Happy Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month!

1. I am super special!  No one has the same CP!
                                      
2. I  get to find different ways to do things.

3. I get to teach people that being different can be fun.

4. It doesn't affect how smart I am.

5.I know how amazing it is to be able to do basic things like walk.

6. I have special helpers in my life.

7. If I have what I need it can't get worse it can only get better.

8. It isn't scary!

9. I think things just like other people.

10. CP is part of who I am.

11. CP doesn't disable your spirit, personality, or sense of humor!!!

~ Written and typed by Kai Nicholas Cogan, age 11

P.S.
You may notice that the video is pre-Kassi. We're so glad to have her sweet smile in our pictures nowadays!

Bert

Here's another sweet little guy that I'd like you to meet. 

Bert. 

Does he not have the most adorable smile?? 

A very kind and generous person has made a beautiful offer. I'm going to copy and paste it here: 

"I know Bert has been on many hearts in this group over the past two years. 

I am new to RR, but out of all the angels, he alone pulls the strongest at my heart. 

Here is a video of him from July 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeoEA3U-kDk&feature=youtu.be

And here is another video from June 2016 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlnVHrFiH8k&feature=youtu.be

He has updated pictures from this fall 2016 too.

Is there ANYONE that is considering him? Anyone that may be able to scoop him up or commit to him before he is moved to the institution? (He is going to be moved very very soon :(((( )

I am making this plea on his behalf, and if you are moved to rescue this sweet child, please message me.

I am willing to help take on any financial stress that is needed to adopt him. He has a good bit in his donation fund, but any other costs for his adoption, I would happily be able to take on (personally), if there is a family ready to commit.  

Our family cannot commit at this moment due to the travel needed, so I am sending out this plea for Bert, hoping that someone will hear.

If you are feeling called to him, and the financial stress of adopting him is stopping you- Please message me! This boy needs a family, and together we can make it possible."

Please do note that children from this country MAY have FAS, Autism, RAD or other institutional behaviors not diagnosed. But if you are interested, you can ask for his film and have a doctor review it!

I am more than happy to connect you with people who have experience with any of these conditions, with the process for his country, and possibly even people who have met him! I can also put you in contact with the person who can help with funding.

What they are saying here is this: don't think about the funds, think about this precious little boy! 

If he might be a good fit for your family, PLEASE email me (theworldwillchangeblog@gmail.com)! 

This darling little guy was born with Cerebral Palsy. 

I know, I know - that sounds so scary! But seriously, friends - it isn't!  I live with CP x2. It's not extremely severe, but it is CP.  

And guess what? 

We change our life around in some ways. 

But guess what else? 

It is no. big. deal. 

Because seeing this smile every single day? 

Or getting a kiss from this sweet face? 

THAT is a big deal. And I wouldn't trade that for anything. 

CP is not scary!

Tears

I wrote this five months ago, but never published it. That was a really hard week, and my heart was very raw. 

For almost exactly one month, Kassi never cried. 

One of the most traumatic months of her life - and she never shed a tear. 

Leaving everything that she has known for fourteen years, to go to a country where she only speaks three words of the language, with people that she had never seen before - and she kept a smile on her face.

Until she cried. 

When she finally let herself trust us, her forever family, enough to let out her emotions. 

What caused the tears? Us telling her that we would love her and never leave her - every day forever and ever. 

She really has no concept right now of what love means, but she is learning.  We are still (and likely will be for a while) working through the confusion that she has about the meaning of being a family. She told us today that she was worried that if we found another child to come into our family, we would "trade" her for them. We are reiterating over and over that we will ALWAYS love her and be her family, and we will never leave her! 

It was so heart-wrenching and painful - but watching Mama just hold her and rock her while Daddy held her hand as she cried was one of the most beautiful things that I have seen. 

She has had many more times of just needing to be held in the rocking chair while she lets out these big, hard emotions, and I know that she will have many more, but that day touched her heart as well - very, very deeply. Since then, she has told us that she loves us - and asked whether we loved her - over and over again.  She worked all afternoon on a picture thanking Mama for holding her and taking care of her, and she is singing us all of the songs that she knows about Mamas and Daddies taking care of their children!

My heart is aching so much right now for the children who have or will "age out" without coming home. Without hearing someone say that they will always be taken care of and loved - forever. Without being rocked by their Mama. Without hearing their Daddy call them "Baby" (Kassi's favorite name). 

Kassi is so worried about her friends in the orphanage, and the stories that she tells us about the children who sing the same songs that she is singing to us while they cry themselves to sleep - I can't imagine. Not many of us can. 

But I can imagine the loss to the world that occurs when one of these children loses that chance. I know how amazing our girl is and oh how I wish that everyone could have a Kassi in their life - and a Kellin, Karwen, Kai, Kolya and Kade, too! 

We are missing so much joy when we let these children stay where they are.

So much joy, so much love, so much light. 

Rare Gems

rare¹

rer/

adjective

1. (of an event, situation, or condition) not occurring very often.

   synonyms:

   infrequent, scarce, sparse, few and far between,  like gold dust

   • (of a thing) not found in large numbers and consequently of interest or value.

     synonyms:

     unusual, uncommon, unfamiliar, atypical, singular

Today is National Rare Disease Day! 

When the people who designated this day named it, I think they probably meant rare in the first sense - not occurring often. But I'd love it if we could think of the children represented by this label and remember that there is another definition of the word rare: 

rare¹

rer/

adjective

1. • unusually good or remarkable.

     synonyms:

     exceptional, outstanding, unparalleled, peerless, matchless, unique, unrivaled, inimitable, beyond compare, without equal, second to none, unsurpassed;

I've not met these sweet, precious children (each of whom was born with a rare syndrome or other unusual quality), but I know that they are all remarkable.  

They are fearfully and wonderfully made - rare 'diseases' and all. 

These beautiful ones are, indeed, rare! Rare gems of great worth. 

And today, I'd like to introduce you to a few of those gems: 

There's Zachary, 

Leena, 

Harding, 

Garrett, 

Ollie, 

Emerson,

Nadine, 

Landon, 

Esme, 

Amelia, 

Jared,

Steven,

Jenni, 

Elle,

 

Aven,

Alisha,

Steven,

Maverick,

Callie,

Ollie & Ozzie

Each of these children was born with what society labels as a rare "disease". However, I'm not going to add the names of those conditions here, because I want you to see these faces as the children that they are, not as a syndrome. You can get more information on each of them if you click on their name, but first, remember that these are real kids with favorite colors, favorite foods and a wish for a family. 

If you feel that any of these rare gems might be the missing face in your family picture, email us at: theworldwillchangeblog@gmail.com 

I would be more than happy to connect you with people who have experience with these conditions, and who can help you with the first steps of the journey to your child!

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Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Today is the day to celebrate love. Hearts are everywhere - 

Pink, 

Red, 

Lace, 

Floral, 

Chocolate - 

Pretty much every possible color, shape or size that you could imagine!  

Some are simple....

And some.... 

Are not. 

But you don't often see a heart like this:

On Valentine's Day. 

Or, for that matter, hearts like this: 

Well, today we're going to change that. February also happens to be Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month, and I'd like to introduce you to some kiddos who happen to have been born with "broken hearts". 

Some of these children can't have their photos posted, but click on their names anyway - it might just be your son or daughter that's hiding behind that silhouette! 

Look past their diagnosis and see the child that is there, waiting - is one of them waiting for you? 

Frankie Lee

Oh, his eyes!!!

Kaden

He looks so serious! How I would love to see him smiling with his family! 

Kaley

Sweet girl, you have the most adorable smile! 

Remmie

He's only three years old - where is his family?! 

UPDATE: A wonderful advocate who has met Remmie was able to send me pictures of this sweetheart - and let me tell you, he is DARLING! Interested families please email me - I am allowed to share pictures personally but not publicly. 

Kenny

Look at that face!! 

Ryland

Handsome boy! He's waited almost 11 years for his family - could you be them? 

April

Oh, how I wish that I could see your face, precious girl. I pray that your family will see YOU behind that silhouette!

Billy

You certainly have a sparkle in your eye, Billy - I can only imagine how you'll blossom once you come home! 

Montgomery

Oh, Montgomery. You need a very special family, buddy. You need a family who will love you fiercely for the time that they have with you, and fight to help you have a chance at LIFE! I'm praying that your family will see you past the blue lips and the clubbed fingers and the scary, heart wrenching diagnosis. They need to see you soon! 

Vinn

There isn't much written about this precious one, but I know that there is a real, live little boy behind that snippet of sterile information who is waiting for his family to come and get him!

Johann

I just want to scoop him up and cuddle him!! 

UPDATE: Johann has a family! 

Max

There's a little bit of a smile in his picture, but I'd sure love to see the rest of his grin! 

Henry

Henry, you look like a handful - in all of the best ways!! An advocate who met him describes him as "so full of life and just adorable!"

Gwen

Sweet baby girl looks like she's wondering about something - maybe she wants to know why her Mama isn't there yet? 

UPDATE: Gwen has a family coming! You can help them on their journey here: http://reecesrainbow.org/114304/sponsormyatt

All of these sweethearts were born with CHDs. But their biggest need? A family to love them and hold them tight through everything to come. 

Did you see your son or daughter here? If you did, and you'd like more information about them or how to bring them home, please email me at theworldwillchangeblog@gmail.com! 

I know multiple families who have adopted kiddos with CHD's ranging from very mild to quite "severe". I would be more than happy to put any interested families in touch with the right people to learn more! 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

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