Gabe 7 Months Home

June 2011 -7 months ago-

January 2012


June 2011

January 2012


June 2011

January 2012


June 2011

January 2012


When we first met our Gabe, as you can see HERE, he was frail, scared, could hardly sit up, only ate from a bottle, rejected touch.

Today, just 7 months later, Gabe is over 10 pounds heavier, crawls, climbs, he's happy, laughing, and desires nothing more than to be held.

He signs "eat" and is starting to eat pureed food from a spoon.

Next week he is getting fitted for braces for his legs.
I know he will be walking in no time!

We have seen many specialist since bringing Gabe home. On his medical records from Ukraine it stated that he had a heart condition that would most likely need surgery.
What we found out is that the hole in his heart has healed up on its own and there is no surgery needed!!
After all the many doctor visits and blood test we basically found out that Gabe is 100% healthy!

Now of course I am very grateful for that.

But it does make me angry in some ways.

Angry because the Gabe that we adopted 7 months ago was that way solely due to neglect.
Yes he does have down syndrome, but that alone would not cause a child to be in the condition he was in.

Neglect.

Neglect caused this 6 year old perfect child to weigh only 20 pounds.
Neglect caused him to not have a clue how to hold or play with a toy.
Neglect caused his eyes to be weak because after only having white walls to look at the muscles were not able to strengthen and develop.
Neglect caused his teeth to completely rot away leaving his mouth to bleed every time we brush his teeth.

In the book, The Connected Child, it states that "isolation is more damaging to an infant than early mistreatment."

So Gabe would have been better off being physically abused!

It goes on to say,
"An infant who is rarely touched or spoken to during the first weeks and months of life can suffer critical mental and behavioral impairments, even death.
That is why the orphanage system - in which children are left lying in row after row of cribs unattended - has been phased out in the United States in favor of foster homes, which provide a child with social and sensory nurturing he or she desperately needs."

NO CHILD DESERVES TO BE NEGLECTED

I've said it before and I will continue to say it.

We are not called to care for the orphans. We are commanded to care for them.

Go ahead and look in the Bible for yourself, you'll see.

Does this mean everyone should adopt a child? No.

But do something.

Donate. Pray. Advocate.

Something

If you are wondering where to start, you can go to Reece's Rainbow and look at all the beautiful children waiting. Donate to a child of your choice or go to the "Sponsor a Family" page and choose a family to help bring home their child.

IN DREAMS


AND IN LOVE


THERE ARE NO IMPOSSIBILITIES