Introducing Little T!

 We'd like to introduce one of our newest arrivals, a baby girl named T who was abandoned as a newborn in October.  She appeared to be perfectly healthy, but diagnostic tests revealed a heart murmur and a congenital hepatitis infection.  Her orphanage asked if we could transfer her to our programs and provide the special care she would need.

The doctors do not feel that her heart defect needs immediate surgery and have decided to monitor that for the time being.  Little T travelled to Beijing so that she can consult with the specialists about her hepatitis infection.  Despite these medical issues, she is a very typical little baby, who loves to sleep! 😴  

T's caregivers say that she is a very easygoing little girl who loves to be held and rarely cries.  They also say that she is very alert and smiles easily.  And of course she is enthusiastic about her bottle!

The older children are very much in love with her and they never miss a chance to hold and cuddle her (with supervision, of course!).

We don’t yet know what the future holds for little T.  We are optimistic that her medical issues can be resolved and that her orphanage will be able to seek an adoptive family for her.  In the meantime, we are privileged to be her family, and to provide the love and medical treatment she needs to grow and thrive.  Thank you for your support; you make it possible for us to provide nurturing care and healing to little ones like T!

Spotlight on little Y!

 We've seen over and over how our programs are helping vulnerable children in China's welfare institutions to heal, grow and thrive.  Another example is four-year-old Y, who was born prematurely and diagnosed with a hypoxic brain injury.  

She was several months old when she arrived at our home, and the main issue we faced at that time was her severe allergies to regular formula.  We tried many different brands and types of formula, but she suffered from eczema and skin irritations for many months.

As she grew, we noticed some orthopedic issues affecting her legs and pelvis, which were initially treated with therapy.  

Further diagnostic testing confirmed that these issues were more extensive than we realized and that she would need surgery.  Little Y had that surgery this fall and is recovering well.

Y is a shy, quiet girl who is now in our Family Model of Care project and is attending classes at our early learning center.  

Her teachers and foster parents describe her as a smart and sensitive little girl who loves exploring the world and participating activities with the other children. 

We are so very grateful for all who support us in our work.  You are helping to make a difference for little Y, and so many others!

A beautiful little princess!

Little YX was abandoned as a baby 7 years ago.  She was born with a cleft lip and palate, so her orphanage asked us if we could accept her for care and arrange her surgery.  Little YX’s first cleft surgery was done by a team working with Love Without Boundaries, and then we arranged for her to travel to Beijing when it was time for her second surgery.  

We thought that might be the end of her medical issues, but she has also been diagnosed with a seizure disorder.  Fortunately, her seizures seem to have lessened and are not greatly affecting her daily life.  Like many cleft affected children, her speech is unclear at times, but she works hard so that others around her can understand what she is saying.

YX is now a cheerful, outgoing 7-year-old. She is a quick learner at math and loves solving word problems that are meant for her older siblings.  She’s definitely a girly girl, and has loved wearing pretty dresses since the time she learned to walk.  

One time she received a beautiful new dress. She put it on, lifted her dress, curtseyed slightly, and said, "Thank you, my Lady!" just as she had seen on TV shows.  Her foster mom burst into laughter, but she didn't. She held it there for a while, and then she broke out in a big smile.

Over and over, we’ve seen how our work is not only helping vulnerable children like YX to receive life changing medical treatment, but also providing stable, family-based care as they grow.  All of this is possible because of your prayers and support!

Little Y

Little Y was abandoned as a tiny baby 6 years ago.  She was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect.  Her orphanage asked us if we could accept her for care and arrange her surgery.

Y’s surgery was arranged in Beijing shortly after she arrived, though it took her many months to recover and become stronger.  Once she did, we began to see her sparkling personality emerge!  

Y is a very gentle, friendly girl who loves to sing and dance.  She watches the nannies in her home very carefully, and is always ready to help them in their tasks in caring for the younger children.  

Little Y has a very cheerful, outgoing personality, and has never met a stranger!  It’s moving to watch her care and tenderness toward the other children.  

We are so very grateful to all of you who support us!  Because of you, little Y has someone advocating for her needs and loving her for the very special, unique person that she is. 

Made for Love - The Story of a Little Pig

Children living in institutional care settings are often filled with complex feelings about home. An orphanage is a very unusual kind of "home", and some institutionalized children also face additional, complex issues such as adoption transitions, disrupted placements, or separation from parents due to imprisonment, mental illness or loss. For them, "home" is a confusing concept that can bring up many conflicting emotions.  What is home? Where do I belong? 

To help children identify and process their feelings, we designed a series of role play activities using the Conceptual PlayWorld* model. This approach allows strong emotions to be explored safely in an imaginary world, with trusted adults joining in to keep the play positive and supportive.

We recently held a weeklong session for a group of selected children in a partner orphanage who have been facing many of these concerns.  In our activity, the children stepped into the story world of Charlotte’s Web (book by E. B. White), took on the roles of farm animals, and extended the story beyond the book. By solving problems together in this make-believe setting, they began to discover the many meanings of "home". 

On the first day, the children became farm animals living on the Old Barn Farm, and they welcomed a weeping baby Wilbur (played by a teacher) who just arrived. As he had never lived on a farm before, Wilbur was scared and hesitant. With help from the farmer (another teacher) and the animals, he calmed down enough to start wondering what makes a place feel like "home". To answer, the animals created their own “homes” with craft materials, showing what home meant to them.

During the second session, the concept of home went beyond the physical structure and focused on relationship and connections. At night, Wilbur often felt too sad and scared to sleep. Together, we discussed what could bring warm and comforting feelings of a home and brainstormed ways to help Wilbur feel more at home on the farm. 

In the third session, the children explored how homes can change. A little robin arrived with news of a new farm across the mountain, inviting the animals to visit. Each animal chose whether to stay, go for a short visit, or even move. They packed what mattered most—both objects and memories. Because this was imaginary play, the children could think about change safely and playfully.

The final session ended with a joyful reunion and feast. Animals who had traveled shared their experiences, while those who stayed told of fun at home. Together they decided whether to travel again, realizing that home may take different forms but is always about protection, companionship, and belonging.

This brief week-long activity may not have provided all the answers, but it offered a beginning, and the reassurance that wherever they are, someone will be weaving a web by their side, offering care and a sense of home.

*Fleer, M. (2018). Conceptual PlayWorlds: the role of imagination in play and learning. Early Years. DOI: 10.1080/09575146.2018.1549024

Launchpad 🚀 - Adventures in Coffee!

The participants in our Launchpad program are always learning.  They are exploring many different job skills that might be suitable for them to earn a living in the future.  Although China is famous for its tea, coffee is also a very popular beverage in many larger cities.  This month they decided to see what making (and drinking) coffee is all about!

Here's what they had to say about it:

"Italian espresso is so concentrated!  It's so intense that it seems to awaken all the taste buds, with a bitter, fragrant and rich flavor. The interweaving on the tip of the tongue brings a strong sense of impact.

Americano coffee has a refreshing taste, with a hint of bitterness and a light aftertaste of sweetness. It's like the breeze on a late summer afternoon, simply but refreshing. 

Cappuccino is a blend of milk and coffee, with a soft and dense foam. With just one sip, it seems to make the scorching summer gentle. 

Caramel macchiato adds the sweetness of caramel to the rich coffee, with a distinct taste layer. The interweaving of sweetness and bitterness is just like the bittersweet flavors of life.

Different coffee is like different moods; some are refreshing and straightforward, some are gentle and delicate, some are intense and unrestrained, and some carry a touch of romance.

Every time a cup of coffee is brewed, we will gather together and take turns to taste it. Some of us prefer the refreshing American style, some like the sweet macchiato, and others are fonder of the rich Italian espresso. Our different preferences have brought about a lively discussion.  It is no longer just about learning about coffee, but more of an exchange of thoughts and tastes.

From each other's descriptions, we learn to use more words to describe flavors, and from different feelings, we discover that life can be savored so delicately. 

Every bean, every grind, and every sip reminds us to treat our daily life more meticulously. Coffee teaches us far more than just the brewing method and the difference in taste... it is also a mindset.

Of course, we learned many other things in August... more than just coffee. Each of us continues to expand our culinary skills... we are trying new dishes in the kitchen and occasionally get together to make dumplings - a simple activity, but always a celebration.  These experiences help us understand that the meaning of life does not lie in how grand it is, but in whether we experience it with our hearts.

Even in the hustle and bustle of life, it's important to set aside some time to slow down and enjoy a moment of fragrance and tranquility. May we continue to maintain such enthusiasm and the spirit of exploration in the days to come!"

Little H

 Baby H was born with Down syndrome and imperforate anus.  This gastrointestinal defect is more prevalent in children diagnosed with Down syndrome, and is a life-threatening situation that requires multiple surgeries, with the first needed immediately after birth.  

Little H did have his first colostomy surgery right away, while he was still with his birth family.  We suspect that his family did not receive the diagnosis of Down syndrome until some time later.  He was about two months old when he was abandoned and taken to an orphanage.  The orphanage asked us right away if we could provide the special nursing care he needed, so he came to stay in our infant care project.

Our initial evaluation revealed that his colostomy was prolapsed and did not look entirely normal, so we transferred him to Beijing for a consult with the specialists.  Fortunately, he did not need hospitalization or ongoing treatment, so he returned to our baby home after a brief period of observation.

Little H will need additional surgeries once he gets bigger and stronger.  His nannies are working hard to help him gain weight.  He is an easy-going baby who smiles and giggles easily.  When you speak to him, he talks right back, but we don’t fully understand what he is saying yet! 😊

We don’t know what the future holds for little H, but we are privileged to be his "family", offering nurturing care, advocating for all of his needs, and of course -  loving him for the very special, unique person that he is.