Darren and Rhonda and More!

Today I would like to share two little sweeties with you!

Darren and Rhonda

They have at least two things in common...

They both live in orphanages while they wait their family to find them...

And they both have hydrocephalus.

It can be scary to adopt say yes to adopting a child you have never met especially when that child has a strange or scary sounding medical condition that you aren't vary familiar with.  Since some of my physical therapy classes have talked about hydrocephalus, I thought I would share with you some of the things I have learned.  Our body produces cerebrospinal fluid that surounds the brain to cushion and protect it from injury - this fluid acts as a shock absorber so we don't get a brain injury every time we bump our heads or jump up and down!  This fluid is being continually produced, but there are drains to make sure the fluid does not build up to an excessive amount. 

In hydrocephalus there is a problem with this system that causes the fluid to build up.  Either the body makes too much cerebrospinal fluid, or there is something wrong with the drainage system.  The drain may be clogged or blocked preventing the excess fluid from escaping.  A person can be born with hydrocephalus, or it can develop later in life. 

Since babies are born without their skull bones fully fused (hence the "soft spot"), it is possible for their heads to expand to accommodate the extra fluid that is building up when they have hydrocephalus.  Here in the US children with hydrocephalus have surgery to install a shunt that drains the fluid.  This prevents their heads from getting so extremely large.  Children who receive surgery at a very young age can often live a very normal life! In some countries, however, the surgery is not always performed so soon.  Sometimes this happens because there is not enough money or because the children are orphans.  Unfortunately in some countries parents are encouraged to leave their children with disabilities in orphanages because it is assumed that they will not amount to anything or will be to difficult to care for.

When children who need the shunt do not receive the surgery, their heads can grow very large.  When the bones eventually fuse the the fluid can continue to build up, but with nowhere to go the fluid starts putting pressure on the brain.  This can cause headaches and even brain damage.  This is very unfortunate as the damage is often PREVENTABLE!  

Here is another picture of Darren ...

Someone posted recently that he is an interactive little boy...

And his profile says he is calm, smiling, and happy but he can't sit up because his head is too heavy...

It also says he does NOT have a shunt...

This means he is in danger of brain damage that will likely get worse if the fluid continues to build...

Poor sweet boy...

He is suffering unnecessarily...

He could be healthy and totally normal if he had received the surgery as a baby...

Even now it is NOT to late to help him!

He may always have some affects from the lack of early treatment...

But treatment now can save him from getting worse...

It can relieve the pressure in his head so his brain can grow and develop better...

He can receive therapy to help him improve his physical abilities too!

Love, family, surgery, and therapy can make a world of difference for sweet Darren!

Darren  will be 4 years old next month...

Oh how he needs a family!

Please consider Darren!

*****

Dear little Rhonda...

See how tiny she is?

How old would you guess she is?

3 years old maybe?

Wrong...

She's a LOT older than 3!

I'm not sure when the previous picture was taken...

But this next one is pretty recent I think...

She looks a little older - maybe 4, or 5?

But no...

This LITTLE girl is 11 years old...

ELEVEN!

HOW. CAN. THAT. BE?

She is so very small for 11...

And she's still in a crib!

Unfortunately children in orphanages don't always get enough to eat...

And they don't get enough love and interaction...

So they are often smaller than most children their age.

Oh, but isn't she just a sweetie!

Look at her holding up her head, despite it's heaviness!

Her profile says she still needs some support in sitting...

But that she is learning to push her wheelchair!

It also says she is "VERY alert and aware"!!!

Don't you love the new picture!

Don't you see the potential there!

Imagine how she would thrive with love and therapy!

*****

Please share these two precious children...

They deserve a chance in life...

They deserve medical care...

They deserve a family!

And if there is any way one of them could be your sweet child...

Please say...

YES!!!

You can learn more about the adoption process HERE.

You can read more about these children on their Reece's Rainbow profile by clicking on their names in this post (Darren and Rhonda)!

You can read more information about hydrocephalus HERE.

*****

And because I received requests to remember some other sweeties with hydrocephalus...

I'm adding a couple more darlings to this post!

Nathaniel

Poor little buddy...

If only you could have had early treatment...

Your suffering could have been greatly reduced!

Here are some more recent pictures of Nathaniel...

The ones in pink below was taken in March of 2014...

Where is your Mama sweet boy?

Update! Nathaniel has a family working hard to complete his adoption!

Click HERE to read more about them!

*****

And the next little love bug is...

Sweet little Ezra!

Ezra's pictures were taken in March 2013...

He has had shunt surgery which is helping him feel a bit better...

But he sill needs a family ASAP!

If you go to his profile you can read a SWEET update from someone who met him!

Here is an a video of him!

You can even here his adorable giggles and coos!

*****

And While I'm adding these two I'll add another one who's on my heart...

Dear little Daniel...

He looks so pale and sick...

Oh please Mama, do come soon!

You can read about any of these children on their Reece's Rainbow profile by clicking on their names in this post.

Please consider sharing this post so there faces can be seen!

UPDATE: Dear little Daniel passed away without a family...

So sorry sweet boy!

I hope and pray these other sweeties find their families in time!

*****

I like to end my posts with "my" two special boys...

Colin and Leo don't have hydrocephalus, but they need families too!

Update: Colin and Leo have become unavailable for international adoption since this writing due to challenges in the region of their country that they live in. Hopefully things will change and they will become available again soon they can have another chance for a family.  Please continue to pray for them!