Waiting for a Family: Eugene and Lile

November 14, 2015 Advocacy, Family Stories 0 Comments

Andrea Olson is Executive Director of Little Hearts Medical and a five time adoptive mother. She traveled to Beijing recently to assist with Holt International Children’s Services’ Ambassador Program, where she was partnered with two beautiful boys born with complex CHD and in need of adoption.

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Hello everyone! I just recently returned from Beijing and I want to share with you two precious little boys that I had the pleasure of spending the week with. First I’ll introduce you to “Eugene”, a cheerful and positively adorable little boy who will turn 6 in February.


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Eugene and I spent several days together in Beijing, and did I mention that he is absolutely adorable? He has an impish grin but he is 100% sweet! Eugene impressed us all with his artistic ability and concentration, and was able to create clay animals in only a few minutes after looking at a picture in the activity booklet.

He loves to sing, blow bubbles, chew gum, color/draw, and play on a tablet. He’s a snuggle bug and would thrive within the love and attention of his very own family! Eugene dreams of becoming a teacher when he grows up.


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Eugene has complex congenital heart disease, and an assessment by one of our Little Hearts Medical pediatric cardiologist’s of his September, 2015 echocardiogram has led to the tentative diagnosis of Double Outlet Right Ventricle with Malposition of the Great Arteries. He is believed to have moderate Pulmonary Hypertension. The echocardiogram is reassuring in that there is no mention of significant valve regurgitation/leakiness and no mention of significant ventricular dysfunction.

If you would like to read Eugene’s LHM Cardiac Case Summary, please contact me here (aolson@littleheartsmedical.org).

To learn more about this precious boy or to inquire about his adoption, please contact Beth Smith or Jessical Zeeb at Holt International Children’s Services at 541-687-2202.

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Next I’d like to introduce you to “Lile”, who is almost 8 years old and has complex CHD. He is listed with Holt International.

Lile is a simply precious child, exceptionally sensitive, perceptive, and generous. Kind to other children, Lile always made sure that nobody was left out and that everyone was taken care of. A real go-getter, his hand was the first to be raised when volunteers/participants were asked for.


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Giving and generous, when he would see a dish absent from someone’s plate at our table, he would take food from his own plate and give it to the other. Lile dreams of becoming a chef when he grows up.

His energy was good, and when he would tire he would pull down his shirt to expose his surgical scar to communicate that he was tired and needed to rest or be carried.


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Lile’s cardiac diagnosis is not clear. His initial echocardiogram at 2 years of age showed TOF, but his latest echo. from September showed more complex anatomy believed to be truncus arteriosus, semi-truncus, or pulmonary atresia/VSD/MAPCAs. He had a central shunt to the pulmonary artery placed two years ago, but appears to have outgrown it.

This sweet boy won my heart and my fervent wish is for him to know the love of a family and the hope that such a family will be able to provide to him!

To see Lile’s cardiac case summary, please contact me here (aolson@littleheartsmedical.org)..

To inquire about Lile, please contact Holt International Children’s Services at 541-687-2202 and ask for Beth Smith or Jessica Zeeb.



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