Posted on

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

Down Syndrom Header

There are many kids with Down syndrome who are waiting for families, but here are just a few from our photolisting!

 

Chase Down Syndrome

Chase

January 2006 | China

Chase came into care when he was about 3 years old. He has Down syndrome and a heart murmur. He knows colors, can count from 1 to 19, can name his good friends and caregivers, and follows instructions well. He can even say a few words in English! Independent and polite, he can take care of his own personal needs and knows how to help out with chores. A $3,000 Special Blessings grant is available to help the right family bring him home.

Request info about Chase!

 

Zak Down Syndrome

Zak

August 2008 | China

Zak came into care when he was about 1 year old. He has Down syndrome, but is otherwise healthy. Zak can walk, run and jump. He can speak many words and makes good eye contact during conversation. His personality is described as warm, outgoing, active and optimistic. He gets along well with the other children and likes to be cuddled. He has good friends and a particular caregiver he is especially attached to. A $3,000 Special Blessings grant is available to help the right family bring Zak home.

Request info about Zak!

 

Vera Down Syndrome

Vera

10/27/15 | SE Asia

Vera is very affectionate and loves to be held and cuddled. Her caregivers describe her as a gentle and easy baby. She was born prematurely at 34 weeks and is diagnosed with Down syndrome. Developmentally, she can crawl, pull to a stand, sit unassisted, grasp objects, understand simple instructions, respond to her name, and use simple gestures to communicate. She gets along well with her peers and enjoys when the older children hold her.

Request info about Vera!

 

Colt Down Syndrome

Colt

9/07/15 | SE Asia

Colt is an active and affectionate little boy who came into care at approximately 2 months old. He is diagnosed with Down syndrome, an umbilical hernia and microcytic anemia. He has an easy smile and enjoys joking with his caregivers. He especially likes being cuddled, hugged and being held before bedtime. Despite some developmental delays, he is progressing; he sits unsupported, crawls, pulls to stand, throws a ball, knows his name, babbles and keeps good eye contact.

Request info about Colt!

 

Posted on

Cormac needs a family!

Cormac needs a family!

Cormac is curious.

Just like any other 2-year-old, Cormac is active and very interested in exploring the world and all that’s in it. He likes experiencing new things and will run from one place to the next, stopping only to pick up a rock to check it out.

He is a bit skeptical of cameras, and not very interested in smiling for them, and he seems to be shy with strangers. However, he does love his caregivers and likes to be held and cuddled.

Born prematurely, Cormac had an MRI in October 2017 that showed enlargement of his bilateral ventricles as well as periventricular leukomalacia, which may be due to his premature birth. He is also reported to have microcytic anemia.

In this stage of life, Cormac is learning lots of new things, like how to follow directions, tell jokes and identify different body parts.

This on-the-go toddler needs a family that is ready to help him learn even more things, has a good understanding of his medical needs and is comfortable with his developmental unknowns.

Could you or someone you know be the right family for Cormac? For more information, please contact Kristen Henry or visit his photolisting profile!

Request info about Cormac!

DOB: 11/21/15 | SE Asia

 

Posted on

What’s Special About Colombia Adoption?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Colombia?

Is it Pablo Escobar or the drug cartels? If so, you aren’t alone. Colombia is a country with a brutal history. But there’s another side to Colombia — a side that is passionate, resilient and full of kids who embody these traits, and who are waiting for permanent, loving families to call their own.

Have you considered adoption from Colombia?

Request more information!

 

Posted on

Benjamin’s Turn

Benjamin needs a family

Benjamin needs a family!

Three and a half years ago, Holt learned about seven children who needed families from a small but exceptional orphanage in China. One by one, six of those children were matched with their adoptive families. One by one, they said their goodbyes and left the orphanage to start new lives with their forever families.

Benjamin has been there for every goodbye. He has watched each of his friends be embraced by the families who chose them.

But Benjamin still waits. Continue reading “Benjamin’s Turn”

Posted on

Betsy Needs a Family!

Betsy needs a family!

Betsy will take care of you!

In her community, Betsy is known for looking out for others and attending to their needs. When her nanny is tired, she will go fetch a stool for her to sit on. If her foster brother is crying, she will give him snacks to make him happy. She even helps her elderly neighbor with his cane. Needless to say, she is well liked in her neighborhood!

Betsy has Down syndrome, but her cognitive and language development is reported to be above average for children with this developmental special need. Betsy is good at expressing herself and loves to tell stories. She is also quite active and loves to dance (see video below).

A $3000 Special Blessings grant* is available to help cover the fees to adopt Betsy through Holt.

Could you or someone you know be the right family for Betsy? For more information about Betsy, please visit her photolisting profile or contact our child match coordinator, Jessica Zeeb.

Birth Month:  5/2011 | China

*Special Blessings grants are available to families who earn an annual adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less and do not apply to fees already paid to Holt International.  Families who do not qualify for the Special Blessings grant may still apply for our Special Needs Adoption Fund grant.

Posted on

Dani Needs a Family!

Any family would be blessed to have Dani as their son.

Dani is one of the 33 kids that I met in Colombia on our last resource-gathering trip. We showed up to a botanical park in Medellin where he and six other kids were waiting to spend the day with us. A few of the other kids were energetic and running all around, but Dani was very calm and collected. He was pretty interested in my camera and so after a little while I took it off and handed it to him. He seemed surprised that I would trust him with it, but after an approving nod from me, he quickly and carefully started taking pictures. Continue reading “Dani Needs a Family!”

Posted on

Raymond needs a family!

Raymond needs a family!

There Must Be a Family for Raymond!

Raymond’s caregivers are especially adamant that Raymond is a special boy who needs an adoptive family.  When asked what stands out about him, his caregivers say that he is optimistic and works very hard.

Raymond’s hard work is paying off in school. He attends a public school where his academic performance is excellent and he earns prizes for his good behavior. His favorite subject is math and he likes his math teacher. Continue reading “Raymond needs a family!”