Dumplings

 

In October 2019, we launched a new project with one of our partner orphanages in a small city in a northern province in China. We are currently providing specialized care to 45 children in this project. The children range in age from one month — twin brothers!– to 15 years old.

 

Food is an integral part of the day for these children as it not only provides nutrients but also helps them to build a special bond with caregivers. We have been in lock-down for two months now in response to COVID-19, and so, to provide something exciting to look forward to each day, the caregivers have been cooking all kinds of treats!

 

Under Lily’s  supervision, our “chefs” have been cooking up a storm. The menu has included meatball soup, noodles, wantons, dumplings (jiǎozi), stuffed steamed buns (bāozi), banana pancakes, muffins… the list goes on and on.

 

  

 

Yesterday, we made over 80 dumplings, which were gobbled up by 13 kids! Being stuck inside during this difficult time might be hard but at least these children haven’t lost their appetites!

2019 Annual Report

We provide comprehensive care including medical interventions, specialized daily care, therapy, and education all within a loving environment that fosters positive emotional growth for at-risk children from orphanages and impoverished families in China.

2019 HIGHLIGHTS:

In 2019, 57% of new arrivals were male and 43% were female.

4 children were just one day old when transferred into our care. The oldest child was 14 1/2 years old.

Orphanage PARTNERS:

We partnered with 10 different Chinese Welfare Institutes in 2019.

FOREVER FAMILIES:

A total of 51 children transferred out of our care. From those who transferred out, the average length of time receiving care with us was fourteen months (438 days).

MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS IN 2019:

59 LIFE-SAVING SURGERIES AND IN-PATIENT TREATMENT
315 OUT-PATIENT VISITS

Examples of various surgeries we arranged in 2019 include surgeries to repair imperforate anus, esophageal atresia, congenital heart defect, cleft lip, cleft palate, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and congenital hernia.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY:

 Thank You for Your Support!

Snowy Days!

Here in Northern China, a snowy day calls for a photo shoot!

    

It was so fun to see the nannies bundling up all the children! Many of them ended up waddling down the hallway because of all their layers. 

The orphanage staff clears the sidewalks for us, so to play in the snow we had to head for the playground. A few of the kids were more interested in playing on the playground sets than playing with the snow covering it.

For the most part, the kids loved the snow. They made snowballs and threw them up in the air to create their own personal snow shower. A few focused on their footprints in the snow and the patterns their shoes made. Of course, there were a few who were very uninterested in the snow.

Snow is a great sensory tool. It’s cold, wet, powdery, and shiny. It’s very different from most of the things the children are exposed to. Some would touch it and shiver, some pulled back, surprised by how cold it was. Others put it directly in their mouths. 

 

We all had so much fun playing in the snow, but I think we are all ready for spring to come and the snow to go away! Until then, we will enjoy our occasional ventures out and find more fun ways to play inside!

Christmas Celebrations!

Here at the Dew Drops Little Flower homes, we had a fun time celebrating Christmas with gifts, special treats and new clothes. Here are some of the adorable little Santas –
 

 
Next up we have some more Santas from the Bao Bao room –
 
 

  
And the Guo Guo room –
  

Finally, we have the older children from the Duo Duo room –
 

 
 
From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Qi, Our Bundle of Joy

Baby Qi was abandoned as a newborn baby.  After months of being carried in the womb of her biological mother,  she was born prematurely and then abandoned.

Around the same time,  Chelsie got a phone call asking her if she would go to an orphanage to help pick up two preemie children and bring them to the Dew Drops Little Flower Beijing home.  Chelsie had been volunteering with Little Flower for a while and such requests were usual. She had helped transport other children on overnight trains to Beijing. She said yes.  She didn't know it at that time,  but that yes had such a big impact on her life.

Chelsie ended up being Qi's primary caregiver for a few months.  As a NICU nurse,  Chelsie knew how to monitor Qi's heart,  help her when she had difficulty breathing, and help her with feeding.  Hours of skin on skin kangaroo care built a strong bond between these two.

And as time went by, we saw lots of small changes in Qi as she grew! Around 8 months later,  Chelsie returned to the U.S. to start a travelling nurse position.

Meanwhile, under the continuous love and care of the Dew Drops nannies, Qi kept growing. She is now 22 months old,  walking (or rather running around),  and saying a few words. She is our bundle of joy!

Chelsie is now back in China again, not to volunteer with us for another year, but instead to adopt Qi! Qi's story like all of the children in our care started in a place of pain. Her pain will remain with her in some form through her life, but she is starting a new part of her story today-- with her own forever family! Sometimes when life unfolds, beauty, hope, and joy pours out to cover the brokenness and pain. We are so happy for Chelsie and Little Qi and can't wait to see the rest of their story unfold!