Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Help Ethan!
This little guy warmed my heart last year when I magaged to take him for a walk away from the carewaorkers. There I photographed him and cuddled him and did a brief developmental workup. Poor little Ethan, so medically involved , enjoyed the attention he so rarely got. Back in the Baby House he reached out for me whenever I approached. He craved the attention. This year, I found him looking healthier and more alert. I'm so glad that Ivanna's family was able to snap the adorable picture of him that drew the Malone family to want him as their son!!! The doctor in his Baby House expressed concerns that he was going to soon 'age out' of their orphanage (just like Monroe)! I had brought a helmet with me that my daughter had no longer needed, and they were disappointed that it was too large for him. I found it shocking that a helmet that my daughter Jillian had outgrown (and she'd microcephalic) was TOO large for this little guy's head! He's so tiny!!! Hopefully, soon he will be in the loving arms of the Malone's and no longer have a need for the protection. If you are looking to help and not sure what you could do PLEASE consider clicking on the picture of Ethan and donate what you could to help bring him home. His family was not planning on adopting again so soon and need help to raise the money. Not everyone could adopt, but everyone should be able to help, even if it's only a dollar! Let's get all the orphans out of Vorzel as soon as possible!!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Back to my MISSION, after going back to WORK.
I have had a lot of people contact me, wondering when I’ll post again! As you may know, I am an Early Intervention Teacher and am back at work full time, in a public school program for children ages 3-5. We have been busy with evaluations and settling all our new little ones into the daily routine once again. My own daughter, Jillian, has returned to Mercy Special Learning Center, and quite frankly, both her and I have been exhausted! I’ve been busy following the blogs of the families who are either over in the Ukraine or heading over soon to adopt and bring home their special child. And for all of us who grew up listening to fairy tales, I am happy to say that sometimes life does have happy endings!!!
Remember little Ivanna? Well, the little Princess was carried over the threshold by her new daddy and spent the day at the zoo with both her biological parents and new parents!!! She is making progress everyday and is just so lucky to have been given the greatest parents who are willing to keep her birthparents involved in her life!! What a special couple they are! God knew exactly what he was doing when He matched little Ivanna with Andy and Darlena!!!
And little Ivan’s parents will be boarding a plane in five days to meet him! Ivanna’s parents went out of their way to include both Ivan/Igor and little Leeza while they visited their daughter and were concerned that Ivan would be lost without his ‘best friend’. I had brought a photo album of his family and a stuffed dragon from them while I was over there, and hope that the care workers reassured him that he too was going to have a mama and papa coming for him soon. But the wait will soon be over for the little boy I found standing in the road last summer! God Bless the care worker who let me photo him, and Reeces Rainbow for posting his picture and information. And of course for Danielle and Ben who choose this special little guy!
The Sandra and Marshall is also over there picking up their little Peach and Mallory, and were nice enough to deliver photo albums to the care workers from me of my visit with them this summer!! I really wanted to thank them for allowing me to visit with the children like I did. In all the baby houses, they pulled out photo albums from the families and other missionaries and ‘bragged’ about their children. I also wanted to let them to know that I will be returning and bringing a team through ServingSpecialOrphans soon. (If anyone is interested in joining me, let me know!!!)
I have really thanked God that my daughter Jillian was born here in America! I think about all the hours of therapies and educational programming, and supplemental supports and services, medical and dental care and DIAPERS, that she has had at NO cost to me, just because she’s entitled to it in America. Because she is a human being whose life is valued! And I compare it to the absolute NOTHING that a similar child would be entitled to in Eastern Europe and it sickens me and reminds me of my mission. Would you believe that when I presented the Head Doctor in the Baby House the two Rifton Walkers, and gait trainer that they commented that they had ‘never seen anything like it’! Imagine a nonambulatory child without equipment!! Well, they had non for an entire Baby House! They were so grateful for their donations and posed proudly for pictures with them. These children and the people charged with caring for them have none of the adaptive equipment and services that enhance the abilities and decrease the disabilities of our special children!
I am now collecting any and all adaptive equipment for the Baby House. ServingSpecialOprhans is in the process of incorporating as nonprofit, so your donations will be tax deductible! Please contact me if you have any unwanted walkers, chairs, helmets, therapy equipment, crib toys, musical toys (non battery) that you’d like to donate!! We have been so blessed to have so much, please reach out to help the little ones not so lucky to have been born in America!
Remember little Ivanna? Well, the little Princess was carried over the threshold by her new daddy and spent the day at the zoo with both her biological parents and new parents!!! She is making progress everyday and is just so lucky to have been given the greatest parents who are willing to keep her birthparents involved in her life!! What a special couple they are! God knew exactly what he was doing when He matched little Ivanna with Andy and Darlena!!!
And little Ivan’s parents will be boarding a plane in five days to meet him! Ivanna’s parents went out of their way to include both Ivan/Igor and little Leeza while they visited their daughter and were concerned that Ivan would be lost without his ‘best friend’. I had brought a photo album of his family and a stuffed dragon from them while I was over there, and hope that the care workers reassured him that he too was going to have a mama and papa coming for him soon. But the wait will soon be over for the little boy I found standing in the road last summer! God Bless the care worker who let me photo him, and Reeces Rainbow for posting his picture and information. And of course for Danielle and Ben who choose this special little guy!
The Sandra and Marshall is also over there picking up their little Peach and Mallory, and were nice enough to deliver photo albums to the care workers from me of my visit with them this summer!! I really wanted to thank them for allowing me to visit with the children like I did. In all the baby houses, they pulled out photo albums from the families and other missionaries and ‘bragged’ about their children. I also wanted to let them to know that I will be returning and bringing a team through ServingSpecialOrphans soon. (If anyone is interested in joining me, let me know!!!)
I have really thanked God that my daughter Jillian was born here in America! I think about all the hours of therapies and educational programming, and supplemental supports and services, medical and dental care and DIAPERS, that she has had at NO cost to me, just because she’s entitled to it in America. Because she is a human being whose life is valued! And I compare it to the absolute NOTHING that a similar child would be entitled to in Eastern Europe and it sickens me and reminds me of my mission. Would you believe that when I presented the Head Doctor in the Baby House the two Rifton Walkers, and gait trainer that they commented that they had ‘never seen anything like it’! Imagine a nonambulatory child without equipment!! Well, they had non for an entire Baby House! They were so grateful for their donations and posed proudly for pictures with them. These children and the people charged with caring for them have none of the adaptive equipment and services that enhance the abilities and decrease the disabilities of our special children!
I am now collecting any and all adaptive equipment for the Baby House. ServingSpecialOprhans is in the process of incorporating as nonprofit, so your donations will be tax deductible! Please contact me if you have any unwanted walkers, chairs, helmets, therapy equipment, crib toys, musical toys (non battery) that you’d like to donate!! We have been so blessed to have so much, please reach out to help the little ones not so lucky to have been born in America!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monroe has a family!!
Monroe finally has a Mama and Papa committed to him!! The Cornish family has decided to adopt Monore after much pray and deliberations! Go to their site to read all about how they came to there amazing decision.
http://cornishadopt ionjourney. blogspot. com/2010/ 07/monroe- has-family. html
Someone donated $20,000 to cover the adoption expenses for Monroe. There are so many children who need to be adopted just like Monroe who are facing a life time alone in unthinkable conditions once they leave the Baby Houses! Not everyone is in a position to adopt, but everyone can be in a position to help, even if it's just by praying. You can go to Reeces Rainbow.com and look into Sponsering a Family to help another family fund their adoption expenses!
http://cornishadopt ionjourney. blogspot. com/2010/ 07/monroe- has-family. html
Vorzel Summer Construction Projects 2010
Below is a list of the repairs to the buildings that were done this summer. Unless you are there, the pictures do not show the dismal conditions that the children have been living under.
Thanks to the hard work of the Mission volunteers organized by Sasha and Olya of Almaz Church significant improvements were made along with a playground for Bdg 5. The buildings are old, with the exception of Blg 2, and inefficient. I'm sure in the winter the kids are cold and a lot money is spent on trying to heat the buildings! Hopefully now that money could be redirected to the children!!
#1 Bld 3 Sensory Skills Room It is used to teach the children who have cerebral palsy, muscular sclerosis, physical disabilities etc. Needs general repairs and face-lift.
#2 Bld 3 Children’s Restroom A restroom for 15-25 children used to potty-train the kids and wash and change the kids. Needs one toilet repaired, children’s toilets installed, a washing machine, and basic furniture.
# 3 Bld 3 Children’s Restroom #2 Same as above but for the younger children. Needs one toilet replaced, additi0nal toilets installed, bath tub installed and basic furniture.
#4 Bld 3 Large Reception Room It is used to show drama to kids, to have DVD lessons, and when guests come to visit children for adoption. Needs light remodeling of the walls, floor and ceiling, installation of additional lights, and basic furniture.
#5 Bld 3 Changing Room For 15-25 kids and 10 nurses. Here they store clothing for the kids and the orphanage personnel. Needs 2 doors replaced and basic furniture.
#6 Bld 3 Changing Room #2 For 15-25 kids and 10 nurses. Same as above but for the younger children. Needs light remodeling of the walls, floor and ceiling, installation of additional lights, replace 2 doors, and basic furniture.
#7 Bld 3 Kitchen Where they distribute food for children, store the kitchen appliances and wash the dishes. 10-15 nurses eat here. Needs basic storage and furniture.
# 8 Bld 5 Restroom This is used by 30-40 kids and 10-15 nurses. Also they wash the clothes and bed sheets here. Needs total remodeling of the floor and walls, install a bath tub, two toilets, a sink, and a washing machine, and basic furniture.
# 9 Bld 5 Bld 5 was built in the beginning of the previous century. The doors have large holes letting the cold air in, and they do not close properly. Need to replace 9 doors.
# 10 Bld 5 Central Room This is a big room where children sleep, play, eat and study. Needs light remodeling of the walls and floor.
# 11 Bld 1 15-20 kids live here and cannot go outside in rain or snow. Needs a shelter.
# 12 Bld 5 The heating system is more than 70 year old. If we can flush it out it will make all the radiators hot during the cold time of a year. The radiators will not leak and it will protect the boilers from breaking down. Need to flush out and reinstall 30 radiators, flush out the boilers, and flush out about 60 meters of pipes.
(Borrowed from Dave Daulton of Fathersheart.Inc. ! Thanks Dave!)
I can't wait to see the finished rooms! If anyone ever wonders if their donations really make a difference; they did in this case!! Follow the blog to find out how you could 'own a little piece of Vorzel' and help raise money to fund an Early Intervention Assistant to provide intervention to the neediest most involved children at Vorzel!
#1 Bld 3 Sensory Skills Room It is used to teach the children who have cerebral palsy, muscular sclerosis, physical disabilities etc. Needs general repairs and face-lift.
#2 Bld 3 Children’s Restroom A restroom for 15-25 children used to potty-train the kids and wash and change the kids. Needs one toilet repaired, children’s toilets installed, a washing machine, and basic furniture.
# 3 Bld 3 Children’s Restroom #2 Same as above but for the younger children. Needs one toilet replaced, additi0nal toilets installed, bath tub installed and basic furniture.
#4 Bld 3 Large Reception Room It is used to show drama to kids, to have DVD lessons, and when guests come to visit children for adoption. Needs light remodeling of the walls, floor and ceiling, installation of additional lights, and basic furniture.
#5 Bld 3 Changing Room For 15-25 kids and 10 nurses. Here they store clothing for the kids and the orphanage personnel. Needs 2 doors replaced and basic furniture.
#7 Bld 3 Kitchen Where they distribute food for children, store the kitchen appliances and wash the dishes. 10-15 nurses eat here. Needs basic storage and furniture.
# 8 Bld 5 Restroom This is used by 30-40 kids and 10-15 nurses. Also they wash the clothes and bed sheets here. Needs total remodeling of the floor and walls, install a bath tub, two toilets, a sink, and a washing machine, and basic furniture.
# 9 Bld 5 Bld 5 was built in the beginning of the previous century. The doors have large holes letting the cold air in, and they do not close properly. Need to replace 9 doors.
# 10 Bld 5 Central Room This is a big room where children sleep, play, eat and study. Needs light remodeling of the walls and floor.
# 11 Bld 1 15-20 kids live here and cannot go outside in rain or snow. Needs a shelter.
# 12 Bld 5 The heating system is more than 70 year old. If we can flush it out it will make all the radiators hot during the cold time of a year. The radiators will not leak and it will protect the boilers from breaking down. Need to flush out and reinstall 30 radiators, flush out the boilers, and flush out about 60 meters of pipes.
(Borrowed from Dave Daulton of Fathersheart.Inc. ! Thanks Dave!)
I can't wait to see the finished rooms! If anyone ever wonders if their donations really make a difference; they did in this case!! Follow the blog to find out how you could 'own a little piece of Vorzel' and help raise money to fund an Early Intervention Assistant to provide intervention to the neediest most involved children at Vorzel!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
You make a living from what you get, You make a life from what you give!!
Isn't that a wonderful quote and philosophy to live by!! We should all try it!! That statement is on the bottom of a business card from Dr. Yuiy Bezdvernyy, M.D., Ph.D. from Kiev. I had the wonderful experience of meeting with him, and his beautiful daughter, on the grounds of the orphanage. I met him, via email after reading a report that he had written on one of the children who was being considered for adoption by a family. Apparently, Dr.Yuriy's did not quite understand WHY anyone would want to adopt a child who 'had limited potential' when a 'normal' child had so much to give! Well, he also wasn't prepared for the emails that went back and forth between us this year, and for me to fly over there and meet him to discuss his attitude which was really just representative of his culture! After sitting under a large shade tree and sharing with him the why's and the how's and the why not, I think he got it! He is now looking forward to working together to bring awareness and training to the other professionals in the Ukraine! And, I hope to be able to share the progress of this little guy with Dr. Yuriy once he is with his family and begins to receive intervention!!
Dr Yuriy Bezdvernyy works with a medical group in Kiev who speak English (his business card was in Russian on one side and English on the other)! He's a great contact for not only medical emergencies but also for evaluations!! We take care of your health and peace of mind!! (from his card). He can be reached at his office at (044)551-41-93, cell phone 8-050-469-55-23 or via email at ybezdverny@km.ru. Just tell him 'Sandie' sent you!!!
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