Janna is facing eminent transfer

FACING EMINENT TRANSFER

Those are words that should never be written about a child.  Especially one as frail, tender, and lovely as Janna. 

Janna is living on borrowed time at the orphanage.  She is 8 years old, which is years beyond when most kids get transferred to mental institutions.

I have never personally seen a mental institution in Eastern Europe, but the first hand accounts I have read about are horrendous.  And those of you who have read about our Daniel know that a "laying room" is already horrible enough, if you wonder how it could get worse for a child you can read this post and this post or watch this documentary.

This is quite possibly Janna's last chance to have any life outside the bars of a crib.  And I have no idea if she would even survive the inside of a mental institution.  I wish I were exaggerating, sadly I don't think I am.

FACING EMINENT TRANSFER

I will never forget reaching slowly in her crib to touch her and watching her whole body flinch as if I were going to hit her.  Could it be that she was so afraid of human contact?  Once she accepted my touch it was as if I could feel her relief.  I still, even a year later, struggle to find the words to articulate how she reacted to gentle touch.  It was like her whole body melted in relief and appreciation.  I still cry thinking of it.  How could a child be so starved for affection?

You can read more about my time with Janna here but there is one thing I firmly believe, she would be a beautiful addition to someones family.  I know it can be confusing and scary considering adopting a child with a more 'severe' special need.  The last thing I want to do in this post is make it sound easy, it is not.  But as I sit here and watch Daniel build a tower with blocks, I can say it is a journey worth taking.  For any family considering adoption Janna (and please Father, may there be families) I want to tell you that despite her melancholy look in her pictures, I did see some spunk in her.  She was eager to smile.  She was eager for touch and attention.  I never once saw her get upset.  She had such a sweet and gentle disposition.  When she was given a chance to move around she loved looking at herself in the mirror and found delight in it.  She looks so frail, but she is stronger then she appears.

 

If anyone reading this feels even the tiniest desire or stirring in their soul to help this beautiful child, please pray about adopting her.  Here is her profile on Reece's Rainbow and right now she has a $6,078.81 grant to help a family adopt her.  I would be happy to talk more with anyone about her, just comment below.  I have to approve comments so I will not make public any one's comment looking for more info on her.

Someone considering adopting her is, I believe, literally considering saving her life.  

 What sweet mansions and streets of gold this precious girl has waiting for her in heaven ~ "So the last will be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16) ~ but what an extra special blessing it would be for one of us to show her the Father's love here on earth.

FACING EMINENT TRANSFER

Learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow's cause.

~Isaiah 1:17

Has it really been a year?

Can you believe it?  Today we celebrate one year of freedom for the boys!  One year ago today we took the boys through the gates of the orphanage for the last time!  It has been crazy to look at the pictures of our time over there and see how much the boys have grown and matured!  They left skinny and scared little boys and have blossomed into mature young men!

To God be the Glory!!!!

Daniel then...

Leaving the orphanage forever...

And now...

Bohdan then...

Leaving the orphanage forever...

And now...

Some of Bohdan's friends are listed on Reece's Rainbow!!!!

Just as Daniel's roommates are listed on Reece's Rainbow...

I am happy to share that some of Bohdan's roommates from his boarding school are now listed on Reece's Rainbow.  When I talked to Bohdan about these boys he was so excited to see his friends and he wants them to get adopted and come to the U.S. too.  So let me introduce you to...

Troy

You can read a little more about Troy on his Reece's Rainbow profile, but here is what I remember about him:

His profile says he is non-verbal and that is true, he did not talk at all while I was there.  However he was extremely gentle, kind, and had a very sweet demeanor.  I took bubbles one day and all the kids mobbed me wanting to play, Troy just stood there patiently smiling at me and waiting his turn.  I don't think I ever saw him without a smile on his face.  He would sit next to me at the table and would stare very sweetly at me and when I would make eye contact he would put his arms out to give me a hug.  I do not know about his cognitive ability because I just did not get to spend enough time with him but he did understand the instructions he was given by his teacher and care taker at the boarding school with no problems, obeying them and following all their instructions (with a smile on his face).  Physically he had no problems.  I do not know if his lack of speech is due to trauma or an actual inability to form words.  I will absolutely never forget how gentle and loving he was, he lives to be hugged and he loved what little one-on-one attention I was able to give him.  He was so patient and kind to the other kids.  A family would be blessed to have this precious boy as their son!

Sammy

You can read a little more about Sammy on his Reece's Rainbow profile, but here is what I remember about him:

Sammy was one of the sweetest kids I had ever met.  Always ready with a smile and a hug!  I brought things for all the kids in his group and he waited so patiently for his turn and gave me a big hug after.  He was very kind and gentle with all the other kids, especially the one girl in the group.  He and the other boys in his group (Troy and Garrett) are very well loved by one of their care-takers and it shows.  It is obvious that they have been taught manners and cooperation and they are very kind to one another.  They are taught at least several days a week so do not let the diagnosis deceive you, they are fairly smart boys.  They all have obvious delays but never had any problems following instructions and they understood everything they were told and all seemed to love to be helpful.  When I show our son (who was adopted from this group) their pictures he remembers their names and tells me they were his friends.  He told me he wants them to be adopted and to come to the U.S.  How I pray that happens for Sammy and the other boys!  Sammy is so sweet and innocent, I hate to see what will happen to him if he ages out of the orphanage.

Garrett

You can read a little more about Garrett on his Reece's Rainbow profile, but here is what I remember about him:

I will always remember how sweet Garrett was.  He was usually the first one to greet me with a hug when I visited.  He was always so excited to show off for me.  When the care-taker announced that they were all going outside he promptly put his shoes on and helped some of the other kids with their shoes as well.  He and the other boys in his group (Troy and Sammy) are very well loved by one of their care-takers and it shows.  It is obvious that they have been taught manners and cooperation and they are very kind to one another.  They are taught at least several days a week so do not let the diagnosis deceive you, they are fairly smart boys.  They all have obvious delays but never had any problems following instructions and they understood everything they were told and all seemed to love to be helpful.  When I show our son (who was adopted from this group) their pictures he remembers their names and tells me they were his friends.  He told me he wants them to be adopted and to come to the U.S.  How I pray that happens for Garrett and the other boys!  Garrett is so sweet and innocent, I hate to see what will happen to him if he ages out of the orphanage.

From left to right: boy, Garrett, boy, Troy, Sammy, and Bohdan

I would love to tell Bohdan that God has answered his prayers to send families for his friends.  Let's bring these boys home!!!

Do you want to hear some wonderfully fantastic news?

Remember Stellan?

The precious boy I met in Daniel's room and blogged about here?

HE HAS A FAMILY!!!!!  I know, I know, exciting isn't it?!?!

It has been our constant prayer that Stellan, Janna, and Travis would be placed in families, not in mental institutions so you can imagine our joy!!!

After whispering in Stellan's ear that Jesus loves him and praying over him, it is a very blessed thing to see God send a family and to watch his family work to rescue him.

Also, this family lives just one state away from us, how amazing would that be to reunite Daniel and Stellan?!?!

So who are these amazing people adopting precious Stellan?  You can follow their blog here.

What's that???

Oh that.....

That's just a young man who spent his first 6 years lying in a crib all day sedated and covered in urine in an orphanage...now TOTALLY ROCKING IT on his first try using the walker!!!!!

Yes, we are still here

A few times every week I think to myself "I really need to update the blog"...and then the kids wake up...and life happens...

Even now I don't have a lot of time to write but I wanted to at least share some pictures and videos with you so you could see just how amazing the boys are doing!!!!  I'll take being a bad blogger over a being a bad mother...I am sure you all understand :-)

We have been doing so well!  It's crazy because we have had some of the hardest and darkest times of adjustments since I last wrote but we have also seen some of the biggest break-throughs too!

I think the videos of the boys speak for themselves:

I mean can you stand all that cuteness?  And the progress...amazing, right?!?!

Thank you for your continued prayers and for being so patient waiting for updates :-)