Frank's Freedom

Meet Frank. He’s 13 years old, and is curious, busy, fun happy and bright. He has a mental delay, but that doesn’t stop him from being friendly, engaging and kind. He’s also an orphan in Eastern Europe. This means he is in an institution. If he is not adopted by age 16, he will be thrown out on the street with nothing but the clothes on his back and his “disabled orphan” status. Let me tell you more about Frank.

He’s little, about the size of a 7 year old. And he’s smart. He is in a group with teenage boys ages 16-24. He does puzzles and he does his chores diligently. He is very kind to the younger children. Frank is friendly and engaging. He likes being with the boys, but is happy being alone too. He plays appropriately with toys and is “all boy”. He could very easily function in a family. Frank is curious, smart, fun and sweet. He likes to play in the dirt and jump on the trampoline. Frank is independent, a good eater, is happy and content. Frank is physically healthy. He walks, runs, feeds himself, speaks, does puzzles and interacts with others well. He's a sweet boy who seems rather unaffected by his surroundings. He has no future where he's at, and without help, he's never getting out. Institutions are a one way ticket to nowhere. And this little boy deserves a future. This little boy will be a blessing to any family.

The Baker family has committed to adopt Frank and another boy, Emmitt. But international adoption is pretty expensive. The adoption would cost about $30,000. Reece’s Rainbow is an organization that helps with this cost. They set up grants for children in 25 countries around the world, and any money that is donated to these funds is given to the families to help with adoption fees. With Reece's Rainbow's help, the Baker family only needs about $10,000 to bring home both boys!





Thursday, June 27, 2013

Theo the Gentle

Everyone who has met Theo described him as a gentle, lovey, cuddly boy. He is very delayed, but would blossom in a family, if given the opportunity. He is a gentle delight to be around, and such a sweetie! 

He is stiff, due to having cerebral palsy, and not having the luxury of Physical Therapy to help him function better. He sits hour after hour in a wheel chair. As he gets older and bigger he will be moved to a bed and left there. He will be put in a diaper and left in bed – fed there and left – the diaper changed once or twice a day. He will no longer be taken outside he will just be left to lay there. Unless the workers take them to the pond or playground, they literally sit in a shed and do NOTHING all day.
He is truly a sweetheart with so much love to give. He is an incredibly loving little boy. He is so sweet and gentle and patient. He is appreciative of the smallest kindness. When someone visiting waved at him, his eyes came to life – he was noticed. Later when she returned he waved and smiled. She went and said hi to him and he lit up. The third day she went and gave him a balloon and you would have thought he won the lottery. If they were playing with balloons she would make sure he had one. He soon learned to pop the balloon. He thought it was hysterical. It also got him attention – everyone would look. He has a great smile and laughs easily. The balloon popping had him in hysterics. 

Theo is an absolute sweetheart. Gentle is what sums him up the best, his smile is ever ready and he loved being around people. He kind of melted into his joy every time they got close to him. 

Of all the kids there I think he has the most room for improvement. With a family that will stretch him and help him I think he has a ton of potential! He is speech delayed also but again has so much potential.

He speaks but not much, but he seems aware of his surroundings and delights in small pleasures. A missionary took him for a walk one day and they heard a cuckoo. She said "cuckoo!" and he repeated "cuckoo!" several times. The next day, when  she saw him, he said "Mama! Cuckoo!" He has the ability to remember people and events. He has the sweetest voice, and he actively seeks attention. He loves to sit on the swing and to listen to music or play with musical toys. He also was thrilled to be able to dip his hands and legs in the pond.
There have several pictures of him - none great cause every time someone goes to take it he is so excited with the attention he won't stop moving.

A missionary took the children to the playground, and she wrote all their names in English and gave them the papers. Theo was so excited to get his. He kept looking at it and saying his name again and again and showing her. Later, when they were back at the shed, she saw him looking at the paper and saying his name. Then he carefully put it in his pocket, which is hard for him because he has cerebral palsy. Then he sat with his hand covering his pocket so the paper would not fall out. After he was in bed, she rubbed his back and sang to him and he just smiled and smiled and patted her face. Theo would blossom in a family.


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