Here is "Tessa" (name is changed to protect her privacy), born in August 2008, an orphan in an Eastern European country listed with Reeces Rainbow (click on this link to see her full RR profile)....
The RR Tessa has Cerebral Palsy - but her info says she can already STAND AND WALK INDEPENDENTLY!!! This is HUGE and means a little bit of PT and OT here in the US would do wonders...
The RR Tessa has rickets - which means she needs more Vitamin C and D and more exercise and sunlight!!!
The RR Tessa has strabismus (crossed eyes) - she needs glasses, big whoop!!!!
The RR Tessa is listed as having epilepsy - it is hard to say how severe this special needs is, but I personally know several families who have adopted from Tessa's country and their child was diagnosed with epilepsy due to only a few febrile seizures in infancy/toddlerhood and they needed no medication here in the US! One child did indeed still need medication for seizures but is now doing incredibly well here at home with his family!!!
Finally, the RR Tessa has a speech delay.
So does my Tessa. A "profound phonological delay."
Which means that strangers can only understand about 20% of her speech.
We, her family, can understand about 50-70%.
My Tessa goes to speech therapy 2 times a week for 45 minutes each time at our local school. She LOVES it and is making progress!
I will guarantee you that RR Tessa is not receiving any speech therapy.
This video is my Tessa being her sweet self.
I don't have a video of RR Tessa for you.
I wish I did.
While showing children's pictures is a HUGE help to families discerning adoption, videos are even better!
I know that Malcolm's family was greatly influenced and encouraged by the video they were able to see of their sweet boy using a walker and talking to the person doing the taping.
So I am asking you....
look at MY Tessa....
and SEE RR's Tessa....
and someone bring this sweet girl home.
Oh She is a sweetie. Our oldest has epilepsy so any babies with it/seizures tug at me. We haven't even finalized our little guy or paid off his adoption yet so we really can't be her family and my husband told me to not look at available situations anymore. I'll just have to pray for her a ton. Oh and our 5 yr old adopted daughter is a Teresa
ReplyDeleteI have a Tessa (Teresa) too. Little sweeties. When i look at my girls and then look at the orphans, it just kills me. They deserve the love of a family. A real life. Hope this Tessa gets a family quickly. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI have two boys with speech apraxia (both of whom started out at age 2 as 80% unintelligible), and have logged A LOT of hours in speech therapy over the years. I would SO love to bring little Tessa home. :( Btw Carla, your little Tessa is just a doll!
ReplyDelete