Charlie, born in October of 2015, is a cheerful and active little boy who loves to smile and laugh. Charlie is curious about toys that make sound. He loves to listen to music and play the toy drum. His favorite toys are the toy drum, toy car, and bouncy balls.

Charlie lives with a foster family. He has started walking around and is working on exercising his fine motor skills by manipulating small objects. He can crawl up and down the stairs too!

He is an expressive little boy and can communicate his needs with simple words. Charlie likes interacting with others and being held. He loves attention and affection, especially from his foster mother.

The perplexing diagnosis on his English translation says cerebral agenesis, but his Chinese characters actually translate to brain dysplasia, which is something we often see in the reports from China meaning that there is a brain scan difference. Charlie has no brain scan in his reports, nor mention of one being done, but high muscular tension in his left hand was noted. Video and photos show this difference.

Charlie is newly listed with Madison Adoption Associates and we sure hope his forever family sees him soon because they are surely missing out on a whole lot of love and those kissable cheeks!

New videos of Charlie can be seen here:
Charlie 1
Charlie 2
Charlie 3

Written update from June 2017:

1. Was his birthdate estimated or known?
Estimated, according to his health exam after admission.

2. May we please get updated measurements, especially a slow and careful head measurement?
43 cm

3. Is the strength and movement normal in his left leg?
It lacks strength, but he can walk.

4. Are there concerns of cerebral palsy?
He needs long-term physical therapy as well as speech training. It’s important to increase physical therapy to his left hand.

5. Does he speak any words?
He can speak ‘Gege’（older brother) and other baby words.

6. Does he respond to commands?
Yes, he can.

7. How is he doing compared to children his own age in the orphanage?
Great with quick response.

8. Is there any attachment to a particular caregiver?
Yes, he is very attached to his foster mom.

Written update from May 2017:

1. How is his mental ability compared to peers of the same age?
Fair

2. How does the special need affect his health?
For his special need, he cannot walk like normal kids. His body will tilt to one side. His left hand and left foot are not so skillful.

3. Is he potty trained?
No, he needs assistance from his family.

4. Please describe his personality in details.
He is active, but sometimes impatient. Occasionally he likes playing by himself. His right hand is more skillful and has quicker response.

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

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?
Good. He can climb upstairs or downstairs and climb out of a rolling bucket. Now he can walk by himself, but not very steadily. He walks a dozen steps and then will tilt. He cannot run or jump, go upstairs, or go downstairs. There are limitations.

7. How are his fine motor skills? Can he draw or scribble on paper? Can he pick up little things with his fingers?
He can hold tiny things in his hands, but he cannot draw or scribble. His left hand is poor, but his right hand is more skillful.

8. Is he in any kind of school? If so, what school? Can he catch up in school?
He gets education in the orphanage.

9. How is his emotional development? Is the child attached to anyone? Who is he close to? Does he care for other people?
Good. He is attached to his foster mother and early education teacher. He is very close to them. He does not know how to care for others yet.

10. How are his social skills? Does he get along well with other children and adults?
Fair. He can get along well with other kids and adults.

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 is living in the foster care program inside the orphanage. He went to a family on May 23, 2016 and switched to another family on October 19, 2016.

12. Updated Measurements:
Height: 81 cm; Weight: 11 kg; Head circ: 42.5 cm; Chest circ: 47.5 cm; Foot length: 11 cm; Number of teeth: 15

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 same as peers of same age?
He can say sounds like ：gege, dada, yehyeh, ahah. He has normal intelligence and is doing very well in the orphanage.

14. Can the child follow directions of adults? One step, two steps, or three steps?
He can follow simple directions.

15. Anything else you think the family should know about the child?
He needs long term PT, especially for the left hand, and language therapy.

16. Is the child on any medication?
No

17. Any birthmarks or ccars?
No

18. Does he have a scalp birthmark?
No

There is a $500 agency grant for Charlie’s adoption with Madison Adoption Associates. 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 are officially matched with a child.

Charlie 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 adopting Charlie, please fill out a free PAP Waiting Child Review Form, which can be found here.

Charlie was previously featured in an advocacy post here.