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News – August 2007
Dear Friends and Supporters,
I am afraid that this will be a rather long newsletter as so much has happened this month that I want to share with you.
Many of you will remember Nurse Christina Williamson who volunteered with us several years ago. She is now back with us long term and we are very pleased to have her back. She is an answer to prayer. We thank those who are supporting her to work with us.
New Projects
1) Xin Yang
Renovation work on our new Special Care Unit for their at-risk babies and those with life-limiting conditions, in Xin Yang Orphanage, South Henan Province has begun. We expect completion by October when we will be able to start admitting babies. We will be able to care a maximum of 18 babies in this unit. Click here for more information.
2) Luoyang
We attended the ground breaking of the new Luoyang orphanage on August 26th. On this property we have been given permission to build the Shaohannah’s Hope Healing Home in partnership with singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s Charity, Shaohannah’s Hope.
In attendance at the ground breaking were, Mr SF Zhang, the National Director of Civil Affair, Mr Y Lu the Director of CCAA, Mr Yu, Head of Luoyang Civil Affairs, Ms LZ Gao the deputy Mayor of Luoyang, and several other dignitaries. Mr Chris Chesborough represented Shaohannah’s Hope.Shaohannah’s Hope will raise the funds to build this 6-storey, 100-bed unit and New Hope Foundation will staff and run it. More news later as this project progresses.
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Artist’s impression of the new building |
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Digging the foundation: Mr LQ Yu (Luoyang Civil affairs dir.), Robin, and Mr Y Lu (Dir. of CCAA). |
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| Robin expressing his gratitude for the support of the Chinese government. To his left and behind, is Mr. SF Zhang, National Director of Civil Affairs, and Mr Y Lu Director of CCAA |
Hope Healing Home Shun Yi, Beijing
Adoptions
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Andrea Ellen |
William |
Toby |
Josie Anne |
Six more children have left us to be adopted this month. Over the last two months 12 of our children have been adopted; the largest number in such a short space of time and we are ecstatic.
After only a brief moment of hesitation, much to everyone’s excitement, Andrea took to her Mom, Grammy and older sister like a duck to water.
William’s adoption is nothing short of a miracle. Because of his medical condition it seemed unlikely that he would be adopted but he is now the son of a wonderful family who first found him in the orphanage as a tiny, premature baby.
Toby, as we reported in March, had to be returned to his orphanage because of some political issues in that area. His adoptive parents brought him to visit us just before leaving China for one last hug and we were very grateful for the opportunity to see him again.
New admissions
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FJ Bo |
FG Lu |
X Wei |
FJ Bo is only a few weeks old but is feeding quite well and will be ready for cleft lip and palate surgery when he is over 5 kgs.
FG Lu was brought to Beijing from our Special Care Unit in Jiaozuo. He survived pneumonia and will be investigated and treated for a possible heart condition.
X Wei was sent to us from Home of Hope in Henan Province to have his right clubbed foot corrected.
Since so many of our 3-year-olds have been adopted, our preschool class now consists mainly of 2-year-olds. Check out Anna, Josie Anne, Hugo, and Gabriel having a great time with Special Ed teacher Shauna P from Canada.
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Sad news
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Zi Yang |
We are heartbroken to have to report that Zi Yang passed away at midnight on August 28th.
He was a 2-month-old baby boy who arrived in Beijing from his orphanage in respiratory distress about a month ago and was admitted toBeijing United Family Hospitalimmediately. After his first admission of 2 weeks, when he was intubated and on a respirator, his condition stablilized and we began to make plans for his surgery as advised by the pediatricians. Before this could be accomplished, he again went into respiratory distress within a few days and was re-admitted to the hospital. He was there for another 2 weeks. When he was discharged, he was taken immediately on the train to Hangzhou to an excellent heart surgeon. He was accompanied by Nurse Christina who brought with her all the emergency equipment including oxygen and various medications. On the train he began to deteriorate about 8 pm and passed away at midnight while still on the way to Hangzhou.
We sincerely thank all of you for standing with us to help Zi Yang, and although we did not succeed in saving his life we tried our very best.
Love Without Boundaries Shun Yi Outreach Foster Program
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Bobby |
Libby |
Bobby has left us to be adopted and his place was taken by Joseph.
Libby who was also in the outreach program has also left and her foster parents are very sad. This is the second child in the last few months that they have had to give up to adoption and they are still not over pain of parting with Ariel.
NHF Special Care Units, Jiaozuo and Luoyong, Henan Province (57 beds)
Jiaozuo
There were 4 new admissions this month.
One baby, FG Lu seems to have a good prognosis and has been transferred to HHH Beijing to be investigated for a possible heart condition.
Luoyang
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Lily |
Hannah |
There were 5 admissions to this unit. Two more children, Lily and Hannah, are being moved to Foster Care and they are being put up for adoption.
This makes 6 children since we opened the unit in September 2006 that have been saved who will now go to loving homes. They were sent to us as infants who were unexpected to live.
Six new families will now have a healthy son or daughter who has beaten the odds and won the fight to live.
Heartbridge Rehabilitation Unit (9 beds)
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Bao Bao |
YX Jia |
JY Ying |
Jennie |
We are devastated to report the sudden death of Bao Bao who had successful heart surgery in Hangzhou but died suddenly within a few hours of her return to Beijing. Her death was unexpected and it is extra difficult when this happens.
We await direction on 3 other children, YX Jia, JY Ying, and Jenny, who have complex heart conditions which cannot be easily corrected. Please keep them in your thoughts as the best possible options are being sought for them.
Our Most Sincere Thanks To
- Nancy Lee from Shanghai who has offered to cover costs of cleft surgeries for the babies from Xin Yang.
- GEand A Mother’s Love for funds to purchase a new vehicle to replace our old van.
- A Mother’s Love, Hope’s Heart Orphan Foundation, Sam and Rita C, Danny and Dorophy S, and Sally A for covering the cost of immunizations for 21 children in response to our need mentioned last month.
- A very special thanks to Dr Li Jian Hua, cardiac surgeon in Hangzhou who went beyond the call of duty to help with the circumstances surrounding Zi Yang’s death. Dr Li is well known as a humble man who makes sure that orphaned children are treated with dignity and respect.
Our Needs
- ChinaKidz, an organization in the UK, set up by our team members Alan and Lyn Gould, is willing to financially support a western trained nurse to work with our organization in our Special Care Units. This paid position requires a commitment for a minimum period of 6 to 12 months. Please direct enquiries or applications with full CV to joyce@hopefosterhome.com.
- As per the criteria set out by a specific donor, we are still looking to employ several Filipino nurses. Please email Rob if you know of anyone who may be interested.
- More volunteer nurses, family practitioners, and pediatricians are desperately needed to help us care for our children especially in our Special Care Units.
- We are also looking for a couple willing to commit long term to be ‘house parents’ to our children with long term chronic disabilities when our Shaohannah’s Hope Healing Home opens, possibly mid next year. To apply, please see this link or email us directly.
- If you would like to support the new Xin Yang project please go to this link. We thank the Commonwealth Society of Beijing for sponsoring the Nurses quarters.
- We are in need of preemie diapers and preemie clothes which are not easy to find in China. If you are in the US and would like to contribute some, please contact Rebecca Dorris in Tennessee: rsdorris@placetobe.org.
With our deepest gratitude,
Joyce and Robin Hill
“Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life’s blood. But everyone has something to give.”
– Barbara Bush
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