Down Syndrome Conference in Bulgaria

Monday, 9 January 2012

Connecting the Rainbow is an outreach program of Reece's Rainbow. Last May, Shelley traveled to Bulgaria for a Down syndrome conference. It's slow-growing, but there are families in Bulgaria who are choosing to keep their children born with Down syndrome instead of automatically leaving them at the hospital to go to the orphanages.

Connecting the Rainbow is providing support and information to families in Eastern Europe who are raising their children with Down syndrome. Considering those with disabilities are shut away in that society this is no easy or small feat. Parents are told there is no place in society for children like theirs; children born with Down syndrome.

Connecting the Rainbow is going back to Bulgaria for another conference with the Down syndrome support group and need your help with sharing information for the parents there.

A book is being put together for the families. Pictures and stories are needed for this book. If you have a blog post about the joys and challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome - anything to encourage the families - or can write something for in an email - please email Angela at mom2mariah at gmail dot com (by the 16gh) with your information and the link to your blog post.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for Reece's Rainbow to exist - because families will be keeping their children - but awareness needs to be made and attitudes need to change.

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American Families Saving Children With Down Syndrome

Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Last night ABC News aired a segment on a family in Utah who adopted a little girl with Down syndrome from Ukraine.

What a positive message this was and such great awareness for the plight of orphans in Eastern Europe and for Reece's Rainbow!

Here is the video that aired:

Here is another short video on their website about Mia and her new family:


There is also a great article on ABC News about the whole process the Cox family went through. ABC News went inside a few mental institutions in Ukraine and reported on the conditions the children were living in. Children as young as 5 living in adult mental institutions; with adults who have severe mental illnesses. Sent there to live out their lives.

Here is a quote for their adoption coordinator in Ukraine about what life (if you can call it that) is like for a child with Down syndrome born in Ukraine. "Children with Down syndrome are considered outcasts, she said, throwaways. That's why they place them to closed institutions They have to spend the rest of life being outside of society. Absolutely," Angelina said. "They ... have absolutely no choices, no opportunities in this society."

How sad is that? 

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The Passed Over Babes

Sunday, 4 December 2011

Please take a few minutes and click over to Julia's blog post about The Passed Over Babes. These are all children who are on Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree. The goal of the Angel Tree is to get all the kids at least $1000 in their accounts to help with their adoption. These are all kids waiting for a family... and money is usually the main obstacle preventing a family from adopting.

Julia's post highlights the children who have been on the Angel Tree list the longest. She is having a great giveaway on her blog- worth over $600. All you have to do is donate $5 to 2 or more of the children to be entered in the giveaway. That $5 can help a child finally be adopted into a forever family.

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Adoptions and Institutions

Friday, 7 October 2011

There are so many children listed on Reece's Rainbow waiting to be adopted that it's hard to pick any one child out to bring attention to. I frequently check the site to see which kids have moved to the "My Family Found Me" page and to catch up on the families to see where they are in their process of adopting.

A couple of my blogging friends have heavy hearts for certain children and are drawing attention to their plights by having a fundraiser/giveaway to advocate for each of their adoptions. They are hoping to raise the funds in their respective accounts so money won't be an issue for a family wanting to adopt either of these boys.

Please check out Patti's blog post on Artem (facing transfer to an institution), and April's post about Bogden.

Then I read Shelley's post about the institution. Shelley and her husband are in the process of adopting their 4th child with Down syndrome from Eastern Europe; and their 2nd child from the same institution. Most of the stories about the institutions aren't the best of stories - the children are neglected badly and don't receive attention or love, or any toys to stimulate their minds.

At this particular institution they are blessed with a director who actually cares about the children and has their best interest in mind. She uses the small budget she receives to make sure the kids are transported out of town and back for medical appointments, she advocates for the children to attend the local schools. She uses the money in her budget for the children so what has been neglected is their building. Rooms are in desperate need of repair.

There is a room in their building that would be perfect for a large playroom, but it is currently not safe for the children. It is estimated that it would cost about $500 to make that room safe for the children ... especially the bedridden children who would need to be down on the floor. There are a few other rooms that need some repair work as well. After I read Shelley's post I wanted to write a check for $500 so those kids could have a decent playroom! Sigh ... instead I will give what I can, and help Shelley, Patti, and April spread the word about what is heavy on their hearts.

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Update on Carrington, For Anon

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Someone just commented about a post I did a few months ago about a little girl adopted through Reece's Rainbow and came to the states severely malnourished. That would be Carrington, arriving here weighing only 11lbs at three years of age.

Carrington is doing so much better now! She has been with her family for 5 months and has gained 10lbs. Those 10lbs have made such a difference on her tiny body. She is looking more well-nourished, happy, and loved.

While we were in San Antonio for the convention we actually ran in to Carrington! It was so wonderful to see her in person! Here is Kayla meeting Carrington:

Unfortunately there are many other kids in Eastern Europe who are also severely malnourished and could use some prayers ... prayers to hang on until their forever family is able to bring them home.

One of them is Katerina. Her mom was just there visiting with her and Katerina could use some prayers for the adoption process to go very quickly so she can go home with her family. If I remember right from her story she is 9 yrs old and weighs 10lbs. You can see a sweet video of her mom singing to her in this post, and see how very, very tiny she is.

Then there is Liliana. Pretty much the same story. Except she is 11 yrs old ... and weighs 10lbs. The picture is a recent picture of her and she is sitting in an infant seat. A family has committed to adopting her, praying they can get to her in time and bring her home very soon.

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Families in Maryland

Friday, 27 May 2011

There is a precious little girl - Pauline - who has Down syndrome and is available for adoption through Reece's Rainbow.

She had several families submit their family profile to commit to her and all were rejected. Her region has come back with a strict set of requirements for her adoptions. They are making it almost impossible for her to find a family.

Someone who has adopted from her area recently has met her and said she is adorable, calm, and very observant - and needs a family NOW.

These are the requirements:

1. Only families in Maryland!
2. Need to already have a child with Down syndrome
3. Can't have more than 4 children.
4. Need to have a high income (preferably over 100k!) but that sounds negotiable; maybe?

Please help her find a family by spreading the word - the more people that hear about her the more chance she'll have that a family in MD will step forward for her.

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