During this season of love and giving, all of us at LWB want to thank you for your compassion and concern for orphaned and vulnerable children. We would like to share just a few stories with you of children helped in 2011... as a reminder of how very much we have accomplished together.  

 

Baby Paul came into our hands in early 2011 after his orphanage told us he was failing to thrive. Paul arrived to our healing home in Henan weighing just 2.5 kg. After just a few months of receiving one-on-one care, he was finally on the road to health. Paul received his cleft lip surgery and is now in our foster care program in Shanxi Province, with his whole future ahead of him.

 

People around the world prayed for little Del after we first posted her photo back in May. She had been born with a heart defect and was gravely ill when we moved her to the hospital for emergency surgery. She remained in critical condition for several weeks following her operation and was then moved to our Heartbridge Healing Home for her post-op care. We smile every time we see a new photo of this beautiful little girl, as she is a true miracle baby.

 

2011 also saw the start of our Sunflower Project, which allows children living in poverty the chance to attend high school. We have loved getting to know students like Yi, who lives with his grandmother in rural Hunan Province. Yi could not understand why his father and mother had left him and wanted to know why he was left sleeping in a cold home with only a piece of plywood for a bed. Thanks to the support of his education sponsors, Yi has told us he has a better understanding that he can work hard to change his own future. He wrote:  "You supported me during my most difficult times, giving me the motivation, creating a desire to change my fate." 

 

While there are many more children we could share with you, finally we are giving thanks this year for the reunion of twins Max and Matthew. We had been asked by Max's orphanage to help him with a complex surgical need, and so we moved him to our Heartbridge Healing Home where he could receive the care he needed. When one of our volunteers visited his orphanage a few months later, it was casually mentioned that Max might have a twin. The baby that our volunteer saw was failing to thrive and close to losing his fight to survive. We quickly moved him to Heartbridge as well... and tests proved the boys are indeed twins! We are so happy that both boys have now regained their health, and these beautiful twins will be adopted together in the spring of 2012!

 

All of these second chances only happened because of your commitment to helping children in need. How wonderful to know that each of these beautiful children now has a completely different life story... a story of hope that was written by YOU.

 

From all of us at LWB, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a blessed 2012.

 

See and read more stories of children helped by visiting our 2011 Top Ten Photos.    

 

Help an orphaned child this holiday season through our Holiday Gift Guide.    

 

Make your year-end secure online charitable contribution or send your check to: 

LWB

P.O. Box 25016
Oklahoma City, OK 73125

 

Donations received or checks postmarked by December 31st are tax deductible in 2011.