Waiting for Surgery...

This month we would like to highlight 6-year-old K, who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and hemiplegia.  K has had several surgeries in the past, but his orphanage reached out this spring to ask if we could help him get a surgery in Beijing that would help to both straighten and strengthen his weak ankle and leg.  

K is able to walk, but he is very unbalanced and has a significant limp.  Surgeons are hoping that this procedure will help him gain strength, flexibility and mobility.  Unfortunately, K traveled from his province to our Beijing medical home in May, just as the temperatures were beginning to rise.  

After his initial surgical consultations, the surgeons recommended that we wait until fall to do his surgery - because he will need many weeks recovering in a full body cast.  They worried that he might be very uncomfortable during the heat of the summer, and we agreed it would be best to wait for cooler weather.  In the meantime, our staff makes sure he gets his massage therapy and stretching exercises every day so that his upcoming surgery will have the best chance of success.

While he is waiting, K has plenty to do!  He enjoys interacting with the other children in the home and loves to go on outings to explore the surrounding area.  He happily participates in the crafts and educational activities in our early learning center.  And he is always delighted when our dedicated volunteers arrive to spend a morning playing, singing and laughing.
  

He tackles life with quiet smile and a maturity beyond his years. 

Because of your support, we are able to provide loving, nurturing care to children like K while he waits for, undergoes and recovers from his surgery.   We are so grateful to all who are making this possible!