An Orphan's Wish

Brad's Day

2010-07-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Brad celebrated his 9th birthday today with the rest of the kids

and our special visitors, Nai Nai and Ye Ye.

He loved that it was his special day

and they loved seeing the pure delight on Brad's face

as he blew out his candles, and opened his gifts.

Happy 9th Brad!

Nai Nai & Ye Ye visit

2010-07-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

The House of Love has two older couples who regularly visit us. The children call them their “grandparents”.

In China, there are two sets of names for grandparents – one for the mother’s side of the family, Po Po & Gong Gong, and one for the father’s side, Nai Nai & Ye Ye. So, this makes it easy for us to distinguish between the two couples.

This week Nai Nai & Ye Ye received a wonderfully warm welcome from the children.

They will spend some time with the kids, and helping us with some odd jobs around the Units, especially as Ye Ye is a wonderful handyman!

Goodbye Joey

2010-07-01T01:28:00.000-07:00

Carers from Joey's SWI arrived on Sunday afternoon

to take him to his new home.

They spent a couple of hours with us,

letting Joey get to know them a little,

learning how to do the stretches,

and how to put on his brace,

before they left with him.

We had prepared Joey as well as we could,

talking about his trip and his new home,

and had a countdown for the last 4 "sleeps".

He is going to another Residential Unit

similar to the House of Love in his hometown,

where he will continue to grow and thrive.

Thank you to all of you

who have been a part of his journey.

Celebrating 1 Year and 17 Lives Changed!

2010-06-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

We opened the doors of the Clubfoot Unit 1 year ago.

During that time, we have had the privilege of seeing

the lives of 17 precious children

- whose future was very bleak -

totally turned around.

We have since said goodbye to some of the children

as they completed their treatment and returned to their hometowns.

Some are still with us, and will be leaving soon.

We look forward to this next year when more children arrive,

to be nurtured, loved, cared for,

their clubfoot treated,

and their lives totally changed for the better.

The photos shown are before and afters of Cris

who was the first child to arrive at the Unit.

Thank you for helping us to change lives.

Turning 4

2010-06-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Joey celebrated his 4th birthday

with the help of his friends from the

Clubfoot Unit and the Babies Unit.

He was the only child to have a birthday this month,

so all the candles were his to blow out!

Little Princesses

2010-06-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

We had some very cute little visitors this week.

Mia, Claire, & Sophie all came by to say hello.

Mia proudly told us that she now has a forever family!

What amazing things have happened in her life this past year.

Claire is a picture of health.

She lives in the same foster family as Mia, and the girls get on well together.

Sophie... well as you can see, she is just thriving!

She came in for a checkup, and her feet are doing great!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

2010-06-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

As you are probably aware,

we have had a lot of rain in the past few weeks.

We have outside verandas

so when it rains,

we are constantly trying to mop up water.

The kids from the CP/Res Unit

love to help whenever they can.

Peek-a-Boo & Somersaults

2010-06-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

Somersaults are all the rage

in the Clubfoot Unit at the moment.

Cris is currently mastering them.

It's impossible for Lexi to do them,

but she loves to play peek-a-boo!

Last Casts

2010-06-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sarah had her tenotomy last week

and so now,

she is in her final set of casts.

Isn't she just a darlin'?

Too Happy

2010-06-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

Jack turned 9 on Friday.

As you can see by the look on his face – he thoroughly enjoyed his day.

He got a Transformer toy, Transformer patterned blanket, & a book.

The cake was devoured as usual.

But when Jack was offered a second piece,

he surprised us with "No!"

Why?

“Because I’m TOO HAPPY!”

First time for Cream Cake

2010-06-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

They tasted it,

loved it,

devoured it,

made a mess,

And it was soooo sad when it was all gone!

Doesn’t anybody care?

Playpen

2010-06-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Today we received the first of our two new playpens.

Ethan & Olivia were the proud, busy, little helpers,

in on the organizing, and first to try it out!

We are going to use these around the floor mats in the Babies Unit

to ensure our little tiny bubs are nice and safe

from their older more boisterous “brothers & sisters”.

No stopping him

2010-06-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Gregory might have two full leg casts on – but that won’t stop him.

He’s adjusted quickly to the new “feel”, and is as active as ever.

Last week we had to put extra plaster on his knee, as he wore it through!

Chocolate treat

2010-06-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

The children all received some chocolate for a treat.

Helen decided it would be nice to share hers.

We're pleased about that....

we encourage sharing....

.... well guess who she chose?

.... the ants in the garden!

They sure appreciated her generosity!

She likes ants because she has never seen them hurt each other,

and they just work together to get a job done!

Busy Day in the Special Care Unit

2010-06-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday afternoon, we received 5 precious little babies into our care.

Two of these babies, a boy & a girl, have heart conditions.

Another boy & girl have cleft lip & palates,

and one little girl has a stomach condition

for which surgery is being arranged.

They are all settling in very well.

If you would like to sponsor one of these lil’ darlin’s

please follow this link. https://www.anorphanswish.org/help/donate.php

Type in "$35" and click "ongoing gift".

Then choose "Special Care Unit Child" to designate the specific fund.

In the “Special Note” section specify which child you would like to sponsor.

Then fill out the remainder of the form to complete your sponsorship.

Once your sponsorship has been set up,

we'll contact you to share more about your sponsored child.

Every child’s first sponsor has the privilege of choosing an English name for that child.

If you have any further questions,

please don’t hesitate to contact us at: aowsponsorship@gmail.com

Dueling Kings!

2010-06-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Connie introduced a game she played with these flowers when she was girl.

The kids in the CP/Res Unit think it’s great, and just love picking a supply of flowers, to play “dueling kings tournaments”.

First they get a supply of flowers – they are similar to, but bigger than clover.

They strip the stems in half, leaving the flower intact at the end.

Next two kids “duel” with their “kings”.

They flick the stems so they become entwined, and then pull.

The winning “king” is the one who pulls the other flower off their opponents stem!

Farewell Issac

2010-06-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

After arriving in the Special Care Unit late last year,

Issac has moved into a caring foster family this week.

It’s been great to see his progress while he’s been with us.

Joey & the Gloves

2010-05-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Look what I found!

No-one seems to be watching.......

I'll just see if they fit.......

Look at me!!!!

Zai Jian!

2010-05-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

We had a surprise visit from Isabelle & her foster Mum on Wednesday.

They came into say goodbye,

as she is meeting her family next week.

We're privileged to have been a part of Isabelle's life,

Zai Jian Isabelle!

Benjamin

2010-05-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Will you play with me?

Look, at me!

Peek-a-boo!

2010-05-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Gregory arrived a couple of months ago, and has been settling in well.

He doesn't have Clubfoot, but casting will also help to get his feet into a good position.

This little guy is also deaf - so before his first cast, we demonstrated some casting on

one of our staff, so he could see it wasn't going to hurt.

It wasn't long before he had his casts on, and was back with his friends in the Unit.

Games

2010-05-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a good game of Chinese Checkers.

Some of our boys are right into it at the moment,

and get the Carers involved too.

Mobile again

2010-05-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

There's no stopping Cooper -

he's learning to crawl as fast as his little legs will carry him!

He has Osteogenesis Imperfecta

and recently had another broken bone.

Now that's healed there's no stopping him!

Folding socks - Step by step

2010-05-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

I know the beginning of this video is upside down,

but, we thought you'd like it anyway.

Landon is determined to help the big kids

with folding the washing.

The video says it all.

Brothers & Sisters

2010-05-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

We love to see the older children looking out for the younger ones,

and involving them in their games.

Next stage for Lilly

2010-05-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

After 5 casts and then her tenotomy, Lilly went into her brace this week.

She is really thriving and and piling on the pounds!

Spiderman & Ultraman

2010-05-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

It is safe to say Jacob was the happiest boy in the CP Unit on Friday.

He celebrated his 8^th birthday and all he wanted was a Spiderman towel and an Ultraman toy.

He got what his heart desired, as well as a build it lego style toy,

which are now his treasured possessions!

2010-05-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Landon couldn't wait for the celebration to begin.
He proudly displayed 4 fingers to anyone who asked how old he was.

Time for the cake, he blew out the candles like a pro,
then straight onto the pressies.

He's been borrowing his big brother Jimmy's helmet for ages,
so now he owns his very own

Superman helmet and a matching towel.

Even after the party was well and truly over,

he was still holding a card,

wearing his helmet and

singing at the top of his voice

"Happy Birthday" in Chinese & English!

So thankful

2010-05-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning dawned with the news that Ethan was very sick.

So the day was spent at the hospital, seeing Drs and getting help for him.

He has intestinal issues, so we thought there was a complication with that, but fortunately it wasn't.

We really don't know what the cause was - but after being very sick, and in pain, he started to recover and feel a whole lot better.

Boy, it sure was good to see him get back to his old self again.

He spent the night in hospital, just for observation.

By the morning he was very ready to get home

and

what a warm welcome got from the Carers and other kids in the Unit.

Lending a hand

2010-05-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

We all know helping out is part of everyday life

and here at the House of Love

the kids do just that.

Preston is learning how to put things away.

The kids in the CP/Res Unit

fold their washing and then put it away.

and...

would you believe,

they love doing it!!!

Babies Unit Arrival

2010-05-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

This little guy arrived in our Special Care Babies Unit on Friday.

He was born with Anal Atresia and has since had surgery.

All he needs now is to recover,

and catch up on some of his milestones.

But, we need your help.

He needs sponsors to help us

provide 24/7 Care and all his daily needs.

If you would like to sponsor him

please contact

An Orphans Wish by following the link below.

http://www.anorphanswish.org/contact-us.php

Big boys bikes

2010-04-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

After riding a little ride on car for the last year or so,

Landon decided to launch out and try the "big boys bikes".

Although he still can't quite reach the pedals...

even though the seat is all the way down.....

there is no stopping this boy.

And he has no shortage of "helpers"...

just in case

he needs an extra push!

Learning to tackle the stairs

2010-04-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Clubfoot and the Babies Units are both on the second floor of our facility.

We have a policy

that these kiddos have to

crawl up and down the stairs - purely for safety reasons.

So, time to learn how to do it.

Claire sat and observed a number of others first

before she decided to give it a go.

Our Carers were right there beside each of the kids

showing them just how it was done.

When you have AFO's or a brace on

it's not that easy -

but there's no stopping these little achievers!

What do leaves taste like?

2010-04-27T05:45:00.000-07:00

Olivia was fascinated with some leaves she found on the grass.

Not to be left out, Preston was over in a flash!

One for me ... One for you.

You go first....

Ummm, maybe I'll wait for dinner.

Well Done Steven.

2010-04-25T03:18:00.000-07:00

Steven came home from school on Friday night with wonderful news.

He couldn't wait to show us.....

His test results......

Wait for it....

90.5%!

TA DA!!!

It's a wonderful achievement for him,

after a long struggle

to catch up.

He is very proud,

and rightly so!

Wonderful Bumbo's.

2010-04-25T02:58:00.001-07:00

We were given two Bumbo seats last year.

They are fantastic.

We love them.

They amazingly turn grizzly, whiney babies

into

contented babies

who are happy to sit,

participate,

and see what is going on.

Thank you for our Bumbo's.

Gorgeous!

2010-04-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

Sydney came by for a visit with her foster Mum.

She has had her surgery

and I'm sure you would all agree,

her lip looks great.

She rode on the push a long car,

played with toys,

and

was generally

oohhed and aaahhed over

by the Carers.

Frank turns 13!

2010-04-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Excitement reigned!

Frank could not believe it was to be his birthday the next day.

He kept asking everyone,

"Is it really MY Birthday tomorrow?"

By the end of the day, everyone was chorusing

"YES!"

Last year he was

soooo excited

and

laughed soooo much,

he could hardly blow out the candles.

This year,

he was still excited,

but managed the candle blowing easily,

got right into unwrapping gifts,

and ate plenty of cake,

as he celebrated his birthday for the second time in his life!

2010-04-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

This little guy arrived last week.

He doesn't have Clubfeet, but because of a condition he has, his hands are turned back at his wrists. He's going to stay with us while we cast his hands and get them into a functional position. At the moment, everyday things we take for granted like feeding ourselves, or having a drink, are huge hurdles for him to overcome.

As he's older, he's going to stay with the kids in the CP/Res Unit, and as you can see, he's already settled into riding on the scooters and playing with the others!

Who got it next?

2010-04-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

Well, we know you've been patiently waiting...

so here it is at long last!

The wheelchair's newest owner is

Gabriella.

Gabriella came to us in 2008.

She has severe CP.

She can't hold up her head, even though she has just turned 3.

We have tried everything to make her as comfortable as possible,

as we didn't have anything suitable for her to sit in.

All sorts of shapes and sorts of cushions -

water filled, hollowed out, small, big....

strollers, bathing chairs, special baby chairs...

but nothing worked effectively to make her comfortable

and to give her the support she needs.

So apart from when she was held,

she spent nearly all her time on the floor in different positions.

And

she hardly ever complained.

We started to look at Ruby's chair, as she was outgrowing it,

and yes

it would work!

yeah!!

The big day finally came last week.

All was made ready.

She was one excited little girl,

her first opportunity to sit correctly,

be up with everyone else,

and see everything that's happening.

Gabriella can't speak, although she can make some noises.

We communicate with her at the moment by blinking, 1 for yes, 2 for no

and she knows what she wants!

We sat her in the chair put on all the straps

and

asked her

"How is it?"

She took a deep breath,

and with all her strength,

SAID

"Hao"

(which is "good" in Chinese)

and grinned from ear to ear.

What a moment.

It's not one that we will forget.

This wheelchair is now changing another little girl's life.

The Wheelchair.

2010-04-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

In 2005 we received donated wheelchair.

Some ladies organised for a company in Colorado, USA, to custom make a wheelchair for Lyn, one of our children who has severe CP. They brought it with them when they came to visit.

We'd like to tell you the story of this chair and how it has been used.

Before having this wheelchair, Lyn could only lie on a bed,

in fact, her contractures were so bad,

that it took hours of therapy before she could begin to use it.

But, she did,

and it changed her life as you can see from the photos!

But,

Lyn outgrew it,

so we adapted it for another of our children

Jacob, who also has CP.

Jacob loved the wheelchair

and all the freedom it gave him to be a little boy!

But,

Jacob outgrew it also

and we adapted it again.

This time it was for

Zac, a little 3 year old with CP.

Zac didn't have any head control,

so the headrest and other attachments gave him a much better quality of life

and

enabled him to participate in the daily life of the House of Love.

But

yes you guessed it..

Zac outgrew the chair

and so it was time to adapt it again!

This time for Ruby

also one of our residents in the CP/Res Unit at the House of Love.

Although she doesn't have CP, she is immobile,

so the chair has increased her quality of life.

But,

as usual,

Ruby also outgrew the chair...

And Yes,

we have adapted it again!

But,

you'll have to wait till the next post

to see whose it is now!

Right now,

we just want to express our thanks again

to the ladies,

Diana & Lily

who organised the wheelchair all those years ago.

And to the company who donated it,

Thank you

for making a life changing difference

in so many children's lives.

Hooray!

2010-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

Yippee! We're so happy for Cassie because she had her tenotomy late last week.

She's done really well with all her casts, but as you can see,

she's always happy to get back to the Unit

and

into the swing of her normal routine!

Now, we just can't wait to see her little tootsies in a brace!

But...the others were not forgotten!

2010-03-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

As we couldn't take everyone, we decided some take out was the order of the day.

We would have loved to take soft serves, but they wouldn't last the trip...

so we armed ourselves with what we knew our Chinese kids would love....

Would you believe it.... Corn... and fries!

Yes, where else in the world do you know of kids who consider corn a wonderful treat?

Our kids LOVE it!

So, for an after dinner snack everyone chowed down on corn, fries and ketchup!

And they had a wonderful time!

A stop at Maccas.

2010-03-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

We had to make a trip to town today and Landon was the lucky little guy who got to come along for the ride.

We asked him if he'd like some McDonalds.

He's only been there once before - but this little man knows his mind.

YES - came the quick reply!

He devoured the corn, the OJ, and then polished off the burger.

But, he still found enough room in that little tummy of his, to put away a whole soft serve!

Lilly's Turn.

2010-03-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Our youngest little darling had her first casts this week. Although she wasn't super thrilled to start with about all that was going on, it wasn't long before she settled down.

We just love the photo of her looking up at our Supervisor, who is always with the children when they have their casting appointments.

We hope that you enjoy following her journey with us.

1st Cast a Breeze!

2010-03-23T17:07:00.001-07:00

Sarah slept peacefully through most of her first casting appointment this week.

When I checked her throughout the day, she was content just to sleep and drink just as normal.

Her new casts didn't make one iota of difference to her normal routine!

Nice weather at last!

2010-03-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today the kids had fun outside in the lovely weather.

They jumped on the trampoline.

They played in the sandpit.

They rode bikes.

It was lovely to see them enjoy the nice day.

Look who popped in!

2010-03-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

Sophie came in for her first checkup since going into foster care.

She is doing really well, and her feet are doing all the right things!

She has a great foster mum who just loves this little cutie pie to pieces.

Pardon me Claire – are they your new shoes ….and brace?

2010-03-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

She is mobile, crawling all around and into everything as normal,

BUT,

she doesn’t like anyone even looking at her feet or taking a photos!

So these shots are taken after a lot of cajoling by Gabi!

Gwendolyn's Journey.

2010-03-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Gwendolyn arrived in the Babies Unit on the 3^rd Jan 08.

She was a very sick little baby, with a very serious heart condition.

We sought help for her over the next few months, but unfortunately couldn’t find any hospital which felt they could take on her case. There didn’t seem to be any hope for her.

We were there through all her “firsts”, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking, just living and loving life!!

Over the year, her health greatly improved, so we decided to try once more to see if she could be helped.

This time we got positive news and eventually, Gwendolyn had her surgery in Beijing last year.

She returned to us after surgery to recover.

And last Friday, she went into foster care!

Farewell!

2010-03-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Josh and Janie left for their hometown and to go into foster care last week, after completing their treatment in the Clubfoot Unit. We took time to prepare them, talking to them both about their new homes and how they would get there.

It’s wonderful to see the changes in the children’s lives throughout their stay, but it’s always hard to say goodbye.

How wonderful that they are leaving us – treated

and with the opportunity to lead a normal life.

Thank you to everyone who helped Josh and Janie throughout their stay with us.

Helping Out.

2010-03-13T05:09:00.001-08:00

On Friday after dinner, Ruby was crying and wouldn't be consoled. The Carers were busy cleaning up and organizing the children with their chores.

Our Director heard what was happening and asked Jack if he'd take Ruby for a walk outside in the courtyard. He wanted to help, but he was in the middle of doing his chores. Brad piped up and said, "Don't worry, I'll do your chores for you."

So off Jack went, with Emily along to help where she could. As soon as they were outside, Ruby stopped crying and enjoyed the ride.

Enjoy the photos and see the care they take of Ruby, even stopping to wipe up her dribble!

How's that for family?

New Wheels for Ruby!

2010-03-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

Today, Ruby got her new wheelchair, complete with a edged table, so she can play with things without them always falling on the floor.

The table is made from layers of cardboard glued together and covered with thick vinyl. It's then attached to the arms of the wheelchair with thick velcro.

We're looking forward to seeing how much she enjoys her new chair.

EXCITING CHANGES FOR AN ORPHANS WISH

2010-03-10T05:24:00.000-08:00

We have a new Director for our US Operations - Stefanie Leist! We couldn't have found a more perfect fit!

I am humbled and honored at the opportunity to become the new Director of An Orphan's Wish. My passion for orphans began in 2005, when my eyes were opened to the need for not only adoptive families to step forward to care for these children, but also for advocacy for the children left behind. Since that time, my husband Chris and I have adopted five special needs children from China. We consider ourselves immeasurable blessed by the addition of each of our children.

Our connection to Guilin began in 2006, when we adopted our daughter Sophie from Guilin. The connection was deepened in early 2010, with the adoption of our newest daughter, Vivienne, who is also from Guilin. Additionally, I had the privilege of traveling with LeeAnn to visit An Orphan's Wish in May 2009 and was thoroughly impressed by not only the facility and the attentiveness with which the careers handle each and every child, but with Brian and Kirsten, who give their very heart and soul to this effort. I could not ask to be working with and for a more dedicated and compassionate group of people.

I very much look forward to what 2010 has in store for An Orphan's Wish!

Happy Birthday Janie, Ethan & Cooper!

2010-03-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

These guys just got right into the spirit of things – they were ready to party and weren’t daunted by any tears!

Ethan led the pack, blowing out the candles, ripping off the paper, and trying to “help” the others!

Janie is now the proud owner of a pink flowery blanket, some clothes & hair ties. Cooper and Ethan both just loved their cars and teddies.

Time for cake and little hands were outstretched to get their share, which was quickly devoured in the hopes of getting another piece!

Party over, and Ethan was off like a rocket to stash his loot in his room!

It’s my party & I’ll cry if I want too……

2010-03-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

We celebrated the February Clubfoot Unit & Special Care Unit kiddos birthdays on Friday! Yes, I know we were a bit late, but life has been a bit hectic round here lately!

Anyway.

Everything was going to plan, all the kids seated around the tables, when all of a sudden Claire burst into tears! And I mean major tears! Nothing would stop them!

Not singing Happy Birthday - in Chinese & English!

Not blowing out candles on the cake!

Not opening presents!

Nothing!

She just continued to cry!

She did stop however … to eat cake!

Which she enjoyed, all the while closely guarding her gifts – a bunny, a Hello Kitty blanket, hair ties and a bag.

By end of the celebration … she was back to her happy self!

Our latest Cutie Pie!

2010-03-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

This precious little girl arrived very tired, and very hungry, early on Friday morning. She is now settling into the Unit, so she is ready for her Clubfoot treatment. She devoured her bottle, never once taking her eyes off the Carer, and was eager for some more! It wasn’t long before she was all tucked up, sound asleep, all warm and cosy in her crib.

Rylie turns 6!

2010-03-06T05:06:00.000-08:00

Rylie was Princess for the day on Friday as she celebrated her 6th birthday. She fell head over heels for her Barbie princess doll, which she toted around for the rest of the day!

As well as the Barbie, she was over the moon with her fluffy dog handbag, hair ties and a beautiful Strawberry Shortcake blanket for her bed.

The end is in sight!

2010-03-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

Timothy had tenotomy's today. He now has a break from casting for a few weeks, while we wait for them to heal.

Next, he'll go into the bracing phase which will last for 3 months, before going into foster care.

Christmas Baby!

2010-03-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

This little darling was born with Clubfoot on Christmas Day. She will receive a belated but wonderful gift; her feet well corrected and she will have the chance of a life without this disability.

She arrived at our Unit today, after a long 12 hour trip. It wasn't long before she was bathed, in clean clothes, and had a full tummy. For now, we'll focus on getting her into a good routine and getting her well - she has a chest infection - then we'll start her treatment.

However, she does need sponsors to help her. If you are interested in sponsoring her, please go to the Contact Us link on the Front page of our Website.

Look at me now!

2010-03-01T07:17:00.001-08:00

Casting is over for Zac, he's now in his brace - hooray! This little guy has had more hurdles than normal to overcome, and we think he's a little champ.
We've posted a before and after shot, so you can see just how much his life has changed for the better. It's not just his feet that have been treated, but his hands as well!

Nearly there!

2010-03-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

Benjamin is in his last cast, after having his tenotomy on Friday. It won't be long before he's out of it and into his brace.

Little Helper!

2010-02-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

Ethan was helping out the Supervisor today, bringing some supplies around to the Special Care Unit in the toy stroller! He was as pleased as punch!

Steven's work of art.

2010-02-24T05:38:00.000-08:00

Steven one of the teenagers from the CPU/Res Unit, is deaf and attends the Deaf school in town. He's had some problems in the past with being bullied at school, but we've been able to sort these out and he is now happy at school.

He's quite artistic, loves to draw, grow plants and do things with his hands. This is his latest creation. He found a piece of marble and carved a shoe out it!

Good weather.

2010-02-23T06:40:00.001-08:00

The weather has been a lot warmer these past few days and the kids - well everyone - is thoroughly enjoying it. Tina and Landon took their activities outside for a change.

Relaxed or What?

2010-02-23T06:33:00.000-08:00

Josh sleeps with his feet in the air and the blanket all over his face. He is completely relaxed, hard to imagine with his feet in the air, but he is! If we try to move the blanket, he will drag it back up over his face, even in his sleep!

Sunshine!

2010-02-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

4 days ago we had sleet, today - 21 degrees C! The kids made the most of the outdoors in the sunshine for a change. Even one of the Supervisors kicked up her heels and joined in the fun on the trampoline!

Benjamin

2010-02-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

Benjamin had his last cast before his tenotomy next week. It'll be no time before he's in his bracing stage.

Ready, Steady, GO!

2010-02-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

After a few weeks of very tentative steps, Preston has launched out and is now finding his balance for walking!

Helping Out.

2010-02-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

The kids in the CP/Res Unit love any opportunity to lend a hand.

Cassie

2010-02-19T06:49:00.000-08:00

Cassie was happy to lie back and relax during her casting, with an ample supply of lollipops and toys! She certainly doesn't let the casts stop her, we had to put on extra fibre glass on this week, as she tries to walk with them on and cracks the plaster!

Boys will be boys!

2010-02-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

Jack was being his exuberant self today and somehow managed to fall over on the concrete and split his chin. He was very brave while it was being dressed, but the tears came afterwards - he was worried about how he'd have a shower with the dressing on!
It didn't slow him down for the rest of the day though, he was on his bike in no time!

English Class.

2010-02-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

The kids in the English Class had a great time getting ready for Chinese New Year last Friday. Along with learning new vocab, they finished the lesson making Chinese Lanterns to decorate the Dayroom.

New Arrivals.

2010-02-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Bing Bing who is playing with the truck and Shan Shan the little cutie with her hair up, arrived at the House of Love just before Chinese New Year. Both are going to be treated in our Clubfoot Unit over the next few months.

If you would like to sponsor either of these two gorgeous children, please go to the Contact Us link on the front page of our website.

Amy's Big Day.

2010-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

It was Amy's turn to celebrate her 8th birthday today. She really wanted a new bath towel, and was thrilled to find a Strawberry Shortcake towel among her gifts. There were also some lovely hair ties, and some beautifully warm fleecy winter pyjamas.

The Winner's Day Out.

2010-02-04T06:59:00.001-08:00

The kids have been working hard in the competition for the "tidiest room" award.
Brad and Landon won the boy's award and Helen, Lyn and Amy won the competition among the girls.
The five children celebrated with a trip to KFC for lunch and shopping adventure at Walmart.
Each child had Rmb10 to spend - which is about $1.50, and much time was taken over what to spend their money on!
Once the decisions were made, we made a dash for the checkout, before they could change their minds ......... again!

Ruby's Day.

2010-01-30T08:06:00.001-08:00

Ruby turned 5 today. She really liked the celebration, and really enjoyed the sounds her new xylophone made.

Pure delight.

2010-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Oliver turned 9 on Friday and boy was he happy! As soon as we arrived at the House, he was there making himself known in no uncertain terms, that it was his special day. He thoroughly enjoyed his celebration with the other children in the Unit.

Sitting back relaxing!

2010-01-24T07:18:00.001-08:00

Lexi & Cassie were just sitting back relaxing on Friday after they had their new casts put on. The children need to stay in the stroller until the casts are dry, but this is considered a treat, as they don't get to go in the stroller otherwise!

Tina turns 16!

2010-01-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

Tina celebrated her 16th birthday this week with the other children in the CP/Residential Unit. She was so excited, she needed help to blow out her candles after attempting to blow them out a couple of times herself! She enjoyed her gifts, but is looking forward to getting her ears pierced in the coming weeks.

Zac & Benjamin

2010-01-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

Benjamin's next cast went on easily, and Zac's feet were in a position to be able to do his tenotomy, which almost brings him to the end of the treatment stage.

Timothy & Claire

2010-01-19T07:02:00.000-08:00

Timothy and Claire's casting is going very well and we're really pleased with the correction we're seeing in their feet. They are both really active after their casts are dry, but enjoy the first few hours sitting in the stroller while they casts completely dry.

The Pit that’s a Hit!

2010-01-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

A donor made it possible for us to buy a wonderful new piece of playground equipment for the Clubfoot Unit. As you can see from the photos it is a huge hit!

I’m waiting for my Latte……

2010-01-12T02:33:00.000-08:00

Cassie’s condition is complicated and is not just clubfoot. She hasn’t had casts on for a few weeks because of complications. We’re hoping for a smooth run now and as you can see she is a most satisfied customer.

Hong Can’s first casts.

2010-01-12T02:26:00.000-08:00

Hong Can is the newest addition to the family and he had his first casts applied yesterday. He also needs sponsors. Stay tuned to follow his progress.

Freedom for Josh!

2010-01-12T02:21:00.000-08:00

Josh came out of the fulltime bracing stage on Monday. He will leave to go back into foster care in his hometown in a few weeks.

Goodbye Miss Sophie!

2010-01-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Today was a memorable day for the Clubfoot Unit, as we said goodbye to Sophie who left with her new Foster Mum. Sophie is the first child to leave after finishing the casting and fulltime bracing stages of treatment. She now only needs to wear her brace for naps and at night. Isn’t she just a darling?

Here comes 2010!

2009-12-31T01:01:00.000-08:00

Cooper has been in the Unit since arriving as a newborn in February, and we've had the priviledge of watching his progress over this past year. He has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, but that isn't stopping him - he's an active little guy!
We would like to express our thanks to all our sponsors who've helped us to make a difference not just for Cooper, but for many other children in the House of Love Units over this past year.
We hope you enjoy following Cooper's progress in 2010, as we partner together and see children's lives changed for the better.

Benjamin arrives.

2009-12-29T07:01:00.000-08:00

Benjamin was our newest arrival to the Clubfoot Unit, just before Christmas. It wasn't long before he had had a warm bath and was sound asleep after lots of cuddles.

The children in full voice!

2009-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

The children of the House of Love send their greetings for the Holiday Season.

Christmas Celebration!

2009-12-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a generous sponsor, the children at the House of Love celebrated Christmas with a BBQ celebration. Ribs, chicken, sausage, bread rolls, drinks and fruit made for a wonderful party. Before the BBQ they put on a small performance showcasing their reading and recital work from school and concluding with a rendition of We Wish you a Merry Christmas in English. Santa even came and the children each received a small gift to finish off a wonderful afternoon.

Casting this week.

2009-12-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

Lexi, Zac and Claire have all had their casts changed again this week. It's good to see the progress.

Birthdays!

2009-12-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

Helen from the CPU/Residential Unit celebrated her 12th birthday today and Preston from the Special Care Babies Unit celebrated his 1st birthday as well. Each had a separate celebration in their own Unit, which was much enjoyed by everyone.

Haircuts

2009-12-16T04:39:00.000-08:00

Lexi and Zac both had a trip to the hairdresser today and both are now sporting a new look.

MIn Hao

2009-12-15T04:24:00.000-08:00

We thought you'd like to see the progress of Min Hao's feet, after the cast was removed, as well as when the new cast was put on this week. He's doing well.

Finally she's home!

2009-12-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

Gwendolyn arrived back safely late Friday evening, after being away for 4 months for heart surgery. She is settling back in well to the Babies Unit, after greeting the Carers she knew by name when she arrived!

Claire

2009-12-12T03:52:00.000-08:00

Casting is not Claire's favourite time of the week, but she does enjoy eating candy and being sung to while they are applied and loves to show them off to the other children when she gets back to the Unit.

Lexi

2009-12-12T03:50:00.000-08:00

Lexi is very happy to have her new set of special shoes put on every week.

Zac

2009-12-12T03:44:00.000-08:00

Zac's feet are progressing, though it's slowly, it's encouraging to see the change. We have to watch very carefully that his feet don't slip in, that's why there is a black line drawn across his toes, so we can see straight away if it happens.

Joey

2009-12-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

We just thought you'd like to see how Joey is progressing. He has learnt to walk on his two "good" feet! We have built up one shoe for him, as he has one leg a little shorter than the other, but he's doing great!