Melanie #

Girl, Age: 5
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
spina bifida, hydrocephalus, psychomotor developmental delay, urinary incontinence
Listed: Jan 2025
$112.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, 25 for 2025, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers

Meet smiling Melly.   She had surgical treatment for correction of a meningocele.  A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also implanted to treat hydrocephalus. Unfortunately after surgery Melly’s lower limbs are paralyzed.

Melly moves independently in a wheelchair. She can pull herself up with her hands She enjoys contact with children and adults.  She plays with toys, handles them, and can throw them.  Melly pronounces various sounds and syllables although she points to make her needs known. She can maintain interest in an activity for 15-20 minutes.

Eloise

Girl, Age: 2
Region: Latin America
Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Limb differences, Spina bifida
Congenital right clubfoot, Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus- ventriculoperitoneal shunt, Congenital bilateral hip dislocation – hip reduction plus harness
Listed: Nov 2024
$135.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, 25 for 2025, Available to Large Families, Available to Single Mothers
Eloise is a joyful, affectionate, and calm child, who enjoys the simple pleasures of life such as music, dancing, and storytelling. Her sunny disposition radiates through her interactions, whether she’s playing freely in the park, lying peacefully on the grass, or engaging with her peers. Despite any initial nervousness around new people, her warm and gentle demeanor quickly puts others at ease, leading to the formation of close emotional bonds, particularly with her foster mother.

Eloise’s ability to communicate her needs and emotions through gestures and sounds demonstrates her keen self-awareness, and her empathetic nature is evident when she comforts her loved ones. Though faced with medical challenges, Eloise has proven to be remarkably resilient.

VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise01
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise03
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise04
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise05
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-eloise06

Password:  Adoptmaa

Agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Mell

Boy, Age: 4
Country Code: LA-2
Region: Latin America
Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
bilateral hip dysplasia with congenital hip dislocation, congenital hydrocephalus, lumbosacral meningocele corrected, congenital malformation of the corpus callosum, hypermetropy (far-sightedness), and malnutrition.
Listed: Oct 2024
$35.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
25 for 2025, Available to Large Families, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Info from March 2024:

When Mell was born, his biological parents tried to take care of him even with his special needs, but they lived in a small town far away from cities and hospitals. At his one month check-up, he was diagnosed with congenital malformation of the spinal cord, hydrocephalus, low weight, fetal growth delay, and respiratory syndrome. At one of his following check-ups, the doctor sent Mell to the hospital due to a high fever and inflammation of the brain. Sadly, though they had tried, his parents recognized that they did not have the means of caring for him in the ways he needed, both due to finances and distance from necessary medical care, and they asked Protective Services to care for him. No other family members were able to provide the care he needed as well. Mell was placed in a foster home and is doing well.

Mell has been receiving various types of therapies which have been valuable in his development. When meeting adults for the first time, he becomes shy, but he recognizes familiar people and loves to interact with them. Mell identifies the emotions on people´s faces and interacts accordingly. He is a very expressive child who shows affection in various ways, and sometimes gets jealous when his foster mother gives affection to the other children. According to the professionals who care for him, Mell has the language development of a 12-month toddler. He communicates through crying and screaming and can say some short words such as “mama” and “papa.” He also imitates animal sounds, such as those of a dog or cat. He responds to simple instructions such “Take this” and “Give me that.” Mell identifies different body parts, plays with Play-Dough, and performs other activities that strengthen his fine motor skills. His movements are spontaneous despite the limitations he has in his lower limbs.  Due to his chronological age, Mell requires support, supervision, and guidance to fulfill his daily routines. Mell takes two naps during the day and sleeps throughout the night. He wears diapers all day.

Mell likes to interact with peers or adults and loves to spend time outside. He gets excited when he hears a motorcycle engine as he immediately thinks he is going to go out and gets anxious. He gets upset when his diaper is dirty and when he is not allowed to go out. Mell gets happy with simple things, and he likes to laugh a lot. Mell loves to drink sweet juices. Due to his medical condition, he does not wear shoes but wears very soft socks. He enjoys it when adults help him to kick the ball to play soccer. Mell also likes to play with cars and airplanes.

Kevin #

Boy, Age: 3
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
Congenital anomaly of the nervous system: internal hydrocephaly; condition after ventriculo-peritoneal anastomosis implantation. Holoprosencephaly. Lumbosacral spina bifida aperta; condition after plastic surgery. Lower flaccid paraplegia. Pelvic-reservoir incontinence. Delayed neuro-psychic development
Listed: Sep 2024
$614.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Kevin can sit on his own. He plays with toys. He interacts positively with caregivers. He makes some sounds, but is not yet saying any words.

Samson #

Boy, Age: 3
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Global developmental delays, Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
hydrocephalus, spina bifida in the lumbosacral area –condition following implantation of a VP shunt and closing of the spinal defect; lower flaccid paraplegia; pelvic reservoir incontinence; delayed psychomotor development; delayed psychological development.
Listed: Aug 2024
$1,015.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, 25 for 2025, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers

Update Nov 2024:  Samson was recently moved from a large orphanage to a small group home for children with disabilities. He  loves attention and responds with joy with staff interacts with him. He is described as a calm and radiant child.

Samson sits independently and can stay in this position for extended period of time. He reaches for distant toys by directing his hands and turning his torso towards the desired direction and after that he pulls the toy. He prefers toys with buttons, which make sounds, light or melody, as well as toys with movable elements, which he can spin. He initiates interactions with adults, whom he likes and with children. Samson enjoys being praised and reacts with discontent when something is being denied or forbidden to him. He is fed via baby bottle and spoon.

Anne #

Girl, Age: 3
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Global developmental delays, Spina bifida
Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus-shunt placed
Listed: Dec 2023
$1,940.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, 24 for 2024, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers
Anne is delayed in all aspects of her development. She recently began eating from a spoon, and the NG tube was able to be removed. She enjoys attention from staff. She smiles when caregivers speak to her. She reaches and grabs objects, but is not yet playing with toys.

Vernon #

Boy, Age: 5
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Global developmental delays, Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
Spina bifida; hydrocephalus- shunt; delays in all aspects of development
Listed: Dec 2023
$1,018.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Vernon crawls using his upper body. He plays with toys and interacts with familiar adults. He responds to his name by turning toward the person calling him.

 

Update 10/24

He has several special needs including congenital internal hydrocephalus and spina bifida aperta (thoraco-lumbar). Vernon is undergoing daily rehabilitation. His condition is monitored by a pediatric neurologist, a neurosurgeon and a pediatrician.

Vernon can turn independently from his back to his stomach and vice versa. He has good head control. He can purposefully grab a toy and hold it.  He enjoys personal attention from an adult, laughs loudly at teasing and reacts with displeasure when left unattended. He is mostly calm. No aggressive behavior was recorded. When he is called by name, he turns toward the direction of the sound.  He reacts to a noise stimulus. He speaks syllables and long sound combinations.

Monica

Girl, Age: 3
Country Code: EE-7
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida
Spina bifida with hydrocephalus and hip deformity. Feet paraplegia with partial urine and fecal retention
and Chiari malformation type II.
Listed: Nov 2023
$28.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
Monica is described as very sweet with a good appetite. She has a calm disposition and is always in a good mood. Her development is impaired with delays in fine motor skills, speech perception, expressive language, auditory attention, independence and sociality. Gross motor skills are significantly impaired. Visual attention is the most advanced. She gurgles and is very interested in various toys. She loves to touch and feel things. She observes her surroundings, knows people who are often with her, and is reluctant to accept strangers until she is used to them. She is very happy to be spoken to, moves her hands, smiles, giggles, chuckles, laughs loudly, and responds in her own language. She loves to be held, picked up and carried around. When placed on her tummy, she raises her head, holds it a little, tries to reach for toys. She has a calm disposition and a good attitude. She is catheterized every 4 hours, with an 8-hour overnight break. She is becoming more independent, tries to drink from a cup she is holding, eats by herself holding a biscuit in her hand, holds a spoon, picks up small crumbs with her fingers and puts them in her mouth.

Julianna

Girl, Age: 15
Country Code: EE-2
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida
Shunt,
Listed: Sep 2022
**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***
The girl has a congenital defect of the nervous system in the form of a meningeal hernia at the lumbosacral level, a bifurcation of the thoracic spine with hydrocephalus and paralysis of the lower limbs. The girl has a valve in her head that regulates the blood flow in the head and prevents the increase in intracranial pressure. She also has a neurogenic bladder – she needs to drink fluids regularly and change the catheter every 3 hours. She has a visual impairment, wears glasses: ER: +3.5, EL: +4. and uses a wheelchair.

Despite her disabilities, the girl is very active. She is very happy to work during rehabilitation, thanks to which she is willing to participate in social life and has accepted her disabilities. She is attending wheelchair dance classes. The girl functions very well on a daily basis and is independent.  She likes to play with younger children and often organizes games for them.

Zeek #

Boy, Age: 6
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus, Spina bifida
Spina Bifida; shunt placed for hydrocephalus
Listed: Sep 2021
$2,067.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Zeek is being taught to use a wheelchair. He can currently turn, but has not yet mastered going forward and backwards. He is also learning to pull his torso up and move around when in his bed or on the floor. He can physically handle toys. He picks them up, transfers them between hands, looks for them and retrieves them if he drops them. He can push buttons and activate sensory toys. He follows simple directions such as “give me”. He plays peek-a-boo. He enjoys interacting with the staff. He will hold out his hand for a hand shake, make kissing noises, and reaches to be held. He uses his hands to show how big he will grow up to be when asked by an adult. He is pronouncing sounds and syllables.

Updated May 2022: Zeek was recently moved from a large orphanage to a small group home, where he’s now receiving more interaction and attention. His language skills have started developing. He can now say several words. He enjoys interacting with staff and responds when he receives attention. He enjoys music.

Scotty #

Boy, Age: 11
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida
Lumbar spina bifida (surgically corrected), grand mal seizures, spastic cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus
Listed: Mar 2017
$1,037.90
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption, including $0.00 from MACC donations!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
2025 MACC, Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Scotty has little support from his legs. His head control has improved and he can turn from his back to his belly. He sits independently by holding on to the bars of his crib and also makes attempts to stand up. Scotty can hold toys in his hands and tries to clap! He maintains eye contact and recognizes the faces of his caregivers. Scotty expresses appropriate emotions to happiness and agitation and will laugh out loud when teases. He imitates and pronounces combinations of sounds and syllables. Scotty interacts with all children and caregivers. He likes music and toys. Scotty is fed by a spoon and receives additional nutrition from a bottle.

Julian #

Boy, Age: 10
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida
Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus: shunt placed: Slight paraplegia of lower limbs; Left kidney agenesis; Vesicostomy.
Listed: Dec 2018
$1,057.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!
Inquire About This Child
Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Fathers, Available to Single Mothers
Julian enjoys playing with toys. He is well attached to his caregivers and responds to them when they talk to him. When he is happy, he responds by making noises and clapping his hands. His report indicates that when held by the hands, he will take steps.

Update Jan 2020:

Julian sits on his own while supporting his weight on his hands. He uses his hands to change his posture and move his body. He stands in the walker. He actively grabs and manipulates toys and objects, tries to use them as intended – shakes to produce sound, pulls the string of a musical toy. Visual-motor coordination is slightly impaired.

Delaney #

Girl, Age: 13
Region: Eastern Europe
Primary Diagnosis: Spina bifida
Hydrocephalus internal – ventriculoperitoneal shunt, Spina bifida, congenital anomalies of the urinary system, ventral hernia.
Listed: Apr 2016
**** I am eligible for a $5000 Older Child Grant ****
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount!
To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***
Available to Large Families, Available to Older Parents, Available to Single Mothers
Update Jan 2017: Delaney is a beautiful, sweet, calm girl. She likes to be hugged and held. She likes it when someone takes care of her and to be outside, with her stroller and recognizes the people that take care of her. She feels most comfortable in her bed and during her walks with the stroller in the garden. She eats and sleeps well.

Delaney expresses her preferences to people and objects to which she is more attached. She has three favorite toys that are colorful and soft. She also enjoys listening to music especially children’s songs. She doesn’t like lying on her back and sudden and quick movements. She is able to sit independently and grab and hold objects she has very strong hands she uses well. She feels comfortable when around her there are people with who she is familiar with.

Delaney is able to express her opinion and preference with gestures. Delaney is very calm child with big potential for improvement with the needed care, attention and the feeling of the real family environment.