Joaquin is a cutie pie who was born in August of 2016 with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, ASD, that appears to have closed on its own.

Joaquin is said to always have a smile on his face ad laughs out loud when teased. Joaquin loves when his caregivers lovingly touch him or hold him. He carefully concentrates on his caretaker’s face and expressions when she works with him on exercises.

At 9 months of age, he was making sounds to respond to his caretakers and could roll over and crawl across a room. Joaquin was good at grabbing for toys and holding onto them. He also was able to recognize his name and could track sound. He reads his caregiver’s facial expressions well and responds appropriately.

Joaquin has stranger anxiety that is typical for a child his age and is close with his special caregiver. He loves to hold her hand and smiles at her when she smiles at him or when she compliments him. When the weather is nice, Joaquin enjoys outdoor time. He has a good appetite and is a good sleeper too. Joaquin is quiet and obedient and likes to play with his favorite toys or play games with other children, led by his caretakers.

In February of 2018, a terrific update with adorable new pictures, a precious video, and a terrific write-up was received!

Written update from February 2018:

1. How is his mental ability compared to peers with Down syndrome of the same age?
He is a child with Down syndrome and compared with other children with Down syndrome, he is doing better in terms of mental ability.

2. How does the special need affect his health?
In terms of motor skills, he is doing well; in terms of intelligence and speech, delayed.

3. Is he potty trained?
Not yet.

4. Please describe his personality in details.
He laughs, but will cry long due to his short temper.

5. Is he well behaved and obedient?
He is so little.

6. How are his gross motor skills? Can he walk, run, jump, and walk upstairs and downstairs by himself? Can he kick a ball? Can he pick up a ball? Any limited functions?
He can sit, stand, and walk with support, due to his young age.

7. How are his fine motor skills? Can he draw or scribble on paper? Can he pick up little things with fingers?
He can pick up small things and change things between his hands.

8. Is he in any kind of school? If so, what school?
Not yet.

9. How is his emotional development? Is the child attached to anyone? Who is he close to? Does he care for other people?
Great. He is attached to his foster granny. He wants to be held.

10. How are his social skills? Does he get along well with other children and adults?
He plays with other kids, but sometimes he will fight for toys with other kids.

11. Is he under foster care or living in the orphanage? If foster, when did he enter the foster home? How does he do there? Has it been the same foster home all the time?
He has been living in the foster family since Oct. 17, 2017.

12. Updated Measurements:
Teeth: 8
Height: 74cm
Head circumference: 43cm
Chest circumference: 52cm
Foot length: 11cm
Weight: 10kg

13. How is the language ability of the child? What can he say? Can he speak one word, two words or sentences? Can he express his needs well? Is his language ability the same as peers of the same age?
He can speak “Nainai” (granny in Chinese). He cannot express himself due to his age.

14. Can the child follow directions of adults? One step, two steps, or three steps?
Yes, he can put away his toys.

15. Anything else you think the family should know about the child?
He will pretend to cry, covering his face with his hands. Very funny.

16. Is the child on any medication?
No.

17. What is the daily schedule of the child?
Get up at 7:30am, wash face, dress up, have breakfast, outdoor fun; lunch at 11am, nap from 12:30pm, get up at 15:00pm and play, dinner at 5:30pm and then play, go to bed at 8:00pm.

18. What does the child eat? Can he feed himself? Does the child eat with chopsticks,
a spoon, or a bottle?
He is fed with rice noodles or soft rice with a spoon.

19. Does the child know any English?
No.

20. Does the child want to be adopted? Does the child understand what adoption
means?
He is too young to understand.

21. What color does the child like?
Too young to tell.

22. What activity does the child like to do?
Outdoor activities and interacting with others.

23. What is the favorite toy of the child?
Bell, toy cars, and fuzzy toys.

Joaquin is listed with Madison Adoption Associates and there is a $1,500 agency grant for Joaquin’s adoption with MAA. Other grants may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances. Agency grants are awarded as agency fee reductions. MAA also partners with the Brittany’s Hope Foundation for matching grants, which are given out twice a year (January and July) and to families that already matched with a child. He also has a Reece’s Rainbow account here.

Joaquin needs a family with an approved home study to be able to hold his file or move forward with adopting him. If you have an approved home study or a home study in process and are interested in reviewing Joaquin’s file or in adopting Joaquin, please fill out a free PAP Waiting Child Review Form