore. I am thinking about the first time I nervously sit in the passenger seat of a car has he attempts to learn how to drive. I am thinking about his first date and how nervous he will be trying to get everything right. I think about the day he leaves for college, ready to take the world head on. I’m thinking about the day he gets married and how proud we will be when he finds the love of his life. I’m thinking about when he becomes a father and feels about his child the same way we feel about him. Tonight I should be thinking about every single detail that the next few days will hold, how stressful the trip could be, and worry if we have missed something. But I can’t.Tonight, I think of Duo and the many milestones that he will accomplish. I also think how blessed we are, that God will allow us to see every one of them. That is what I am thinking about tonight.New Kids on the Block
Hi there! My name Nyah and I am 6 years old. I have something called hydrocephalus, but some nice doctors gave me a surgery to fix it, and now I feel much better. My caretakers say I’m always smiling and that I am very giggly. One of my favorite games to play is hide and seek. My file is a little outdated so my friends at Great Wall are working hard to learn more about me! Contact them if you are interested in viewing my file! I hope to meet my Forever Family soon!
Hi there! My name is Paxton and I am 3 and a half years old. My doctor tells me I have CHD but I seem to be doing quite well. I am fond of listening to music, dancing and I like being read to. My caretakers say I am a happy and talkative little boy. I like playing outside a lot. My file is a little outdated so my friends at Great Wall are working hard to learn more about me! Contact them if you are interested in viewing my file! I hope to meet my Forever Family soon!
Hi! My name is Ella and I am an active little 7 year old girl! My doctor’s tell me I have Cerebral Hypoplasia and my muscles are a little tense but I don’t let this get in the way of being my happy self! My caretakers say I have great self-care ability and I am always focused on helping other people. I’m active, easygoing and always smiling! I love to run, jump and play with all my friends. This isn’t all the information about me so contact my friends at Great Wall to view my file!
Hi there! My name is Gia and I am 9 years old! My doctors tell me I have a delay in my motor and intelligence development but I don’t let this stop me from being a happy kiddo. I am closest to my caretaker but I am not afraid of meeting strangers. I am fairly extroverted and love to play outside with other kiddos! I’m also very fond of listening to music! My file is a little outdated so my friends at Great Wall are working hard to learn more about me! Contact them if you are interested in viewing my file!
Hi! My name is Justin and I am 4 years old! My doctors tell me I have a congenital vision impairment but I don’t let that stop me from being a happy kiddo! My caretakers describe me as a smart and diligent kid that pays close attention in class. My caretakers also say that when I see kids singing or performing on TV, I always clap and cheer them on! I love playing with other kids and my favorite activity is climbing in the recreation room. My caretakers also say that I have a great appetite. This isn’t all the information on me so contact my friends at Great Wall to review my file!
Hi there! My name is Priya and I am almost 10 years old. My doctor tells me I have something called congenital syphilis, and I have mild cerebral palsy, but I don’t let that get me down. I have great self-care skills, like bathing, getting dressed and eating all by myself. I am very active and enjoy playing with my friends. One of my favorite things to do is to play pretend where I am the doctor and the other kids are my patients. My caregivers say I am easygoing and that I like helping others do chores. There is even more information about me in my full file, so you can contact my friends at Great Wall if you would like to learn more about adopting me!
Hello there! My name is Harrison and I will be 3 in August! My doctors tell me I have congenital glaucoma but I do not let this stop me from being a happy and cheerful kiddo! My caretakers describe me as being an adored little boy who brings happiness to others. I am fond of listening to music and playing games with other people! I’m an active little guy yet I like my quiet time too! This isn’t all the information about me so contact my friends at Great Wall if you would like to see my file!
Hi! My name is Alexis and I am 2 years old! My file indicates that I have Cerebral Palsy and Nystagmus which refers to involuntary eye movements. My caretakers say that I love being hugged and accompanied while I play! I can crawl on my hands and knees and I can even walk with one of my hands being held! I’m extremely fond of listening to music and playing with toys with sound. This isn’t all the information about me so contact my friends at Great Wall that are learning more about me!
I Found My Forever Family!
We are THRILLED to announce that this handsome young man has a family that has begun submitting their paperwork to bring him home forever! We are so incredibly excited for him and his family, and we can’t wait for the day when they will be united!
To learn how you can get started with your adoption journey, contact mallory@gwca.org, or visit our photo listing today!
Read More
New Kids on the Block
Hi there! My name is Ethan and I am a little 3 year old boy! My doctors tell me I have something called PKU which means I have to be on a special diet. I was also born without testes. Despite this, I am a cheerful little one that loves listening to music and playing games! My caretakers say that whenever they sing to me, I dance and smile big and brightly! This isn’t all the information about me so contact Great Wall if you are interested in learning more about me!
Hi there! My name is Matthew and I will be 4 in August! I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate but some nice doctors performed surgery on me to repair it. My caretakers say I am an extroverted little guy that gets along well with other children. I love playing games, it’s my favorite! This isn’t all the information about me so contact my friends at Great Wall if you want to learn more!
Hello! My name is Grayson and I am 7 years old! I have some limb differences on my hands and feet but I don’t let that stop me from being a happy kiddo! My file is extremely outdated so my friends at Great Wall are working hard to learn more about me! Contact Great Wall if you are interested in learning more about me!
Read MoreI Found My Forever Family!
We are DELIGHTED to announce that this adorable young lady has a family that has begun submitting their paperwork to bring her home FOREVER! We are so incredibly excited for her and her family, and we can’t wait for them to come home!
To learn how you can get started with your adoption journey, contact Heidi@gwca.org, or visit our waiting child photo listing!
Read MoreNew Kids on the Block!
Hi there! My name is Immi and I am 11 years old. My doctors tell me that I have something called cerebral palsy, but I don’t let that get me down! I am an active, outgoing girl who loves playing outside with my friends. I live with my foster family and enjoy helping my foster mother when we are entertaining guests. My foster family says I am quite smart, helpful and polite. I hope my friends at Great Wall can find my Forever Family soon!
Hi there! My name is Raylan and I am 2 and a half years old. My doctors tell me that my muscles in my limbs are weaker than some of my friends, but I don’t let that keep me down! My caretakers have helped me get stronger and they say that I am a happy little boy. I like to play with other children and with my caretakers. I really like bath time and getting to splash the water playfully always brings a smile to my face. I hope my friends at Great Wall can find my Forever Family soon!
Hi there! My name is Thea and I am 9 years old. My doctors tell me I have something called congenital eyeball dysplasia, which means I can’t see, but I don’t let that get me down! I go to a special school for blind kids like me and I have a great time playing with the other children there! I have learned to read Braille so now I can learn about all sorts of subjects in school. I enjoy singing and making origami in the shapes of things like flowers and animals. My caretakers love me and say that sometimes I am very giggly. Even though I can’t see I live a pretty normal life when I am familiar with my surroundings. I hope my friends at Great Wall can find my Forever Family soon!
Hi there! My name is Tyson and I just turned 5 years old! My doctors tell me I have epilepsy but I don’t let that stop me from being a happy little kiddo! I love watching TV and drawing. My caretakers say that I am extremely compassionate and that I love to comfort other children when they are upset. I’m a very active and extroverted guy that is described as clever and cute by my caretakers! My file is a little limited so my friends at Great Wall are working hard to learn more about me! I can’t wait to find my forever family!
Hi there! My name is Halyn and I am 9 years old. My doctors tell me that I have some developmental delays and am a Hep B carrier, but that doesn’t keep me down! I have good motor skills, I am agile and I really enjoy dancing. I am quite outgoing and expressive. I have a good memory and am inquisitive, always trying to explore new things. I hope my friends at Great Wall can find my Forever Family soon!
Hi there! My name is Keon and I am 5 years old. My doctors tell me that I have a facial hemangioma, but other than that I’m doing really well! I am active and extroverted, enjoy playing outside on the see-saw and happily smile at people passing by. I like to play games with my friends and really enjoy playing with building blocks. I hope my friends at Great Wall can find my Forever Family soon!
Hello there! My name is Jonah and I am 3 years old. My file indicates that I have a slight delay in my physical development and that I have one testes. I was also born with an Inguinal Hernia and minor anemia. I don’t let any of these things keep me from being a happy little kiddo! I have some difficulty walking for long periods of time on my own. I currently live with a foster family and they have great things to say about my developmental improvements! I love playing with all sorts of toys and I especially love it when my foster father teases me! My friends at Great Wall are working hard to gather more information about me so I can find a forever family!
Read MoreI Found My Forever Family
We are absolutely DELIGHTED to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this handsome young man home forever! We are so incredibly happy for him and his forever family, and we can’t wait to see them come home!
To learn how you could be matched with one of our waiting children, visit our photo listing or contact heidi@gwca.org!
Read MoreWOW Kids
Hi there! My name is Hoyt and I am 3 years old. When I was young, some nice doctors corrected my anal atresia and the extra finger that was on my right hand. Now the doctors tell me I just have hypospadias and penile scrotal transposition. I live with a nice foster family who take good care of me! I even help my foster mom work in the grocery store and help take money from the customers. Though I am a little small for my age, I love to talk and run around! Making new friends is easy for me. I hope to find my forever family soon!
Hi there, my name is Maryam and I am 9 years old! I have something called cerebral palsy, which makes it a bit challenging for me to walk. However, I can still get around just fine as long as you are patient with me! I am enrolled in school at my orphanage and I am learning math, music, English, and art. My teachers say that I am cognitively behind my peers, but that I also have a lot of potential! I listen to instructions well, get along with other kids, and am always willing to share my food and toys with friends. My caretakers describe me as an affectionate little girl who loves to laugh and smile! I hope that my friends at Great Wall can help me find a family to share my happiness with!
Hi! My name is Ryker and I am 2 years old. My doctor tells me that I have something called PKU which means that my body metabolizes food differently than most other kids, but I don’t let that keep me down! I eat a special diet and now I have become cute and plump. I am a giggly little guy who loves one-on-one attention and lots of cuddles from my caretakers. I hope my friends at Great Wall China Adoption find my forever family for me soon!
Hello! My name is Eddie and I am 2 years old. My doctor tells me that I have a concealed penis and undescended testes. I also need some glasses! I live with a kind foster family who play music for me and take me outside. I am delayed compared to my peers and am not yet walking or able to stack blocks. I am able to grasp objects and know a few words. I can follow some directions and always pat my belly when I am full. My foster family hopes to stay in contact with my forever family once they find me!
An An is a lovely 6-year-old boy and an absolute delight. He has a joyful and cheerful disposition, a sweet spirit, and an infectious smile. He is smart and resourceful in his interactions and playing. He enjoys playing with cars, dolls and animals, flying helicopters, and almost any mechanical objects. He enjoys playing pretend games, like pulling pretend luggage around the house and pretending to cook and serve us with play food, plates, cups, saucers, etc. He loves music and often sings as he goes about his day, and he’s been enjoying learning to play his new harmonica. He interacts well with other children: in our case with our 7- and 8-year-old daughters. He also has a good memory and surprised us by quickly learning things like where all of our dishes go and where we turn to get to our house. He has adapted so well to life in a family, and loves the bedtime rituals of bathing, brushing teeth, getting into his pajamas, and reading; but he also has an endearing habit of making sure the proper lights are turned off, doors are locked where they need to be, etc. He clearly is proud to show he can take on big-kid responsibilities. An An has to work harder than most children to climb up steps and to get himself up off the floor. But he does navigate steps well, though he needs a boost at times getting into vans or other high places. He is able to walk normally, except that he has to be more careful than other kids in negotiating uneven surfaces, and steps. He doesn’t let this slow him down or limit his activities. On playgrounds, even with many unfamiliar children, he is not inhibited about climbing the equipment and riding down slides. He accepts help sometimes from us or from our children; other times he wants to show that he can do things alone even if it is harder for him. An An can sometimes act like a much younger boy. He has a strong stubborn streak, which will sometimes manifest itself in a tantrum. Those tantrums did lessen over the weeks, however. He also enjoys being held, cuddled, and paid attention to and will come and say “Mama bao bao” when he wants to be picked up and carried. As our 7-year-old (without prompting from us) wrote in her journal, “An An is the best boy I have ever met. He is cheerful and happy.” An An loves being a part of a family and will be a blessing and joy for whomever is lucky enough to adopt him. -An An’s Host Family
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I Found My Forever Family!
We are absolutely THRILLED to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this adorable young lady home forever! We are so excited for her and her forever family and we can’t wait to see them come home!
To learn how YOU could be matched with one of our waiting children, visit our photo listing, or contact GWCA today!
Read MoreWOW Kids
Ray is a sweet boy who is quiet and a little shy when he first meets people. He is smart and has been showing us how he can count in English. He has learned several words and he likes to learn. He gets along great with pets, though he is reasonably cautious as well. He is helpful around the house. He notices when something gets dropped or forgotten and he tries to alert someone or help. He does have a hard time transitioning away from something he likes doing. Video games of any kind are his favorite! But he will cooperate with very little coaxing most of the time. He is smart and sensitive. Ray is petite and he seems to tire of standing or walking sooner than some other children his age, yet that does not seem to keep him from doing most things. He has taken walks, played ball, and climbed stairs. He does sometimes need help with getting up into chairs or in and out of the bathtub, for example, but he is very independent and will try things on his own and ask for help when needed. He was very patient and brave at the dentist and the eye doctor and does best when he has time and information. Ray is just a great kid that will make a wonderful addition to a family.” –Ray’s Host Mom
Hi there! My name is Davis and I am 11 years old. My doctors tell me I have something called hydrocephalus. I recently had surgery to help relieve this condition, and my doctors say that I will need another surgery soon. However, I am optimistic and I don’t let that get me down! I love to tell people about my experiences and my caretakers say I have a rich vocabulary. I especially love being curious and asking questions about the world around me; I even know some phrases in English! My caretakers say I am often painting pictures, playing with my friends and using my active imagination. I hope my friends at Great Wall can help me find my forever family soon!
“Shea is a very sweet, playful 12 year old girl, who would love to live in the states. She loves to smile and her smile lights up the room when she walks in. She loves to laugh, and her laughter is contagious. Dressing up, and wearing pretty bows in her hair are one of her favorite things to do every morning. When we go grocery shopping, she is helpful. She pushes the shopping cart, picks up the wanted items, and helps to bag the groceries. Shea is a good eater, she will try all kinds of food and she is not one bit picky. She loves to color and practice writing letters. She gets along with everyone, and everyone adores her. She is behind her peers in speech and school, however, she is a great listener, and is able to follows easy, simple directions. She will make a wonderful addition to forever family!” -Shea’s Host Mom
Hi, my name is Lola and I am 6 years old! I was born with something called CHD, so I have to make sure that I don’t make my heart work too hard. When I was born, I also had a few problems related to my digestive tract, but some nice doctors fixed them for me when I was very young. Now I am feeling much better, although I do still face some challenges because of hearing loss in both of my ears. However, I don’t let that get me down! I am a fairly quiet kiddo, but I also enjoy being active and am close to my caretakers. I hope that my friends at Great Wall can help me find my forever family soon!
Hi, my name is Hayden and I am 5 years old! I am a polite and happy little kiddo who loves smiling! My doctors tell me I have something called brain dysplasia but I don’t let that keep me down! I like building things out of blocks and playing with my caretakers. My file is a little outdated so my friends at Great Wall are working on learning more about me!
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