Friday Found

Sometimes it's more than you dared hope...

This sweet boy is Anthony.


Anthony has CP, like Valentin. Here's what Reece's Rainbow said about him:

From his medical records: Spastic tetraparesis, motor disorders, convergent squint, hip dysplasia, anemia

His muscles are very tight, and he will need significant amounts of therapy. He is not able to sit by himself, and is dependent on his care givers for just about everything. He has a secondary myocardiopathy as well. Quite a laundry list for such a darling boy.

It would take love and courage and faith, to step forward to be this boy's mom and dad. And someone has! Today, there was Anthony's face on the My Family Found Me page!

And this is Pauline.


Recently on Pauline's profile there were a list of qualifications for anyone wishing to adopt her. The requirements specified a married couple living in a specific state, with other requirements as well. Reading it, you might think--well, how is a family meeting all those requirements to be found?

And yet, not three weeks (I think) after the qualifications were posted, Pauline's picture was on the "Found" page!

You know what I think? I think that Pauline's family saw those qualifications and recognized themselves there. They realized that they fit that profile. And I bet it gave them courage to step forward and say, "That's our daughter! We're bringing her home!"

Kind of like when someone has come home from a journey, bringing presents to distribute. And they gather their family around, and say something like: "Now this present is for a boy...about eight years old...with brown eyes...who loves airplanes..." And the little boy recognizes himself in the description and runs forward laughing to receive his gift.

Pauline's family is running forward for their gift. So are Anthony's family. Rejoice!


P.S. Another family just brought their two precious gifts home, and one of their little girls is needing extra care in the hospital. Julia tells more about it here. Pray for this little one and her family!

Faces of Cerebral Palsy

As I've mentioned, Valentin has cerebral palsy. He is able to stand with help, but he really needs therapy--and a family to help and encourage him!


What does a diagnosis of cerebral palsy mean? Actually it's sort of an umbrella term. A person with cerebral palsy has damage to the cerebellum, resulting in difficulty with his or her muscles. The most common kind of cerebral palsy is called spastic; it involves muscles that are tight.

Here is Keaton. He turns five next month. Doesn't he have a sweet little face? Keaton has CP and internal hydrocephalus.


Ryland, with his dark hair and dark eyes, has some Roma heritage. He has CP, but he can walk on his own and even climb up the ladder to a playground slide!

CP can be very mild, or more severe. Even someone with mild CP, like Ryland, can benefit from physical therapy.

This beautiful girl is Elena. Although she is visually impaired, her eyes seem to be looking into beautiful things!

Her CP affects her left side more than the right. CP may affect all four limbs, or only one side, or the legs more than the arms.

And look at Stellan! What beautiful dark eyes!


He is in the same orphanage as Valentin, and looks almost as though he could be his younger brother. Stellan will be three next month. *



They all have CP. They all need families. They are all so loved by God.



*friday, 24 June -- Stellan's profile currently isn't viewable on Reece's Rainbow, because the laws about international adoption are being revised in his country. I didn't anticipate that when I wrote about him! But prayers for him are still important!