CHINA :: Surprise, surprise, surprise!

Charlet!

Surprises are so much fun! 

Little did we know that the silken red thread of destiny would surprise our team by re-connecting us with a beautiful little girl that we had supported during her foster care in China. Little DXX—who isn't so little anymore—is now settled in with a loving family in the United States who affectionately calls her Charlet. 

What's more? Charlet is sister to Laila, the little one that we recently helped get a micro-wheelchair. Coincidence? We think not! It's just that red thread doing it's business in our lives.

Here's an update on Charlet from her mom, Joslynn. We couldn't be happier that she is with this amazing family and growing up quickly.

Charlet (left) and Laila with their braces

Since bringing her home in December of 2013, we have watched Charlet blossom into a happy-go-lucky, spunky little girl. Charlet has been through many “base-line” tests to mark her medical status and the doctors have been amazed at her health and mobility as a child who suffers from spina bifida. When we tell the doctors of her spine and shunt placement surgery at one month old, they are speechless to explain how she could have survived, as most doctors in the U.S. do these two surgeries separately and at an age much more than one month. There are many things medically that “should” be wrong with Charlet, but they just simply don’t exist. She attends physical therapy once a week to strengthen her body and to help her walk. When we brought her home at 2 years old, she could “cruise” but not walk and she could not stand for long periods. Charlet also recently received braces for her legs to help straighten her gait and keep her joints safe from improper movement. She is now walking independently and her strength and endurance are improving everyday. 

Our greatest efforts for Charlet have been emotional. Charlet was abandoned at one day old, and though she was in a very loving group foster home, she has simply never experienced bonding with a mother and an unchanging family. She quickly accepted Jason as her big Papa Bear. She loves to cuddle with him and be carried around everywhere. You don’t realize when you adopt the things you will have to “teach” this child that simply come as a natural part of development when you are raising your biological children. We had to teach Charlet how to enjoy and not fear play, especially outdoors. Grass and swings were things of great torment in her early months, but it is such a sweet sound to hear her adorable belly laugh now as she swings. When indoors, and if left to her own devices, for many months she would simply sit and stare at us as we moved around a room, with no idea how to “play” by herself. She required our engagement, and even then, she often didn’t know how to interact. Charlet actually really enjoys her solitary time now and I love watching her sing and play with her dolls peacefully with no fear or painful stares in my direction.  

Charlet loves her big sister, Laila (3.5), and her really big brother, Steven (14). Laila and Charlet were adopted on the same day and they bonded quickly. They easily fall into their respective big sister/little sister roles. Charlet is a wonderful helper to her immobile big sister, often bringing her toys or helping her get things that are too heavy. Charlet and Laila are the predictably ornery little sisters who love to bug their big brother. But there is nothing more beautiful than seeing all three of my children cuddling on the couch or playing together on the floor. Charlet’s addition to our family has been an amazing blessing. Her early transition has been quite difficult for our whole family, but she is finally settling in, trusting the family she has been given, and knowing that we are hers forever!

Charlet (left) and Laila

CHINA :: 2-years-old and ready to take on the world with your help!

Meet our newest little friend from China! 

WXR is an adorable 2-year-old with a sweet personality - she's a charmer for sure with that smile! Thankfully, she has already received surgery for spina bifida and serial casting of her club foot and is doing well in the hands of our partners at Swallows Nest! Sadly, it appears that she may be incontinent as she came back from Shanghai with a horrible irritated bottom. The Red Thread has sent funding for her medicine as well as her follow up care. 

Please help us support WXR by making a donation in her honor to our China program (click on the PayPal button - donations are accepted via PayPal but you don't need a PayPal account). We hope and pray that she finds her forever home quickly. 

Who wouldn't want to hug on this baby for years and years?

CHINA :: 2 years old and growing like a weed

2-year-old WZX

Every day that we hear from our partners in China with an update on one of the children we sponsor is a GREAT day! Our hearts swell when we see these children growing and thriving in the hands of the caregivers at Swallow’s Nest. We are thankful to be able to provide life-changing surgeries, life-sustaining hospitalizations and medical care for these babies until they are matched with a loving family forever.

As you can tell from his smile, WZX is a happy boy. He loves to eat, which is no surprise based on his chubby, kissable cheeks. He enjoys holding and playing with toys but occasionally gets upset and cries for no obvious reason, sometimes during meals or at night. Then, after a minute or so and some comfort from his caregivers, he’s fine again.

Although he’s over 2 years old, WZX has never spoken yet he responds to speech and sound, especially music. He often seems unaware of what’s going on around him and doesn’t process sounds very well.

Following his clubfoot casting, he appears to have no feeling in his legs. Due to his weight and lack of feeling, it is challenging to get him to move around very much. We are unsure as of yet, but he may require a wheelchair. His caregivers are working to provide him more exercises that will help him build strength in his arms and upper body.

Your support of WZX since January 2013 has been amazing and we are so thankful for your donations on his behalf. We will continue to provide medical care for him as he grows and pray for him to become a permanent part of a family soon.

If you'd like to support WZX and children like him, 

you can do so via PayPal or by sending a check to:

The Red Thread Promise

249 N Belfield Avenue

Havertown, PA 19083

January 2013

CHINA :: Club foot & pneumonia - not a winning combination

Pneumonia is a serious threat 

to the children we support. 

This treatable infectious disease is one of the leading causes of death in China: it is the number one cause in rural areas; in urban areas, fourth. Data suggests that there are approximately 2.5 million documented cases of pneumonia in China annually. Of those cases, 125,000 (5%) people die of pneumonia-related illness. (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.)

Most disturbing to us is this: childhood pneumonia accounts for an estimated 17% of all child deaths in China. The Red Thread Promise takes pneumonia seriously, especially when it involves infants and toddlers who have other medical conditions that may compromise their immune system further and do not have anyone to advocate for them.

WZX - January 2013

In January 2013, The Red Thread met Baby WZX. He came to Swallows Nest (our partner foster home in China) unable to sit or stand due to club feet. After extensive evaluation, doctors decided to treat him with a non-surgical method that involves serial manipulation and casting, taping, physical therapy, splinting, and continuous passive motion. We have been funding his care ever since with hopes of this little man walking independently in the near future.

WZX - June 2013

WZX - August 2013

One year later, WZX has made great progress in his club foot regimen. But this isn't his biggest hurdle. He was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalized. Thankfully, he is on the mend and back at Swallows Nest, on the road to recovery. Your donations helped provide his care at the hospital and we are so thankful for your support of this critical intervention. 

WZX (left) playing beside a friend at Swallow's Nest

Unfortunately, the little girl in the photo above (next to him in the black dress) is now in the hospital for the same reason: pneumonia. She has been there for over three weeks. With your contributions to this project, we can help her and others as well. 

As always, thank you for everything you are able to give. If you'd like to help, please send your tax-deductible donation (memo line: China) via PayPal or check to:

The Red Thread Promise

249 N Belfield Ave

Havertown, PA 19083

Attn: Kathy Korge Albergate

CHINA :: A baby has landed

Each time we share a new baby's story with you, we are reminded of this beautiful poemby Joan Margalith entitled "The Babies Are Landing":

...There are so many places to land on Earth.

It all gets decided long before birth.

Every baby's landing is carefully planned

at this very moment, in that very land.

And it's just as sure as the nose on your face,

that each baby lands in exactly the right place...

Baby ZZT has indeed landed at just the right place—into the loving hands of the caregivers at Swallows Nest Children's Home in China. She is the first child that The Red Thread Promise is sponsoring in 2013.

Born with hydrocephalus, she has many challenges ahead. We are grateful that she has already received surgery for her condition and is recovering in the skilled hands of Swallows Nest's nannies. 

With your support, Baby ZZT will continue her recovery and grow into the healthy child she was meant to be. Her monthly care is $175 ($125 for the nanny / $50 for foster care). Donations can be made via PayPal or by check - information can be found in the sidebar at the right. 

Thank you for keeping Baby ZZT in your thoughts and prayers. 

CHINA :: Baby XX update

Baby XX, May 2012

Will you look at how Baby XX is growing! We received some new photos of her from Swallows Nest and have heard that she is doing well. As you know, she already received her surgery to treat her spina bifida and The Red Thread is supporting her post-surgical care. 

We are unsure if she has been placed on the adoption list yet, but we do know one thing for sure: your support of this beautiful child has made a significant impact on her life. For this, we thank you.

We will be supporting Baby XX until she is matched with a family, a process that could take 2 years or more. She will require frequent doctor's visits and other specialized care as she recovers from surgery and moves forward in a better state of health. If you would like to be a part of Baby XX's life, please send your tax deductible donation for her treatment and care to:

The Red Thread Promise

20 Brookfield Avenue

Glen Rock, NJ 07452

Or, simply click on the PayPal link on the right sidebar and make a donation in her name. 

CHINA :: A face every Mother will love, on Mother's Day and beyond

Oh, will you look at that face! With plump cheeks, soft spiky hair and a smashing smile, this is the face of a post-surgical child who is thriving! We are so grateful to be a part of her life and care and invite you to honor your own Mother by helping us support Baby XX.

Instead of flowers or candy, why not help us support this darling little girl in Mom's name this Mother's Day? For $125 per month, together we can provide for Baby XX's nanny as well as her medical needs, food and clothing. We'll gladly send a card to Mom explaining how your donation is helping this little girl following her spina bifida surgery. 

If you are interested in supporting Baby XX, donations in any amount can be made online through our PayPal link in the right sidebar or sent via check to:
The Red Thread Promise
20 Brookfield Avenue
Glen Rock, NJ 07452

Be sure to write Mother's Day / Baby XX in the memo line. Provide Mom's name and address and we'll send her a card to commemorate your generosity.

With your help, we can make a difference in the life of this beautiful child and others like her forever.

CHINA :: Another blessing

Baby JH in May, 2011

Meet Baby JH. This little guy came to Swallow's Nest in May of 2011 with Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome—a condition closely linked to spina bifida—a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column (from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Again, Swallow's Nest was able to provide swift surgery for JH and the prognosis is good!

Lili, Baby JH's caregiver, says that he is a shy boy but is beginning to crawl and stand alone. He gets along with the other children and is a good eater. (And might we add that he is adorable?!)

Lili holding JH, March 2012

The Red Thread Promise is sponsoring Baby JH's care until he is matched with his forever family. His file is currently being prepared for adoption. $175 per month will cover his nanny and foster care, clothing, food and some medical care. 

If you are interested in supporting JH during his time in China or would like more information about his adoption, please contact kathy@redthreadpromise.org.

CHINA :: New strides for Baby XX

April 2012

January 2012

Baby XX is growing up and, as you can see from this photo, as cute as can be! Her life has drastically changed for the better thanks to the support of people like you. 

We met this little one in December 2011. A moment that should have brought great wonder instead brought a dim future—she was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus—and her parents left her in the care of an orphanage. Thankfully, XX has already received her initial surgery and a follow-up CT scan, great steps toward her recovery. Since then, XX has been cuddled, loved and cared for by the specially trained nannies at Swallows Nest during her recovery and is doing well.

The Red Thread Promise is committed to supporting Baby XX’s post surgical care until she is matched with her forever family. It is estimated that she may be in foster care for two or more years due to the severity of her special needs. 

For $125 per month, together we can provide for her nanny as well as her medical needs, food and clothing. If you would like to help XX, please consider donating toward her care. One-time and monthly gifts are welcome in any size. Donations can be made through PayPal (link in the right sidebar) or sent via check to the address at the top right.

Once again, this is a perfect example of how your generous hearts are helping special needs children in China.

CHINA :: Baby XX

Baby XX

In December 2011, another bundle of joy joined us on this earth, a baby girl named XX. A moment that should have brought great wonder, brought a dim future for this little one—she was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull, leading to brain swelling. The name literally means "water on the brain." This buildup of fluid puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and damaging or destroying brain tissues. Hydrocephalus may start while the baby is growing in the womb. It is commonly present with myelomeningocele (aka spina bifida), a birth defect involving incomplete closure of the spinal column.*

Thankfully, our partners in China are turning XX's once dim future into a bright one. We learned that she recently received her initial surgery, a great blessing. Her road to recovery is long—it holds numerous post operative medical appointments as well as a follow-up CT scan—but we have great hope for this little one. Thanks to Swallows Nest, she will be in the arms of people who love her and are trained in the care of children with such conditions.

The Red Thread Promise will be supporting Baby XX’s post surgery care until her adoption. It is estimated that she may be in foster care for two or more years due to the severity of her special needs.

Baby XX is still very young so we don’t know what other complications she may have. Please keep XX and her caregivers in your thoughts and prayers and consider helping The Red Thread Promise show this little one how much we care. Donations can be made through PayPal (upper right) or sent via check to the address at the top right.

* Excerpts from the U.S. National Library of Medicine

CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Yin Xi, part 2

Please keep Yin Xi in your thoughts and prayers. We just found out that he was admitted to the ICU yesterday with meningitis. They suspect it is viral because the IV therapy that he received last week should have killed nearly anything. This complication will affect his surgery date. But it is certainly better to wait until he is 100% well before doing such an invasive procedure.

Also on our minds today are the 35 other babies and toddlers as well as their caregivers at Swallows Nest. The weather has already changed in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, and is much colder. The heat in the building is regulated by the city and the "turn on" date isn't for a few more weeks. So they bundle the babies up and use space heaters but it is still cold, thus increasing the chance for sickness and pneumonia.

CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Yin Xi

Little Yin Xi is now 5 weeks old and gaining much needed weight in preparation for his upcoming spina bifida surgery. Unfortunately, harsh winters can take a toll on these fragile children.

Since our last update, Yin Xi developed pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital on October 30th. He has since been released into the care of Swallows Nest where, under the doctor's direction, they administer his medications and give him the love and affection needed for his full recovery. Thankfully, all pre-surgical testing is complete and now we wait for his health to stabilize so we can proceed.

According to Swallows Nest, he is eating well again but cries alot and appears uncomfortable. He will be taken back to the hospital on Wednesday but his caregivers are unsure if he will be well enough to admit and receive the procedure. We will keep you updated on his health and progress.

To date, The Red Thread Promise has raised and sent $2,000 toward his surgery (total cost is $5,000). Although we have not yet reached the full amount, having given nearly half will help Swallows Nest in their efforts to secure additional funding. Every little bit counts.

In late October 2010, a post-surgical 18 month old from Swallows Nest was adopted. We are hopeful with this early intervention, Yin Xi will also be so fortunate. Next year we want to give you an update that he has gone to his forever family all because of your generosity - all because you cared about the health of a baby you will probably never meet.

We encourage you to prayerfully consider support Yin Xi by making a donation to The Red Thread Promise. Simply put "Yin Xi" or alternately "China baby" in the memo line of your check or PayPal.

CHINA :: The Spina Bifida Challenge

Lu Yuan, September, 2010

We are happy to share the latest photos of Lu Yuan from Swallow's Nest Children's Home in China. He is growing rapidly and developing well following the spina bifida surgery that The Red Thread Promise provided for him in fall of 2009.

As our chapter closes with Lu Yuan, a new chapter is revealed – another beautiful Chinese baby has grasped the red thread of destiny, bringing us together.

His name is Yin Xi (pronounced yin shi) and he is only 2 weeks old. He was brought to Swallows Nest Children's Home on September 30, 2010, weighs 4 kg and appears strong. He is a bit fussy and loud, which gives us hope that he is a fighter, a desirable trait in a child with this serious condition.

Yin Xi, September 28, 2010

Yin Xi also needs surgery to address his spina bifida, a birth defect where part of the spinal cord is outside the body in a sac. Spina bifida occurs at the end of the first month of pregnancy when the two sides of the embryo's spine fail to join together, leaving an open area. In some cases, the spinal cord or other membranes may push through this opening in the back. This condition ranges from little or no disability to full paralysis and inability to use the legs.

The surgery costs $5,000 USD. The Red Thread Promise has agreed to help provide this life-changing surgery for Yin Xi. Being in a better state of health is a gift that he will have for the rest of his life and will greatly increase his chances of being adopted.

Due to the fact that his sac is open and a source of infection, Swallows Nest would like to schedule the surgery in approximately 3 weeks. Thankfully, the caregivers at Swallows Nest have experience with spina bifida babies and we are confident in their ability to use universal precautions to prevent infection and other complications. In addition, they would like to get him to Shanghai for surgery before the cold weather sets in and there are increased chances of cold and flu which may result in pneumonia.

Our Challenge

In response to this short time frame, The Red Thread Promise will match up to $2,000 for any funds raised for Yin Xi between now and October 14th. That's two weeks to find others who share in our passion for the health of children who have no one to advocate for them.

If you would like to support Yin Xi and children like him, please click on the donate button on the right side or send a check to the address at the top. Please mark your donation spina bifida so we know which funds are being matched through the challenge.

Thank you for any support you are able to provide.

CHINA :: Global Giving Bonus Day - Gong Li

Do you remember Gong Li? We posted about her back in March 2010 on our blog and FaceBook page. She is the beautiful little girl living at Swallows Nest Children's Home in China who has never been able to walk unaided due to a birth defect on her left leg. Both of her thighs are shorter and disproportionate to her 4 year old body. However, her left leg is the most affected: she has no lower thigh, knee or calf.

In March, we were able to provide her with a walker that improved her mobility. Today we are THRILLED to share the most current news about her and just in time for Global Giving Bonus Day, tomorrow, Wednesday June 16th.

Gong Li is truly a lucky little girl, having received generous support in the past, but now she is being given the opportunity of a lifetime. Through our work in the US and our partnership with Swallow's Nest in China, Gong Li will be coming from to the US to stay for a year and receive medical care including surgery, a prosthetic leg and physical therapy. She has a foster family ready to travel to China to bring her here and take care of her through all of her procedures and therapy.

The surgery and prosthesis will allow Gong Li to do something she has never done before: walk unaided. For the majority of her life she has crawled on the floor or walked with the help of a loved one, a stool or now a walker. With the increased mobility, she'll be better able to complete the tasks of everyday living on her own as well as run and play just as other girls her age. What a blessing for this little one!

Our current fundraising needs to make this a reality for Gong Li are minimal at this time:

• $3,400 - airfare for both Gong Li and her foster father
• $1,000 - prescriptions
• $250 - lodging in China (most lodging is prearranged with Chinese friends)
• $200 - ground transportation in China
• $200 - medical visa fees
• $250 - unforeseen

Imagine: $5,300 can transform this little girl's life.

And the best part about it is that tomorrow is Global Giving Bonus Day. In short, that means that all donations received through The Red Thread's project on GlobalGiving.org will be matched at 50% up to $1,000 per person / per project!

If enough Red Thread supporters donate, we can transform this little girl's life for $2,650! Please consider making a donation through Global Giving so we can make this a reality for Gong Li. You can make your donation by following this link: Gong Li. (Please note that the link provided takes you to a project for spina bifeda surgery. Gong Li is included in this project.)

Remember, your donation works twice as hard on Wednesday June 16th! But you can make a contribution in Gong Li's name at any time. Please share this information with friends and family. Together, we can make a difference.

CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Zheng Lu Yuan, part 2

Here is a little more information about Lu Yuan from Swallow's Nest. According to Pam "he has a happy smile and is very outgoing. He loves to hold hands with a little Down's syndrome girl named Jia Yu. They are so cute sitting in their bouncy chairs together! He eats well and sleeps through the night."

Wt. 7.4 kg

Ht. 65 cm

Chest 45 cm

Waist 48 cm

Foot 8 cm

2 teeth

If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful baby, please contact CCAI.

CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Zheng Lu Yuan

We are excited to learn that Lu Yuan's orphanage has asked Swallow's Nest to prepare his paperwork for adoption! Thanks to all of our supporters for helping this child to receive the surgery necessary to bring him to a better state of health. His name is finally being added to the list of children available for adoption in China. He is being treated for a chronic yeast infection, but is otherwise in good health.

Our work together does indeed make a difference!

Please let us know if you or anyone you know is interested in more information about Zheng Lu Yuan. He is beginning his search for his forever family.

CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Gong Li

We received word from the manufacturer in China that Gong Li's walker has shipped! She should receive the package on Tuesday. We look forward to sharing her progress as she learns to use the walker and gains more independence.

CHINA :: ORPHAN PROFILE - Gong Li

In the midst of the Haitian crisis, The Red Thread Promise has not forgotten about those in need from other countries.

We'd like to introduce you to Gong Li, a beautiful little girl from Zhengzhou, currently living at Swallow's Nest. Sadly, she has never been able to walk unaided due to a birth defect on her left leg. Both of her thighs are shorter and disproportionate to her 4 year old body. However, her left leg is the most affected: she has no lower thigh, knee or calf.

Although she is growing, the proportions of her body remain the same. She is able to crawl and often supports herself by putting her weight on her knee and left foot since those fall at about the same length. She has a slight, but noticeable curvature of her back from awkwardly crawling, not standing, and not getting a chance at good posture. Gong Li is able to get around the children's home by crawling, however she must be pushed in a stroller when going outdoors.

Thankfully, we have been able to help Gong Li mobilize herself by providing a walker specifically sized for her. It has adjustable legs so it can grow with her while determinations are made as to whether or not she may be a candidate for corrective surgery or a prosthesis.

Amazingly enough, the company that makes our all-terrain wheelchairs also makes walkers and crutches and their factory is located in China. What a blessing! We are so happy to be able to give her this simple thing that will change her life.

CHINA :: Zheng Qiu Hao - UPDATE

Our prayers have been answered for Zheng Qiu Hao, the baby girl with hydrocephalus from our post on December 10, 2009. We received word from Pam @ Swallow's Nest Children's Home (China) that a generous donor has contributed the funds for the procedure to put in Qiu Hao's shunt!

Although we don't know the date of the procedure, please keep this little one in your prayers through her time of hospitalization and recovery. We will keep you updated as we receive additional information about Qiu Hao's progress.

CHINA :: ORPHAN PROFILE - Zheng Qiu Hao

We received word from Swallow's Nest in Henan yesterday that one of their babies is in need of urgent care. Her name is Zheng Qiu Hao and she was born July 24, 2009. She has been at Swallow's Nest Children's Home since September 28th.

Qiu Hao had spina bifida surgery in October at Shanghai Children's Hospital, funded by Swallow's Nest (39,160.75 yuan or $5,733 US). Thankfully, she recovered fine from the surgery. Swallow's Nest then sent her to Beijing for serial casing of her club foot. Their trained staff noticed that her head had grown quickly from the last time they had seen her. The two entities began comparing measurements from September to December and it was determined that she needs a shunt for hydrocephalus.

Again, not being a medical professional, I had to look up hydrocephalus to find out more about it. According to Hydro-kids.com, hydrocephalus is the medical term for a condition that is commonly called “water on the brain.” The liquid involved in hydrocephalus is not really water at all; it is cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. CSF looks like water, but it contains proteins, electrolytes, and nutrients that help keep your brain healthy. The most important purpose of CSF is to cushion your brain and spinal cord against injury. Your brain produces about 1 pint of CSF per day. It circulates through a network of tiny passageways in your brain, and ultimately into your blood stream where it is absorbed by your body.

Hydrocephalus occurs when the delicate balance of CSF production and absorption is disrupted and CSF builds up in the brain. This build-up of CSF causes the brain to swell, and for pressure to increase inside the skull, resulting in nerve damage.

It is our hope to give Qiu Hao the gift of health for Christmas this year. The procedure to put in the shunt costs 30,000 yuan ($4,500 USD). Swallow’s Nest will pay all transportation costs and send a worker to care for her in the hospital. Sadly, Swallow’s Nest’s unspecified medical fund is like that of The Red Thread Promise – nearly empty.

However, we believe in that the red thread of destiny has connected us to Swallow’s Nest and Qiu Hao. We also believe in the Power of Ten. The concept is simple: one donor gives $10. Then he (in this case “she”) asks 10 friends to donate $10. If each of them in turn asks 10 more friends, we can fund this baby’s surgery in a heartbeat.

Please consider the Power of 10 today and help us give this beautiful baby the gift of health this Christmas. Donations can be made through The Red Thread Promise’s PayPal link on the right or you can send a check to the address at the right.