November 2008 we visited Starfish Fosterhome in Xi'an. We had just met our daughter a few days before and she was so very happy to be back home... Hugging her nanny and all of her friends there! The fosterhome's appartment was filled with children; babies being fed and sleeping, toddlers running around or watching television. One little boy was lying on the couch though; he was unable to move his body. I decided to pick him up and walk around with him. Jack loved looking out the window and showed me the most gorgeous smile. Amanda, the founder of Starfish told me he was born with Spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He had surgery at two months but his legs were paralyzed.
We went home with our beautiful daughter, but Jack was stil on my mind. I started advocating for him on an international forum. Thinking his forever family should find him soon.... but nothing happened... Jack is still in China. He is fortunate because he is at Starfish. He is loved so very much!! But... he needs a forever family...
I have an update from this summer: "Jack is two and a half years old and has such a sparkling personality. He really is the life of the party. He loves people and will let any one hold him. He is smart and his Chinese is coming along so well. He asks for anything he wants to eat and his favorite is M&M's but he also loves Cheerios. He was born with Spina bifida and at birth his legs were already paralyzed. He had surgery at about two months for the SB and later got a Shunt for his hydrocephalus. He was recently given a wheel chair and at the end of day one he was already navigating it around the house."
We went home with our beautiful daughter, but Jack was stil on my mind. I started advocating for him on an international forum. Thinking his forever family should find him soon.... but nothing happened... Jack is still in China. He is fortunate because he is at Starfish. He is loved so very much!! But... he needs a forever family...
I have an update from this summer: "Jack is two and a half years old and has such a sparkling personality. He really is the life of the party. He loves people and will let any one hold him. He is smart and his Chinese is coming along so well. He asks for anything he wants to eat and his favorite is M&M's but he also loves Cheerios. He was born with Spina bifida and at birth his legs were already paralyzed. He had surgery at about two months for the SB and later got a Shunt for his hydrocephalus. He was recently given a wheel chair and at the end of day one he was already navigating it around the house."
And another story:
"Jack was one of Lia's best friends at Starfish. Jack is an (almost) 3 yr old little boy who was born with Spina Bifida, and is paralyzed from the waist down - but Jack does not let that stop him from being an amazing, generous, sweet little soul. He gets around wonderfully in a little wheelchair that was donated to Starfish specifically for him. When Lia left Starfish to be brought to us, Jack continued to save part of his food for her, in case she might come back hungry...THAT is the kind of kid Jack is. Every day I pray for the children at Starfish, but I especially pray for Jack. I so want this sweet boy's family to find him. He has been on the China "shared list" for over a year now... I'm sure the words "spina bifida" are scaring families away, but if they could see Jack and get to know him, see how well he gets around and what an amazing kid he is, I know families would be fighting over who gets to make him their son! Jack has seen many of his friends come and go from Starfish, yet he always remains. Now he is one of the oldest kids there. Do YOU know someone who could be Jack's forever family?"
And today I thought "What if his family has found him already, but they just dont have the funds to adopt? Maybe if a lot of people chip in for Jack we can help his forever family to bring him home."
Finances should not be a consideration for the family who adopts Jack, and it doesn't matter to me what country they live in, the only requirement is that they will love him unconditionally......... And their only concern should be getting the paperwork done and going to bring him home. The financial burden needs to be lifted. What an incredible incentive it would be for a loving family considering bringing him home to know that finances are something they do not have to worry about.
I have added a Chip-In on this blog. Every single dollar raised will go directly into Jack’s grant fund. Please consider making a donation.
Please do whatever you can to help us spread the word. Tell Jack’s story to everyone you know. Post him on your Facebooks, Twitters, and your blog.
Thank you. There truly are no words to express how much I appreciate your help with this mission. Thank you for helping sweet Jack come home.
