|
New Horizons for ACHH
Our healing homes team has been reviewing how best to help the neediest children entrusted to LWB's care. Our Anhui Cleft Healing Home has been an incredible place for babies born with cleft lip and palate to receive individualized nurturing care. We have seen remarkable progress in babies who have come to us so tiny and frail, and we need to ensure the availability of beds for those fragile babies who most need our help.
 | |
Ricki, a new preemie at ACHH |
With this focus in mind, we will work to identify infants born with cleft lip and cleft palate at a younger age and bring them into ACHH before they find it too hard to feed. We will also begin to identify babies who are failing to thrive for reasons other than cleft lip and palate, so our nurturing, individualized care can save more fragile lives. As space allows, we will support children from our medical program needing one-on-one care after their hospitalizations. ACHH is not a medical facility; however, as with our Fujian Healing Home, we feel confident we can also help feed and nurture other babies needing extra attention.
We have many orphanages requesting our help, and we have recently received three babies born prematurely and struggling to gain weight in their home orphanage. See our most recent Healing Homes' update for photos of all our new arrivals. |
Healing Homes Videos
 | |
LWB Cleft Healing Homes |
 | |
LWB Heartbridge Healing Home |
|
|
It's All About Heart
by Jan Champoux
Healing Homes Associate Director
So much of what we do at the Heartbridge Healing Home centers around the heart. It's not just the healing of children with heart defects (as well as many other medical conditions). There are also anxious hearts as our healing homes and medical teams try to decide the best course of action for a child. Of all the babies waiting for surgery, which one most needs our care? Which baby has a safe place to go, so another can come and find healing? There are the tender hearts of our nannies, who deliver each bottle of formula from a pair of loving arms. There are the generous hearts of our sponsors, who offer both funding and prayers for the children. And as we learned last month, there are many broken hearts when a precious baby leaves this earth too soon.
 | |
Belle |
 | |
Evan |
Whether a baby passes unexpectedly, as with cheerful Evan, or after a risky surgery like gentle Belle, we grieve. Volunteers are called during the wee hours "because I didn't want to tell you over email," condolences are sent to our staff in China, memorials go out to sponsors, and people all over the world mourn the loss of a child. Then in a day or two there is another child, another photo, another life to save, and we open our hearts again. We do it in honor of Evan and Belle and vow that good things will happen because of them. Cross my heart. |
|
|
Can You Help? Pretty Please?
We are often asked if there is anything we need for our healing homes. We do have the need for someone to transport cleft bottles, or vitamins, or a specialty formula on occasion, and it is such a blessing that we have supporters who are willing to purchase or help get those items delivered to the children whenever  they are needed. There is one thing, though, an item in short supply, that we could really use some help with. No trip to the drugstore required, no postage expense, and no airport hand-off as you pass through Beijing. What we need is YOU as a sponsor, if you are able to help. ACHH resident Lindsey here will even try to sway you with her sweet smile and heartfelt sincerity!
As a sponsor, you have the opportunity to make a life-saving impact in the life of a child like Scotty, who currently lives at our Fujian Healing Home. When a team of volunteers was visiting an orphanage in Guizhou Province this past March, Healing Homes Director Julie Flynn Coleman noticed this fragile boy with cleft lip and palate. He was so tiny and frail; however, he listened to the sound of Julie's voice and watched her every move. She knew we had to try to help him. The orphanage didn't know about cleft bottles; so Julie ran out to the van, grabbed the last two bottles she had with
 | |
Scotty in March and June |
her, and showed Scotty's nanny how to hold him up and gently squeeze formula into his mouth. Then she was on the phone, ordering preemie formula and making arrangements for Scotty to come to FHH. Julie left the orphanage hoping and praying that Scotty would make it, and look at him now... just three months later! His lip is repaired, he has gained so much weight, and he is now listed with an adoption agency in the U.S.!
Our four Healing Homes - Anhui Cleft Healing Home (ACHH), Henan Cleft Healing Home (HCHH), Fujian Healing Home (FHH), and Heartbridge Healing Home (HHH) - are all in need of additional sponsors to help us meet our monthly expenses. If you have children, you know how expensive it is to purchase formula, cereal, diapers, and clothing; pay for visits to the pediatrician; and buy medications and toys. In our healing homes there are also the costs of nanny salaries, rent, transportation, keeping the lights and heating or air conditioning going... the list goes on and on.
To see the photos of children needing sponsors, please visit our sponsorship page .
Children are listed by healing home, name, and medical need, plus a photo. So if you have a fondness for one of our homes, or a child with a particular special need, or if you just want to look into their eyes to find the child who speaks to your heart and whose life you can change, you are sure to find a child needing your help. Sponsorships are $50 per month (we also welcome shared sponsorships of $25 per month). As a healing homes sponsor, you will receive photos and updates every month, allowing you to feel a real connection to the child you are helping. If you are unable to become a monthly sponsor, even a small one-time donation can make such a difference in the life of a child like Scotty. Can you help us? Pretty please?
|
|
Hope and Healing for the Boys from Changzhi
In April we were contacted about some needs at the Changzhi SWI in Shanxi Province. This orphanage has over 200 children, and almost all are boys! Three infant boys with cleft needs were identified to come live in our Henan Cleft Healing Home (HCHH). Later two other baby boys joined the group at HCHH; all were labeled failure-to-thrive and desperately needed one-on-one attention.
The boys have adapted well to the routine of the healing home. They have gained a collective 19 pounds in just over two months and have overcome several other health issues. When the two younger boys were recently brought to HCHH by the orphanage staff, they didn't even recognize chubby Paul!
Vicente has just turned one year old and has changed so much! He has gained weight, but, equally as important, he is no longer afraid to interact with the nannies and is enjoying life! We had feared from his head shape that he might have hydrocephalus, but further tests have revealed a different condition which does not require surgery. We are so hopeful for his continued growth and health!
The boys of Changzhi are thriving under the nurturing care of HCHH's loving nannies, and soon we will be able to see them with healed smiles. Paul and Noel should be having surgery in the next two months. There is more good news in store for the Changzhi children as LWB will be starting foster care and a Believe in Me preschool in Changzhi! We are so happy for these lovely baby boys! |
|
|
