That was the question I got over the weekend from my 7 year old son, Quan. We adopted Quan from China in 2007. He had a cl/cp. Both were repaired upon arriving home, he was in speech therapy until 2010, and he has done AMAZING. I know not every experience with cl/cp is this simple. …Read More
Communicating through ASL
January 31, 2012
ASL, attachment activities, cl/cp, Nicole, Parenting Special Needs
0 Comments
This has probably been a familiar scene at some point in your home … your young toddler child is sitting in the middle of the floor throwing a temper tantrum. Tears are streaming down her face, her nose is running and her hair is matted to her face. She’s kicking the floor and screaming … …Read More
welcome to Nicole
January 6, 2012
cl/cp, Nicole
0 Comments
I am excited to introduce our newest member of the No Hands But Ours team, Nicole. She is the mom of three, one from China with cleft lip and palate and, well, let me let her tell you herself… ___________________________________________________________________ I am so thrilled to be joining the No Hands But Ours guest blogger team! …Read More
Lilah’s Journey: Ten Weeks Post Surgery
August 25, 2011
cl/cp, Lilah's Journey, surgery, tessier cleft
1 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, has chronicled her daughter’s journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We have shared Lilah’s story here, as the treatment has progressed. Lilah’s final surgery was to repair her eye, complete a bone graft for her cleft and make some soft tissue changes. All the posts in this series can be found here. …Read More
Lilah’s Journey – The Sutures Are Out
June 16, 2011
Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, has chronicled her daughter’s journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We have shared Lilah’s story here, as the treatment has progressed. Lilah’s final surgery was to repair her eye, complete a bone graft for her cleft and make some soft tissue changes. All the posts in this series can be found here. …Read More
Lilah’s Journey – Surgery
June 8, 2011
Lilah's Journey, surgery, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, has chronicled her daughter’s journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We have shared Lilah’s story here, as the treatment has progressed. Lilah’s final surgery was to repair her eye, complete a bone graft for her cleft and make some soft tissue changes. All the posts in this series can be found here. …Read More
Lilah’s Journey – Part 4
June 7, 2011
Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, has shared her daughter’s journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We have shared Lilah’s story here, as the treatment has progressed. Lilah’s final surgery will repair her eye, complete a bone graft for her cleft and make some soft tissue changes. All the posts in this series can be found here. This …Read More
Lilah’s Journey – Part 3
June 1, 2011
Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, will be sharing about her daughter and their journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We will share Lilah’s story here every week or two, as the treatment progresses. In two to three months, when the tissue expander is ready, Lilah will have one final surgery to repair her eye, complete a bone …Read More
SN: CHD and CL/CP
April 27, 2011
cl/cp, heart defect, Wife of the Prez
0 Comments
I see this label often on the shared list and advocacy sites. It hits close to my heart to see it. I don’t think as I used to of the FEAR. Of the what ifs. Of genetic syndromes. Of shorter lifespans. Of lower intelligence. Of open-heart surgery. Of speech delays that may take years to …Read More
Lilah’s Journey – Part 2
April 8, 2011
Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, will be sharing about her daughter and their journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We will share Lilah’s story here every week or two, as the treatment progresses. In two to three months, when the tissue expander is ready, Lilah will have one final surgery to repair her eye, complete a bone …Read More
Lilah’s Journey
March 24, 2011
craniofacial cleft, Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
Lilah’s mom, Paige, will be sharing about her daughter and their journey to repair her Tessier Cleft. We will share Lilah’s story here every week or two, as the treatment progresses. In two to three months, when the tissue expander is ready, Lilah will have one final surgery to repair her eye, complete a bone …Read More
Pei
February 7, 2011
Craniofacial, facial palsy, Family Stories, hearing loss, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
By Nicole, mom to Pei from China with a SN of microtia and facial palsy Journeys of Faith Often Have Limited Sight We were a family of four before we traveled to Russia in July of 2008 to meet a little girl who needed a family. We had no information about this child prior to …Read More
I Can't Be Her Voice
May 25, 2010
cl/cp, Parenting Special Needs, Wife of the Prez
15 Comments
As much as I’d like to put a protective cocoon around her and be her voice among other things, I can’t. Let me preface this entry with two things: my heart is in my throat these days as we wait for our final piece of paperwork to travel to China for our sons, and our …Read More
my son
April 15, 2010
cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, guest post, older child adoption
0 Comments
Today’s post is a guest post, written by Amy who is in China now adopting her son, Xinran 🙂 In just a few short weeks, 19 days to be exact, a 4 year old little boy with dark brown hair and black eyes will stand in front of me. He will call me Mama. I …Read More
Joseph
March 5, 2010
cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories
0 Comments
by Angie, mom to Joseph from China with an SN cleft lip and palate The word the Lord has used over and over to speak to our hearts is treasure. When He spoke to our hearts for the first time in Sept. 2003 about adoption He reminded us of our three treasures. We have three …Read More
Kooper and Kinley
February 16, 2010
adopting two at once, cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, older child adoption
0 Comments
by Connie, mom to Kinley (2) and Kooper (13) adopted from China at the same time In August of 2003 when God instantly gripped the hearts of my husband and I for the orphan, we had no idea where He would lead us. We knew He was calling us to a task much larger than …Read More
Lilah
February 10, 2010
Lilah's Journey, tessier cleft
0 Comments
by Paige, mom to Lilah from China with a SN of Tessier Cleft In April 2007, while attending a ladies morning out program, an advocate from Compassion Canada came and spoke to us about international adoption. While sitting there, God spoke very clearly to me and told me “It is time”. I immediately went home …Read More
Our First Birthday Together!
January 14, 2010
BAHA, Education, hearing loss, homeschool, Laine, microtia, older child adoption, speech delay, speech therapy
4 Comments
Last year she celebrated with her beloved foster mama… but this year she celebrates with her forever mama and forever family! 😉 Thank you Jesus! We brought our 7 year old, Candie, home on Halloween of 2008. Her birthday is 8/23/00. Her special need is bi-lateral microtia/atresia. Candie is a happy little girl and for …Read More
Mother Therapy
January 4, 2010
Andrea, early intervention, Education, hearing loss, microtia, speech delay, speech therapy
11 Comments
As parents, we naturally look for our child’s accomplishments. It is a unique gift we’ve been given. An Olympian can have his whole country cheering for him, but the only people he wants to see in the stands are his mom and dad. When my 2-year old daughter Lydia runs a crayon across a piece …Read More
Virtual Twins (Artificial Twinning)
December 5, 2009
Attachment, cl/cp, DonnaT, virtual twinning
9 Comments
Six months after we came home from China with our first daughter (Gwen), someone on our Agency’s message board announced their 2nd referral: A cute baby with a beaming smile and a very minor cleft palate. A few days later, they updated to say that they’d refused the referral because she was only 2 weeks …Read More
1 out of 1361
November 3, 2009
cl/cp, DonnaT
6 Comments
One thousand three hundred and sixty-one days ago, we saw our our daughter, Madeline, for the very first time. She was a grainy image on a fax we’d received from our agency and we were only seeing her photo this early because she was “special need”. Five months earlier, we’d adopted a NSN baby girl …Read More
His Pleading Eyes…..
October 30, 2009
arthrogryposis, cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, Linny, Orthopedic, Sensory System
7 Comments
I had poured through a “billion” special needs kids faces, all of them drawing an “ooohh” or an “awwww”….but then I saw his face….and I gasped. (It seems that whenever I gasp I know God is up to something big.) Really. I remember staring at him and studying the expression on his sweet little face, …Read More
The wanted one
October 6, 2009
cl/cp, Maia, surgery
10 Comments
Possibly the most unexpected revelation in the course of our special-needs adoption came when the three of us, my husband, our daughter and I, waltzed in to our first cleft clinic at the hospital we had chosen for our daughter’s surgeries, eager and full of anticipation. At the time, we had been home for just …Read More
Meah
September 22, 2009
Craniofacial, Family Stories, hemifacial microsomia
0 Comments
by Melinda, mom to Meah from China with hemifacial microsomia When my husband and I were in the process of adopting again, we had looked at all the programs and chose to adopt minor special needs from Vietnam. We also thought we would adopt a 2 to 4 year old… little did we know. While …Read More
Ryan
June 22, 2009
Family Stories, hearing loss, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
by Darcy, mom to Ryan from China with bilateral microtia/atresia “Such A Time As This” After several years of trying to adopt domestically, God led us to pursue international adoption. In October of 2005, our family traveled to China to adopt our daughter, Rylee. Our oldest son, my husband, and myself soaked up the experience, …Read More
Naomi ChuYu
May 4, 2009
cleft gumline, cleft lip, Family Stories, HepB+
0 Comments
by Amy, mom to Naomi from China with cleft lip and gumline, Hep B and an abundance of joy Our adoption journey started in 2002. My first born son was just 2 years old. We were at an Easter party when a friend stopped by with her brand new daughter from China. She did not …Read More
Jaxon
April 13, 2009
cleft gumline, cleft lip, Family Stories
0 Comments
by Stephanie, mom to Jaxon from China with bilateral cleft lip and cleft gumline Our son Jaxon joined our family as our first son, but third child. Our first adopted daughter, Jaida, was adopted through the regular program, in 2005. When we went to her orphanage, and since returning home, I was haunted by an …Read More
Sarah Pearl
March 2, 2009
cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories
0 Comments
by Julia, mom to Sarah Pearl from China with cleft lip and palate Once upon a time, there was a baby girl with a cleft lip and palate, named Guan Yan Nan. Living in an orphanage in a Southern Province of China, she did not know there was a woman living in another land, who …Read More
David
February 27, 2009
cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, hypospadias, Urogenital System
0 Comments
by Mara and Kevin, parents to David from China with cleft lip/palate and hypospadias Kevin and I knew before we were married that we might not be able to have biological children, so we had talked about adoption for years before we started the process in September 2006. Even then, we thought about a special …Read More
Candace
February 25, 2009
Craniofacial, Family Stories, hearing loss, microtia, older child adoption, Sensory System
0 Comments
by Laine, mom to Candace from China with bilateral microtia/atresia Older Child Adoption (and out of birth order, too!) After experiencing toddler adoption (two at one time!), my husband and I felt the call again from the Lord to adopt… only this time He called us to an eight year old girl who has bi-lateral …Read More
Kimmie and Quan
February 16, 2009
cl/cp, Family Stories, radial club hand
2 Comments
by Laine, mom to Kimmie from China with radial club hands and Quan from China with cleft lip and palate Kimmie and Quan…two toddler adoptions at the same time! If that title doesn’t get your attention, nothing will! We were blessed beyond measure to adopt two special needs children at one time. Our story is …Read More
Aidan Hope
February 13, 2009
Family Stories, hearing loss, Living Hope, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
by Tracy, mom to Aidan Hope from China with microtia When I was in 7th grade, I purchased a used book from our county’s Book-mobile service. It was called The Family That Nobody Wanted, by Helen Doss. It was the story of a young pastor’s wife, unable to bear her own biological children, who desired …Read More
Rachel
February 11, 2009
cleft lip, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Kathy, mom to Rachel from China with cleft lip Rachel story is one of great detail, lots of red threads and sure determination of many people to make sure this little girl found her forever family. There are so many twists and turns I don’t even know what category her story will fall in. …Read More
Silas
February 10, 2009
Family Stories, hearing loss, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
By Cara, mother to Silas from China with bilateral microtia and atresia In the early summer of 2007 my husband and I decided to have a third baby. We had two girls and knew we wanted a third child. I was praying about our decision one day and I had a thought come to my …Read More
Mason-Kate
February 9, 2009
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
by Ryan and Beth, parents to Mason-Kate from China with cleft lip and palate Growing up, I was fascinated with adoption. My neighbor was adopted, “Annie” was my hero, playing adoption agency was my favorite pretend game and occasionally I wondered if I was adopted and my parents just weren’t telling me about it. During …Read More
Will
February 9, 2009
cl/cp, Family Stories, Lifelink
0 Comments
By Gail, mother to William Michael with cleft lip and palate “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”~Edward Everett Hale I am a mother to …Read More
Lydia Mei
February 8, 2009
Craniofacial, Family Stories, hearing loss, HepB+, Infectious, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
By Andrea, mom to Lydia Mei from China with a SN of unilateral microtia/aural atresia We began our adoption journey in hopes of adding children to our home, but ultimately we found a much greater purpose and passion. The road to parenthood by way of China brought us into a deeper understanding of how we …Read More
Abby Grace
February 2, 2009
AWAA, cl/cp, Family Stories, heart defect
0 Comments
By Jennifer, mother to Abby Grace from China with complex unrepaired heart condition and unrepaired bi-lateral cleft lip and palate In December of 2005 a little girl was born in the city of Ping Liang in GanSu Province China. A child that was not perfect in the eyes of man but perfect in the eyes …Read More
Susannah
January 30, 2009
AWAA, cl/cp, Family Stories, heart defect
0 Comments
by Leslie, mother to Susannah from China with complex unrepaired heart defects and unrepaired cl/cp Our journey to Susannah began years ago as God was birthing the desire to adopt in both of our hearts. It is very hard to pinpoint a specific date as I can look back at so many moments when I …Read More
Mia Chu Chu
January 29, 2009
Family Stories, hearing loss, microtia, Sensory System
0 Comments
By Anne, mom to Mia Chu Chu from China with hearing loss/ bilateral microtia Our adoption journey began in the fall of 2006 when we initiated paperwork for a “healthy” infant adoption from China. Like so many other adopting families, the drastic increase in wait times inspired us to check out China’s special needs program. …Read More
Ava Lan
December 15, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Tara, mom to Ava Lan from China with cleft lip and palate I had wanted to adopt a child for a long time, even after having 3 biological children. This was a desire God had placed in my heart since childhood. My husband, however, had no interest in adopting at first. I prayed in …Read More
Isabella
December 9, 2008
CHSFS, cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Joan, mom to Isabella from China with cleft lip and palate My name is Joan and I am a single mom to two girls adopted from China with the help of Children’s Home Society & Family Services. Elizabeth is my oldest daughter and I traveled March of 2003 to bring her home. She was …Read More
Caleb
December 6, 2008
AGCI, cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Julia, waiting mom to Caleb in China with cleft lip and palate I clearly heard God calling our family to adopt years ago. I cried every time I heard or saw anything adoption related. I just knew that we were called to go somewhere to adopt someone. I didn’t know where, who, when or …Read More
Cainan
December 4, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Jennifer, mom to Cainan Tao Pletcher from China with cleft lip and palate We decided to persue a SN adoption and adoption of a little boy from China almost right from the beginning of our adoption process. Adoption was always part of our family plan. We thought we would have two biological children and …Read More
Alayna
December 3, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories, Living Hope
0 Comments
By Kateri, mother of Alayna from China with cleft lip and palate I remember after Kyrsten was born, whenever someone would ask, David and I would firmly say “we’re done.” Troy and Kyrsten were only 22 months apart. And even though we both work full time, children are expensive. There would be no more Lambrose …Read More
Maddie Rae
December 2, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Retta, mom to Maddie Rae from China with cleft lip and palate I am often asked, “Why did you decide to adopt?” and I normally sit there racking my brain for a clever and inspiring answer. Something that will sum up our adoption journey in one short sentence while motivating that person to check …Read More
Kai
November 21, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Ohilda, mom to Kai from China with cleft lip and palate As we entered thru the front doors of the building, there standing with his nanny, was one of the most precious gifts I have ever received in my life. To this day, I am filled with shivers down my spine thinking of how …Read More
Naomi
November 20, 2008
AGCI, cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Sarah, mom to Naomi from China with cleft lip and palate Our family’s dossier was originally logged in to the CCAA on August 3, 2006, NSN. A long year had passed since that summer, and we received an email that would change our lives. Our agency, All God’s Children, International (AGCI), sent out a …Read More
Lainey
November 18, 2008
CCAI, cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
by Donna, mom to Lainey from China with cleft lip and cleft palate We began our adoption journey in March 06, becoming LID on 8/1/06. I began looking into the SN program before my husband was comfortable with it. But, after realizing it wasn’t as scary as he initially had built it up to be, …Read More
Lindsey Li
November 18, 2008
cl/cp, Family Stories
0 Comments
By Kathy, mother to Lindsey Li from China with cleft lip and palate Did I know I would adopt from China before 2006? Well that answer is no. I knew nothing about Chinese adoptions let alone special needs. My oldest daughter, Chelsea left us to be with God on January 6, 2006. She was healthy …Read More
