Adopting a Child with “Low Vision”
December 31, 2015
albinism, December 2015 Feature - Sensory, Family Stories, nystagmus, Sensory System, Skin Conditions, vision issues
For 2015 the NHBO team set a goal to focus on all eleven special needs systems, featuring a different system each month. We wanted to not only spotlight the needs within that system, but simultaneously grow the content here on No Hands But Ours. And with the help of the amazing adoption community, we succeeded. …Read More
Beyond Adoption: The Love Project
December 28, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Morning Star Foster Home, orphan prevention, other ways to care for the orphan
In the bed next to my sweet little one in that Chinese ICU, a little six day old baby lay. I didn’t take much notice of him at first, another baby on a ventilator among the rows. Not until I overheard one quiet doctor’s words to another – “The surgery? It’s too expensive. I don’t …Read More
Love is a Universal Language
December 27, 2015
ASL, cochlear implants, December 2015 Feature - Sensory, Family Stories, hearing loss, Sensory System
Like nearly every adoptive parent in today’s international adoption realm, my husband and I began our adoption process with the (dreaded) Medical Conditions Checklist – a list of conditions that we felt prepared for and would be willing to review files for. Birthmarks, check. Missing digits, check. Sensory processing needs, check. As an autism specialist, …Read More
Host Child Highlight: Long
December 26, 2015
Family Found
Long is a healthy, 11 year old boy from the south of China. He is participating in a hosting program this winter through Great Wall China Adoptions and is currently living with a host family in Kentucky until mid January. The family has enjoyed spending time with this amazing boy! He enjoys building with blocks …Read More
‘Tis the Season for Hosting
December 25, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Kelly, Living Hope, orphan hosting, other ways to care for the orphan
We thought about it for a few minutes when we got the email from Living Hope about their new orphan hosting program. And, then we moved on. It was a neat thing; it would be great for the families who could do it. We weren’t one of them. We had a lot of reasons not …Read More
find my family: Daniela
December 24, 2015
Children Who Wait
Daniela was born March of 2006. She came into care as a baby and has waited on the shared list for years to be chosen by a family. She is listed as having mild Cerebral Palsy. Daniela is in foster care in the countryside near the orphanage. She has normal communication with her foster mother …Read More
For the Children Who Wait at Christmas
December 23, 2015
Christmas, Rebecca
Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia.
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
– Silent Night I don’t know if you know what Christmas is. Most likely not I assume. At least not the way we know it. I’m guessing …Read More
Hearing Zachary
December 22, 2015
December 2015 Feature - Sensory, hearing aids, hearing loss, Sensory System
Continuing to focus on sensory special needs, we have a special guest contributor. Sister to regular contributor Katie, Emily adopted a son from the Philippines, and today shares her story of discovering his undiagnosed need of hearing impairment. ………. I will never forget the moment I first saw his picture. We had no intention of …Read More
The Blessing of Non-Adoptive Supporters
December 21, 2015
adopting as a single mom, Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Desiree, other ways to care for the orphan, working mom
This month we are focusing on ways other than adoption to support orphan care. As my family had the amazing opportunity to have a non-adoptive momma and dear-dear friend travel with us to China, I wanted to highlight her ministry to us as an adoptive family and the scores of people that supported her so …Read More
Beyond Adoption: The Advocate
December 20, 2015
Advocacy, Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Liberty, other ways to care for the orphan
Advocate is a powerful word. It carries so much meaning in its 8 little letters. Merriam-Webster’s definition: 1. one that pleads the cause of another 2. one that defends or maintains a cause 3. one that supports or promotes the interests of another This definition sure sounds mighty familiar. It seems as if Mr. Webster might …Read More
Meet the Contributors: Amy
December 19, 2015
Amy A., Contributor Q and A, Meet the Contributors
Continuing today with our series in which we share a short Q and A with one of our contributors to give y’all, our faithful readers, a little more behind-the-scenes insight into the amazing group of writers assembled here. And it will also give each of our contributors a chance to share their heart in a …Read More
Beyond Adoption: OneSky
December 18, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Half the Sky, orphan prevention, other ways to care for the orphan
Today, as part of our Beyond Adoption series, we are highlighting OneSky for all children. OneSky, formerly Half the Sky Foundation, is a global NGO that over the last 18 years has trained more than 13,000 caregivers and impacted the lives of more than 130,000 of China’s most vulnerable children and its work is only …Read More
The Extra Stocking on Your Mantel: {Longing at Christmas}
December 17, 2015
Andrea Y., Christmas, waiting to travel
We had just begun decorating the tree tonight when he ran in the room saying, “Mama! Mama! Where are my ornaments? Is that one mine momma?” Although his hand-made ornaments are fewer because he’s been with us… home… a shorter time than the rest, my heart couldn’t help but recognize the peace it felt as …Read More
Adopting a Child with a Brain Damage Diagnosis: “Prepare to be Amazed”
December 15, 2015
brain damage syndrome, Developmental System, Family Stories, October 2015 Feature - Developmental, speech delay
On January 31, 2014, we were heading out to dinner when I noticed a missed call on my cell phone. It was a Colorado area code. The agency. I asked my husband to give me a minute as I listened to the message. This was it! The call came only eight days after our application …Read More
Beyond Adoption: Lifeline’s (un)adopted Foster Home
December 14, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Lifeline, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
In July 2014 thirteen precious children were moved from an orphanage in southern China to a new foster center called City of Grace, opened by Lifeline Children’s Service (un)adopted ministry. This new safe haven became a place where nannies greeted the children with open arms and welcomed these children worthy of love. Over the course …Read More
Aging Out Child: Wallace
December 14, 2015
Family Found
Wallace, born November 2002, is an introverted boy who likes to sit and immerse himself in his thoughts sometimes, but will also play with the other kids. He will age out of the China Adoption program when he turns 14 years old this coming November. He is attending school and completes his homework on time. …Read More
Sensory Issues and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
December 13, 2015
Christmas, Developmental System, Sensory Processing Issues
The holidays are “the most wonderful time of the year,” or at least that’s what they say on the radio from Thanksgiving until Christmas day, right? All kidding aside, the holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy spending time with your families, going to gatherings, doing special activities, eating lots of good food, and dressing …Read More
Racing to Katie Anne
December 12, 2015
2015 Featured Fundraising Families, Kelley B.
Imagine a precious girl, living in an orphanage in China for almost her whole life, watching child after child be chosen by a family. She waits so patiently – hoping that one day the nannies will come tell her that it’s finally her time to leave the cement walls she has called her home so …Read More
Right On Time
December 11, 2015
Amy, referral, waiting for referral
I was messaging with a friend who is in the paperwork portion of their adoption. I love being a resource for people who have questions or need encouragement because those people for me were lifelines during a time in our life where we sometimes needed one. Sometimes I just needed someone who had gone before …Read More
Blind
December 10, 2015
congenital blindness, December 2015 Feature - Sensory, Katie, Sensory System, septo optic dysplasia, vision loss
Fear. I can see it in the eyes of everyone who asks the question, “Can they see anything?” Then I see the frozen look of shock when I say, “Nope, not a thing, and they never will.” I see the hundred questions that they are afraid to ask. Ten months ago I did something everyone …Read More
Beyond Adoption: What Advocacy Can Do
December 9, 2015
Advocacy, Blood Conditions, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, disruption, other ways to care for the orphan, thalassemia
Our precious son, Mac, came to us through the advocating of many and the mission field of No Hands But Ours. But it begins in an unlikely way….it begins with a disruption. A painful, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking disruption. It is actually impossible to tell Mac’s story without first telling about the disruption. I had never considered …Read More
Beyond Adoption, Other Ways to Care for the Orphan: Show Hope
December 7, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, other ways to care for the orphan, Show Hope
Adoption has forever changed so many of us, hasn’t it? It’s moved our hearts and expanded our thinking. We stood in orphanages and felt the sting of tears, knowing that while we were receiving the gift of sons and daughters, we were also leaving behind a staggering number of fatherless children. It is easy to …Read More
Aging Out Child: Thomas
December 5, 2015
aging-out child, Family Found
Thomas, born July 2002, is a tall, handsome boy, who gets along well with others and his polite to his teachers. He will age out this coming July at which time he will no longer be eligible for adoption. He’s very athletic, and there is video in his file of him shooting basketball and practicing …Read More
The Middle of the Road
December 5, 2015
first weeks home, first year home, Whitney
I survived a half marathon a few weeks ago. That’s right. SURVIVED. I trained for it for MONTHS. Really! Since July, a friend and I had been diligently setting our alarm clocks and waking long before the sun rose to hit the pavement. The morning of the race dawned warm and sticky. November in South …Read More
find my family: Wang
December 4, 2015
Family Found
Would you look at this sweet face?! Wang was born in October 2012 and was found about two months later. The CWI immediately took him to the hospital for shortness of breath and it was discovered that he has a complex heart condition. He was placed on oxygen and was later operated on in June …Read More
Just Three Gifts.
December 2, 2015
Christmas, Kelly
Americans spend about $450 billion on Christmas each year. Astounding really. Way back when, about 15 years ago, when we were expecting our first, we didn’t know anything about any $450 billion. But, we knew we didn’t want to get wrapped up in wrapped-up things and that we wanted to do gifts a bit differently. …Read More
She Had AIDS
December 1, 2015
adoption realities, HIV, Infectious
Today is widely known as World AIDS day and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. To join in this battle, we bring you a guest post from a mom who shares a glimpse …Read More
New Ears For Ellie Kate
December 1, 2015
ASL, attachment activities, cochlear implants, December 2015 Feature - Sensory, Family Stories, hearing loss, profound deafness, sedated ABR, Sensory System
When we started the adoption process for the second time, we knew things would look differently. Adopting a child through the Special Needs program in China was a huge step of faith for us and we had no idea what the next few months or even years would look for our family. While we were …Read More