Okay, I understand. Quite frankly, I was also someone who was confused about that until about a year ago. Suddenly, there was a picture of a beautiful little boy, nearly the exact same age as our youngest, lying in a ball pit. He was waiting for his parents to find him while he waited in an orphanage overseas. What? Orphanage? I had been so involved in domestic special needs adoption that I had no understanding of what was going on in other countries. It isn't that I thought they were the same; I didn't think about it at all.
I wanted to know more. I wanted to understand what was going on in other countries. I wanted to know what the process is for adopting special needs children in other countries. What I got was a wake up call.
I began to search for any information I could find and there is a lot! In many countries, children with special needs are considered a curse. If not a curse, a burden. There are few, if any services available to families with children who have special needs. So many families cannot afford to care for their children, let alone get them the help they need. Many families try to do it. They love their children and want to do what is best for them. Sadly, so many times they just cannot continue to care for them and they are left few options. So many children left to the care of underfunded or unfunded orphanages. Many do their best to care for the children. Many just do what is necessary. Some even less. At some point, and it varies greatly, most will be sent to an adult mental institution (usually by the time they are 14 but in many places it is much younger than that). Many, those who are able to minimally care for themselves, are sent into the streets to fend for themselves. It is beyond sad, and a scary proposition for these kids. Everyone deserves a family! Everyone deserves love! Sadly, so many get neither.
The story that changed me was Kyle. A beautiful little boy with Down Syndrome. When Kyle was a toddler, a family committed to adopting him...such an exciting time.
Sadly, that was never to be as the country Kyle lived in closed adoptions to American's. Kyle was sent to an adult mental institution, AS A CHILD! Kyle was neglected and abused...
Kyle did not survive more than a few months!
This is the reality! Children with special needs are discarded in many countries. I had to do something! Reece's Rainbow is the perfect place to "do something!" so I became involved. If you know something is so wrong, you have to do what you can.
We don't qualify or international adoption. If we did, and we felt so called, we would go get our children. That is not the case. Instead, we will help those who are desperately trying to free their children and bring them home. I will advocate for the children desperately waiting for their family to find and love them.
Everyone can do something! EVERYONE! You can pray for a child until their family finds them, you can donate to the adoption grant for a child awaiting a family. It is so much easier for a family to commit if the funds are in place. It is a costly undertaking. You can donate to a family who is in process (oh what a process!). Figure out what it is you can do! Maybe, you are one of those chosen to adopt one of these beautiful children...don't hesitate! Step out in faith! You will not be sorry! You will be given more than you could ever give! Choose a child, choose a family...do what you can!
The good news? That little boy in the ballpit that started me down this road...his family has found him and will be going to bring him home in the next several months!
