Won’t you please consider donating to an adoption grant fund for a child who needs a home? Reece’s Rainbow is a non-profit organization that helps children who have Down syndrome internationally find their “Forever Families”

Our family is donating to Jeffrey I chose him to post about on picture alone. I know it might have been more helpful to have picked a child who there was more of a background to tell you all about. In Eastern Europe it is not uncommon for babies that are born with a diagnosis of Down syndrome to be taken to orphanages. They are able to stay in their baby homes typically until the age of 3. Around that time the paperwork is begun to move them into institutions. While some can still be adopted after that time, it does not appear common. That’s where Reece’s Rainbow comes into the picture. This organization was started by one mother who had the good fortune to give birth to a child that has Down syndrome 6 years ago. Since that time she has become a passionate advocate for children and families of children who have Down syndrome. Her organization started raising money and assisting families in the process of adopting children that have Down syndrome. In other countries these children are typically viewed as outcasts and unable to learn and set away from society and the stimulation and love they desperately need. Before my life as a mother I used to work with adults that had a variety of developmental diagnosis and had lived the majority of their lives in institutions. Once they were able to move into their own homes and begin receiving one-on-one attention in a loving environment- they did learn. They began doing the everyday household activities that they were believed to not be capable of- it turned out they were just never given the same opportunities to learn and grow and be loved that you or I had growing up. So I can testify that if an adult with a diagnosis of the like of severe to profound mental retardation can grow and learn- then the possibilities of a very young baby or child that may have an accompanying diagnosis of mild to moderate mental retardation along with Down syndrome is fully capable of living a wonderful life- just like any of the rest of us- if, IF they are given that blessed opportunity.

Now- that is where you come into the picture. Won’t you consider adopting one of these beautiful children? Is that too much?- how about contributing to an adoption grant fund that will go directly to a specific child’s waiting Forever Family, that is just trying to raise the money to bring their little one home. That is what our family can do at this time and is doing. As I typed I kept going back to their page debating picking another child to post about that there is more information to share- a personal touch that might draw you in and make you more likely to give a few dollars. But in order to do that I would have had to remove sweet Jeffrey’s picture and I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. Maybe by the time you go to their website there will be more information about him- maybe not- but maybe in the process you will read about another little child and that will touch your heart and spur you on to donate- or adopt. So I decided to add a few more children’s pictures in hoping one of them would touch your heart’s as well. The Christmas Angel Tree Adoption Grant Fund highlights specific children that you can donate too. We chose Jeffrey because he is noted to be at high risk for institutionalization due to his age (these children are noted in red) and he had very little money currently in his adoption fund.

We are so blessed in this country to have so many great resources. The understanding of Down syndrome and the potential of a person born with this diagnosis really lies in the care they are able to receive. If they are encouraged, and expected to do well and given all of the love, health care, education and engagement that a typical child is- then their future is wide-open just like any of the rest of your children. The future of children with Down syndrome has really changed in the last 10 years. With the help of Early Intervention and adequate medical care- these children are more like your other children then they are different. They have conditions that can be medically managed- they are not outcasts that have no potential as they are viewed in less developed nations.

There are a number of families in our community like Lisa’s and Michelle’s that have read about these dear children and have made the leap of faith to begin their adoption journey to bring a new heart into their families. Go read their stories and get to know these amazing families.

Please consider helping a child find their Forever Family before they are faced with being institutionalized for the rest of their life. Some of these children need the care our medical system is able to manage and some don’t have any health care needs. Please at least take the time to come over to Reece’s Rainbow and meet these little darlings and consider making a donation.

And one last plea to my Corner View friends. The number one thing that prevents a child from being donated to or adopted is a bad picture. If the child was having a bad day and that is what was captured- that is all there is for any potential family to go on- and more often than not- that causes the child to be overlooked- for another child who was having a better child and maybe was a tad more photogenic. You,my corner view friends live all over the world and are amazing photographers. Would you consider contacting Reece’s Rainbow to see if there might be something that you could do- to see if it might be possible that you could help take good quality photos- so that one instance in time is not what is standing between a child finding it’s Forever Family  or living a life of institutionalization? What a difference a gift of your time and talent could make in the life of a sweet child.

Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings to all- Please let your heart be filled with the joy of these children and their potential.

From our family to yours- with love and hope.