This month’s featured child is Ya, Bai's (last month's
featured child) younger foster sister. Ya came to the Little Flower Baby Home
in late May 2012, when she was a one and a half years old. After about six
months, she joined her Group Home family and has since been living at Group
Home #6, together with Ji, Ling, Tao and Bai.
Ya was diagnosed with Bladder extrophy, and was admitted to
the hospital for surgery as soon as she arrived. Actually, when she first
arrived at Little Flower, Ya's name was "Su," and "she" was
thought to be a boy!! Just looked at that short hair.
It was during pre-op testing that it was discovered that
"Su" was actually a girl. Upon learning this, her orphanage changed
her name to Ya. Here's a photo of Ya with her nanny in the hospital, who was
doing a great job with the huge challenge of her post-op care (keeping her
still, for one!)
After many weeks of bed rest, doctors finally allowed her to
get up and start walking again. She was weak, but very happy to be out of bed.
She recovered, and this little "boy" has since
become a healthy little girl.
The only remnants of her Bladder exstrophy are occasional
urinary tract infections. Painful infections didn't help to increase her faith
in doctors, and like most kids, she doesn't much like going to the hospital or
seeing the doctor. But being a very brave girl, she's confident enough to deal
with these challenges.
Ya is clever and has a very strong character. She knows her
own mind! When she joined the Early Education center one year ago, she was only
2 and a half years old - one of the youngest kids at the school. But she would
never feel like the youngest student in class. If you asked her, "What is
your name?" her answer would most probably be "Jiejie", which
means "older sister." Actually, that's how she likes to introduce
herself to new people. Linda, who volunteered teaching English at our school
recently, called her Jiejie for a whole week until she realized it wasn't
her real name.
Here's a photo of Ya learning how to use chopsticks. Just
look at that concentration!
For Ya, there is a big gap between right and wrong; there is
no gray area in between. Rules have to be followed by everybody. And Ya really
does make sure that those rules are followed by everyone, even her teachers!
One time, she found Maria, our Curriculum Manager and teacher, eating with a
fork and a spoon. The kids, however, usually only use either a fork OR a spoon.
Ya straightened Maria out right away!
Seeing herself as the "older sister" among her
classmates, Ya always wants to take the lead. Before lunch, there are always
two children assigned to help prepare the tables by wiping them down and
setting out the utensils. Ya will often serve as the "third helper,"
checking that her classmates have done everything correctly.
This outgoing and talkative little girl never has problems
making new friends. She can talk and talk, conducting long conversations even
with strangers. She is adorable and lovely, and she knows it!
