This past May, I went with a small group of therapists to an orphanage that was referred to us for help by Hangzhou SWI.   We are frequently moved to tears by the plight of some of the children we see in these institutions, as we were this time.  Several children just radiated their extremely dire need for some simple things.

         The one I’m writing this about is a charming little 12 year old girl who has Cerebral Palsy. Unfortunately, she has received no treatment at all in all this time.  She gets around by scooting in a small plastic child’s chair.   While she is cognitively normal, she has not received ANY schooling because of her lack of mobility. She clearly wants to learn as she practices Chinese characters all day in a little paper book.  

         She desperately needs a gait trainer, a device that will allow her to learn to walk. Our therapist is sure that this little girl will be able to walk with one. A gait trainer costs $2700. We want to buy one to deliver on the medical trip this October, and train the staff on its use with this child. Then we will strongly encourage them to put her in school.  Just think of how her life will change! Right now she has only her plastic chair to scoot with, and no schooling. She basically does nothing new all day, every day.  Our hope is that when the staff learns how to use the gait trainer, they will be able to help other children with the same condition.

         We really hope you will help.  You may donate on our web site, www.redthreadcharities.org, or by check sent to Red Thread Charities, 6632 West Shore Drive, Edina, MN 55345.

         Thank you so very much for helping this child!

                                                      

The Fine Arts are Alive and Well in Chinese Orphanages

As we have said before…we have finished our commitment with one orphanage and have started work at an orphanage a couple hours away.   But it’s really hard to leave our good friends at HZ. They have requested that we keep coming back if only for a day or so to check in and see some kids.   Well, how can we resist?  We love staying at the orphanage dorms and waking up to the familiar sounds.  We love that they always have several adorable kids lined up waiting to be ‘interviewed’ by us.  The privilege of being greeted by the most charming children imaginable is irresistible.  Children that wish to be adopted and would fit in so well in families here in the US..  And they are artists!  Their creativity has been developed in amazing ways. 

The kids sing and dance in solos, duets and groups.. They confidently recite Chinese poetry… and they draw…Wow, do they draw!  One child we saw drew what he explained as a children’s outing, complete with the bus, the traffic jam, the lines of children with two adults and the happy tree that wore a smile because the children did not pick the origami flowers, which he carefully glued onto the tree.  Other children drew happy houses and suns in the sky. 

Another child drew a scary monster!  Lot’s of kids love to draw people... and umbrellas!  A little boy with Down syndrome quickly traced his hand so he could run to the front of the class and have me photograph him.  So cute!  The fine arts are a huge part of the Chinese culture and one that we hope adoptive parents will continue to embrace and encourage. We are so happy that the staff became inspired after visiting centers in the US in 2011 that they have fully embraced the concept of inclusion!  Children who were previously left behind are now being included in the classrooms and the arts programs.  And the staff have realized that the children accept each and every one unconditionally.  Well of course they do.  That is a pretty cool concept.  I’m so glad we are all on the same page. 

Our new kids...they need you

Red Thread Charities needs you to give to the max.  Your donation of $50 will help so many children.  Our group has started with a new orphanage 2 hours away from Hangzhou.  They really need us.  The children aren't smiling yet.  The staff doesn't think they are able to smile.  We proved them wrong on our initial trip when we were able to get the children who don't smile to laugh.  Belly laugh!  Please give.  And consider a trip with us if you are a pediatric therapist!  The children are waiting.  This is what your donation will be used for:  

• ·      Therapy balls
• ·      Reverse walkers
• ·      Cleft Lip and Palate nursers
• ·      Finger cots for oral motor use
• ·      Beautiful board books written in Mandarin
• ·      Cause/ Effect toys
• ·      Musical toys
• ·      Headphones for music therapy
• ·      Sensory brushes
• ·      Therapy putty
• ·      And the list goes on…

Give here at www.redthreadcharities.org/  I feel so strongly about this that I will send you a small Chinese prize if you donate and send me an email.  It might be a silk purse, a cute chinese notebook, a small porcelain tea set... wonderful little things that Cheryl and I went crazy shopping for!  Any amount is wonderful and I would be honored if you sent me an email telling me that you donated.  Let me, Jane Steinmetz,  know at bamboobaby5@mac.com and I would love to send you a sweet prize guaranteed to be made in China.  This little guy is a waiting child but he is happy and living the good life thanks to RTC.  If he is not adopted he will go to work somewhere in China.  He won't go to college but he will still be a happy guy thanks to RTC.  At some point we have to say goodbye.  He needs a family to help him be the little man he can be!  Is it you?   All of our adoptive families have never looked back.      

Beethoven's Minuet in G

Our 10 year old daughter Quin nearly always accompanies us when we go to work at the orphanages in China.  This morning back at home in Wisconsin, she had a very astute observation that I would like to share with you.
Quin takes piano lessons and her teacher has assigned her to learn Beethoven's Minuet in G.  She wanted her to familiarize herself with the music before the next lesson.  I googled a version on You Tube for her to listen to.  When she heard the music, she started to laugh and said, "I wonder why she wants me to learn a chinese children's song!"  I was confused and she explained...  "This is the song they play every morning for the children at Hangzhou!"  Of course!  This melody is so familiar to me that it went right over my head but Quin's only experience hearing it was when she watched the children being taken for walks every single morning at the orphanage in Hangzhou!  I told Quin what valuable information that is for parents who have just adopted a child from Hangzhou.  Playing this same music for a child is a way perhaps, to ease the transition during the adoption process, or comfort a child who has just had surgery.  I also explained to her that it might have the opposite affect and cause anxiety.  But I do know for sure that when those kids hear this song with their new families from the US, or Europe they won't be hearing a classical piece written by a famous german composer.  They'll be hearing this sweet chinese children's song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f00pkoMnYPc

Parting Shot from Hangzhou

Well, we are 'officially' finished with our work at Hangzhou.  Our closing meeting went well and Directors Zhang (in pink), Li,(in pink) and Song (in black) had tears in their eyes when they hugged us goodbye.  (Yes, people in China do hug. You can't work with Americans without learning that cultural skill.)  They made us promise to come back each year for two days to see the newcomers.

We are set to begin work at NingboChildren's Welfare Institute, two hours away by bus.  The director there has been to some of our training and we were approached last October requesting our services.  And the best part is we get to bring Wang Ming and Haiyan (lower left) with us!!!

I know from the adoption community, that there were many children adopted in the last year. I know of hundreds of kids we screened in 3 years' time that are now living in happy families here in the US, the Netherlands, Canada, and Spain. It's such a heartwarming thought being lulled into believing that the numbers are decreasing.  That's why I think it's ironic that on our last trip to Hangzhou CWI, where we were asked to screen only the newcomers it was our busiest day yet. We saw 49 children, mostly infants who, for various reasons, arrived this year on the orphanage doorstep. Mostly babies, but some toddlers as well. Most of the children we saw have special needs, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, limb deficits, and cleft lip and palate to name a few. A few newborns had no apparent special needs or resolved needs such as neonatal jaundice. 
While walking to and from the exam building, it was touching to see the school age children we have gotten to know well in the last 3 years excitedly waving and saying "hello!" in their very best English. You can't walk by a morning preschooler parade without smiling and wiping a tear away.  Life goes on... 

Really not a bad flight at all.  All the volunteers reported a surprisingly good night's sleep after a nice low keyed dinner at a local noodle shop within a short walk from the orphanage. We awaken again to all the familiar sights and sounds that we have experienced over the years...the birds singing, the staff arriving via motor scooter, the clatter of the pre-dawn wagon full of steaming formula and rice congee pulled by ladies in blue smocks. The babies from the next building over from us are just starting to make it known that it is time to get up.  There is a quiet, intermittent fussiness as one by one each child's morning needs are being met. A nice way to wake up...sort of like waves on the ocean.  It happens each day and every day, 365 days a year whether we are here or in the twin cities.  It's a safe comforting routine.