Categories China Adoption Blog

WOW Kids

These adorable little ones are this week’s Not So Terrible 2’s. All of these kiddos are right around 2 years old. It is very common that families look for a child under the age of two to adopt. It’s unfortunate the older a child gets the less likely they are to be adopted. These precious faces are fast approaching that first threshold that makes them less ‘desirable’. Their needs are a little more complex than some, but they are still children in need of that one family who will care for them, love them, and give them the chance that they deserve. To learn more about these waiting children or our other waiting children, contact one of our International Adoption Consultants at 512.323.9595.

Hi, I’m Travis and I am 2 years old. I love when my caregivers tell me stories and I can stare at the books. The doctors say that I have cerebral palsy. I am sitting up on my own and standing with a little bit of help. My caregivers say that I am one happy little boy. I love to listen to stories and try to babble. I can put blocks into a cup and bang them together loudly. My favorite toy is my rattle and I love when my caregivers tickle me! I am able to climb into my own bed and walk with holding onto supports. My caregivers think that my cognitive abilities are on target with my friends. I am able to understand daily words and interact with my friends!

Hi, I’m Madeline! I am a quiet two year old little girl. When I was born, I was premature and my doctors say that I have a heart defect: patent ductus arteriosus; aortic incompetence; pulmonary hypertension(severe); and tricuspid incompetence(mild). I am a bit delayed compared to my friends in the orphanage because of my heart. Regardless, I love to get around and play with toys. I am able to walk several steps if someone helps me and I can understand when adults instruct me. I like to try and imitate the aunties in the orphanage. I am working hard to learn words and imitate sounds. I am most happy when I get snacks and I get along well with others too.

Hi! I’m Zachary and I love to smile! I have Cerebral Palsy and though I cannot walk or crawl I can sit up all by myself. I like to rock on the rocking horse in the orphanage. I will hold on to the rail and will kick my feet so that the horse will go super fast! I enjoy playing with toys and I love getting hugs. I am working on saying more words and my caretakers love paying games with me. When they sing it is such a pretty sound that I really enjoy!

Hi, I’m Lila and I am almost 2 years old! I have been diagnosed with Down syndrome. I also have been diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and mild anemia. I am a great eater and I love to eat all sorts of new foods. In June of 2012, I was working on rolling over and holding my head up. I love to listen to music and I am super smiley! My file is older so my friends at GWCA are trying to get more information about how I am doing today!

Hi, I’m Hudson and I am 2 and a half! I love to ride on my toy horse. I was born with a facial cleft, but I had surgery for it and it has been repaired. I can hear my caregivers when they speak to me, follow their voices, and look for my toys when they are hidden. My caregivers think that I am able to fully hear. I am able to speak and identify objects that are asked. I can call for my caregivers and identify them by name. My facial cleft has had no affect on my eating or drinking! I can identify all my body parts and my caregivers think that I am very smart! I know my animals, colors, and my fruits and veggies!

Summer Hosting Adoption Scholarships

GWCA/CAN is SUPER excited to announce that we are giving away up to $25,000 in ADOPTION SCHOLARSHIPS for the 2014 SUMMER HOST CHILDREN! This applies to any families that move forward to adopt a child they host from the 2014 Summer China or Philippines hosting programs. Every sibling group in the Philippines WILL have a scholarship. Scholarship amounts are subject to a committee decision on amounts and who receives the scholarship.

Get Started!

• Families must submit proof of income, scholarship application form and motivation letter to be considered.
• Families must be adopting through the 2014 Summer China and Philippines hosting programs. Scholarships are not applicable to past host families or for any children who were not hosted.
• Families must have turned in an agency application and contract to adopt in order to be granted a scholarship prior to August 15th.

Early applications will be accepted and given special consideration (an agency application and contract can be turned in at any time before August 15th, however scholarship applications will not be reviewed until these are received.)
Scholarship awards will be announced by August 29th and recipients will receive a notification from GWCA/CAN. Scholarship applications will be distributed to families who have applied to adopt through GWCA/CAN. Please contact your adoption counselor for a scholarship application if you have already applied to adopt through GWCA/CAN.

WOW Kids

Hi, I’m Leo and I am almost 2 years old. I love to go to the park and play with my foster family! I have been living with them since I was very little. I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and CHD. Since I have been with my foster family, I have been taking supplements in order to get stronger. I am able to follow my caretakers voices and locate them when they call my name. I used to have some high muscle tension in my legs, and I am working on getting them stronger. My file is a little bit older, but my friends at Great Wall are working on getting more information!

Hello! My name is Ellie and I am an energetic and restless girl. I am very talkative and I love listening to music. After coming into care, I was able to live with a foster family and adapted well. I learned how to walk steadily, progressed in communication and was able to recognize familiar people. My doctors say that I am cognitively delayed compared to the other children and suffered from an external hemorrhoid. I am taking medicine for treatment and am now living back in the orphanage so that I can go to kindergarten. I know a huge amount of words and can recognize many objects. I get along well with others and am a joy to be around.

Hi, I’m Sawyer and I love to play with anything with wheels. I have a deformed wrist and a dropped foot and it causes me to walk a little bit slower, but it doesn’t stop me from playing and being super active. I came into care when I was 3 years old and I have not been sick since then. I am doing great in school at the orphanage and I make excellent grades! My caregivers say that I am talkative and I am kind. I love to play with any type of toy and I especially love to build towers out of blocks!

Hi! I’m Gavin! I just started school at home last September and am learning a lot! I know my numbers and can count different objects I see. I am still working on learning my colors. I like to charm others and I love getting to play with my friends. My doctors helped me correct my cleft in my palate and lip and they also tell me that I am a Hep B carrier. I can hear well but I do have to eat softer foods. My favorite things are watching little bear cartoons and playing with cars and legos.

Hi, I’m Landon and I just turned 2! When I was younger, I had a CT scan done of my brain and it shows that I have something called “Limitation missing of occipital bone, including occipital meningocele, including congenital dysplasia.” I am behind my friends in my physical development. I am able to follow toys with my eye sight, turn my head to find noises, and recognize when someone is calling my name!

WOW Kids

Oh boy, we have so many boys! We try to feature our beautiful boys fairly often because there is such a need for families that are interested in adopting boys. Forty percent of our adoptions from China in 2013 were little boys. We have come a long way to bring these little guys home. However most people don’t realize how many boys are actually waiting. There are over 1200 boys waiting to find their forever families. Many of these boys have very minor needs and may be just a little bit older. It’s a common misconception that there are only girls waiting in China but that idea is far from true. To learn how to bring one of these precious boys home contact Ashley@gwca.org.

Hi, I’m Grady and I am 11 years old! I have been diagnosed with chondrodysplasia dwarfism. I am very active even though my limbs are very short. I am able to walk, run, and go upstairs independently. I don’t go to informal classes due to my size, but I am learning and reciting poems. I know my fruits, animals, and vegetables. I help out my caregivers with the tasks that I am able to. I help to stack chairs and clean the tables. I am able to fully follow directions of my caregivers and communicate all of my wants and needs. Besides the size of my arms and legs, I am healthy!

Hi, I’m Travis and I am 2 years old. I love when my caregivers tell me stories and I can stare at the books. The doctors say that I have cerebral palsy. I am sitting up on my own and standing with a little bit of help. I am not able to walk just yet, but I am working on it! My caregivers say that I am one happy little boy. I love to listen to stories and try to babble. I can put blocks into a cup and bang them together loudly. My favorite toy is my rattle and I love when my caregivers tickle me!

Hi, I’m Andy and I am 3 years old. I am always smiling and great at knowing who my caregivers are! When I was younger, I had a CT scan done of my brain and it shows that I have Left porencephaly. The doctors also have diagnosed me with Cerebral Palsy. I am currently living in a rehabilitation facility to get therapies. I am able to walk with holding onto something, and I can pull myself up independently. I am able to follow instructions, but I am not asking questions yet. My caregivers think it is because I am shy and unsure of my words. However, I can answer questions with gestures and sounds. My caregivers say that my cognitive development seems to be on target and I am doing great!

Hi, I’m Will and I can be a little shy and quiet. When I came into care, I was malnourished and a little small for my age. The orphanage noticed that I was vomiting a lot, so they took me to the doctor and I had a malrotation in my intestines. The doctors did a Ladd procedure and I have been doing well ever since. My left arm does not look like my friend’s arm. I do not have the radius or ulna in my left arm and I have 3 fingers. I can hold a toy and put on my clothes with using this arm. I am currently going to kindergarten and I am doing great in school. I am able to speak in full sentences and ask questions. I am still a little bit smaller than my friends, but it does not slow me down!

Hi! My name is Josh and I am a very active and extroverted boy. I have congenital optic atrophy of both my eyes but I can still track light. I love to play games with my caretakers and I rarely get fussy. I can crawl around and even go in reverse too! I like to sit up and play with toy balls that make sound. It I can hear it I can follow it. I understand simple dialogue and can recognize familiar people by their voice. I am sensitive and happy most of the time. I like to suck on my fingers when I get tired and my favorite thing to do is listen to music.

WOW Kids

There is something special about a few of our WOW kids this week. Maisey, Mary and Brandon are all wonderful children from one of our Orphanage Partnerships. GWCA works with several orphanages exclusively to help support the care of the children. This also means we have an extra special relationship with these orphanages and their staff and we are able to communicate with them more frequently to better understand these children and their needs. Many of the children from these partnerships are exclusively advocated for by our agency. We recently received several files on children from one of our partnerships. Many of the kiddos have been matched but there are also some that have not. Check out our photo listing to see more of these waiting kiddos.

Hi! My name is Mary. I am a sweet little girl who has been diagnosed with postoperative anal atresia/fistula, vitreous opacity of right eye, a neoplasm of right ear, and congenital microphthalmus of both eyes. I am able to crawl around but I cannot walk on my own just yet. I still need support while standing up and if you help me I can walk slowly. My caretakers have a walker for me so that I can get around better. With my walker I am able to go places, sit, and stand up. I am learning how to eat with a spoon but I cannot see things that are far away due to my vision. I get along well with others and enjoy playing with the other children. My caretakers think I am very energetic and active.

Hi! My name is Brandon and I am going to turn 2 years old very soon! I am receiving excellent care in my foster home and I am adored by my caregivers. I love to show them love and affection too. My doctors say that I have a portal deformity and an atrial septal defect, orthophoria of both eyes; a hydrocele; and an enlarged spleen. I am growing stronger everyday. I can stand with assistance, crawl, and can follow directions. I can imitate words but I cannot feed myself or walk independently at this time. I am always smiling and am eager to find my forever family soon! (Only a family with a registered dossier can be matched with this child.)

Hi! My name is Maisey and I am a very active girl! I have arthrogryposis and am receiving care by Hand in Hang Volunteers. An organization called Love Without Boundaries also is helping me to stay with a foster family who are very nice. I am growing taller every day and I love getting to play with the other children. I am working on sitting alone steadily and grasping things with my hands. I like to smile and I am very clever!

Hi, I’m Hyde and I am almost 4 years old! I came into care when I was only 2 days old. When I was found, I had a meningocele and it has not been repaired yet. When I was just over a year old, I was crawling by myself, stacking block, and taking blocks in and out of a cup. I could hold things in my hands and bang them together. I was also imitating words and trying to call my caregivers by name. My caregivers say that I am energetic and I love to smile. One of my favorite things to do is look at picture books. Now, I am able to walk, run, and climb! I am still using diapers because I have a difficult time controlling my bowel movements. I am talking up a storm and I can fully communicate with adults. I know shapes, colors, animals, and names of my peers. My caregivers say that I am very clever!

Hi, I’m Blakely and my 12th birthday is in March! I have been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. I came into the orphanage when I was just over 2. When I was younger, I went to the doctor because I was very pale. They found out that I have anemia so I take a daily supplement. I have been getting many therapies through the “Tomorrow Plan” and, boy, have I improved! I am now learning with my friends in school and able to keep up with them. I am not walking or sitting up on my own, but I am able to function fully in my wheelchair. I can hold a pencil and write all my numbers and letters. My caregivers say that I am very sweet and hardworking. I have a beautiful smile and I am always in a great mood!

WOW Kids

Hi, I’m Flynn and I love to play with my friends! I used to have a cleft lip and palate, but I had my cleft lip repaired when I was younger and then my palate repaired in 2010. When I was 2, I had a CT scan that showed that I had mild hydrocephalus. Now that I am bigger, I have been doing great and been healthy! I am doing awesome in school and make wonderful grades. My caregivers say that I am one phenomenal helper and I help around my home with the younger kiddos. They even tell me that they trust me a lot! I am not too picky with my food, but I LOVE to eat anything spicy!

Hi, I’m Nicki! I am 9 and a half. I have been living in a foster family since 2006. When I came to the orphanage I was just over 2 years old. I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Since then, the orphanage has been working with me and I have made so much progress. I am able to walk with holding on to items and I am going to school. My caregivers say that I am extroverted, kind, and love to play with my friends. I am able to express my needs with my words, and I am very clever!

Hi, I’m Jeanne and I am 10 years old. I am super smart and I love to draw. I am postoperative for a hernia and I have a congenital dislocated hip. Because of my dislocated hip, I also have a curvature in my spine. Sometimes, in the winter I get eczema on my hands and feet. Even though my walking might look a little funny, it doesn’t stop me from running, climbing, jumping, squatting, or doing any activities that I want! I am studying in school with my friends and I make excellent grades. I speak Mandarin and I am able to fully express my wants and needs. I am overall just a great little girl. My caregivers say that I am active, outgoing, and very helpful. I had an evaluation done by an advocacy group and they said that I was ahead of my friends in my learning and expressive abilities! I have been taught about adoption and I would love to find a family of my own!

Hi, I’m Grady and I am 11 years old! I am very active even though my limbs are very short. I am able to walk, run, and go upstairs independently. I go to informal classes due to my size, but I am learning and reciting poems. I know my fruits, animals, and vegetables. I help out my caregivers with the tasks that I am able to. I help to stack chairs and clean the tables. I am able to fully follow directions of my caregivers and communicate all of my wants and needs. Besides the size of my arms and legs, I am healthy!

My name is Blake. I have a birthday coming up soon and I will be turning 4 years old! Since last summer I have been living with a foster family and this year I started kindergarten. Since I have been diagnosed with Down syndrome and a heart defect I still need daily help from my foster family, but I am trying to do more like a big boy. Even though I am still a little delayed, I can go up and down the stairs all by myself have good basic fine motor skills. I can understand what my foster family says to me but sometimes they cannot understand my words clearly. It can be hard trying to find the words to express myself but I still enjoy playing with the other children. I am always energetic and try to keep a ready smile for the day!

WOW Kids

Hi, I’m DJ and I am 4 years old. I am a wonderful helper around the orphanage! I came into care when I was 2 years old because I had a meningocele. I had surgery for this in 2011 and my growth and development are on target! I am a little behind in my language development, but I can understand instructions and I always try to do things independently. I am working on getting potty trained, but it can be a little difficult since I had my meningocele. I am able to do all the same things as my friends physically. I love to throw and catch my ball! I like to watch cartoons, try new foods, and play with my friends.

Hi, I’m Haley and I am 12 years old! When I was younger I had clubbed feet, but I had surgery to correct this. After my surgery, I had to wear corrective shoes but now you cannot tell that I ever had problems walking! I am going to school and I am currently in the Special Education classes because of how my feet look, I am not able to attend regular classes. My friends at Half the Sky help me to learn more and they say that I am very studious and kind. I love to help around the house. I always help my foster mother to clean because she works so hard.

Hi, I’m Hudson and I am 2 and a half! I love to ride on my toy horse. I was born with a facial cleft, but I had surgery for it and it has been repaired. I can hear my caregivers when they speak to me, follow their voices, and look for my toys when they are hidden. My caregivers think that I am able to fully hear. I am able to speak and identify objects that are asked. I can call for my caregivers and identify them by name. My facial cleft has had no affect on my eating or drinking! I can identify all my body parts and my caregivers think that I am very smart! I know my animals, colors, and my fruits and veggies!

Hi, I’m Tim and I am 8 years old. I used to have something called clubbed feet, but I had surgery in 2007 and I am doing great! My right foot is still slightly clubbed, but I am able to fully walk on my own and participate in all activities. I have been very healthy since then, too! I go to school and I am a great student. I love to play with my friends and be active!

Hi! I’m Kendall and I just turned 2 years old. Although I am a quiet girl I am close to my caretakers. My left eye has corneal degeneration and I am missing my right eye. I still have troubles with my hearing and it has made it hard to keep up with the other kids my age. I can stand up on my own but I need a little help walking around. I am really good at recognizing the voice of familiar people and when I hear music I sure do like to dance around.