The Storms in China
Half the Sky has updated their storm page:
http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php
In some cases, the news is worse, not better.
When people receive their referral, often the first thing they can “do” is go search down their child’s orphanage and get an idea of the kind of care the babies typically get from their child’s orphanage. They may find out that the babies are generally well fed, or they may find out that they are often malnourished. They may find that there are very few instances of attachment issues, or they may find out that the last three travel groups have battled lice. Quite often, you learn some good and some bad when you go investigate where your child is living at the moment. Some people luck out and discover their child is at a model orphanage where they are well fed, where HTS has a little sisters program, and where the babies rarely have developmental issues or attachment issues. Sadly, those orphanages are not plentiful, so most families get a little good and a little bad.
Unfortunately, tomorrow we are likely going to have families receive a referral for a child in an orphanage that is having problems keeping the children warm and fed and diapered at the moment.
It is my hope that the agencies will offer some extra support for the families, and let them know when they place the initial phone call the status of the orphanage in the storm, and what the agency is going to attempt to do that night to see what they can do to help. Some agencies are probably going to fall behind that “not allowed to contact the orphanage” rule of the CCAA’s, but I hope that most of them realize these are special circumstances and they work to make contact them anyway to find out the current conditions and see what can be done to help.
Once you get your referral, one of the first things you can do is join your child’s orphanage group. The RCC group has a great list of lists that lists most of the orphanage groups, arranged by province.
You can also check out the weather in your child’s area, I’ve found the Weather Underground site to have a good selection of cities in China. Just click on the province and you’ll get the weather for a number of cities in that province:
http://www.wunderground.com/global/CI_Index.html
You can also type your child’s city (or provincial capital city) into a news search to see what has been happening:
http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn
You may have to look at a map of China to get an idea of the large city that your child’s city is nearest. The orphanage maps at this site should help with that:
And, finally, if your agency will not contact the orphanage for you, and if the orphanage is not listed on the HTS storm page, then I would recommend Adele at Blessed Kids, as she seems to have fostered a relationship with some of the orphanages. Under normal circumstances I don’t recommend you ask any of the services out there to phone the orphanage about your child, and even under these special circumstances I’d recommend you band together with your travel group so that one phone call is made and not multiple phone calls. But, if you are prepared to send money to the orphanage to help out, then I think getting outside help if your agency won’t step up and do it is probably okay. I’m sure there will be people who will disagree with me on that stand, but I’m trying to find ways to help, and sometimes during special times you’ve got to break the rules to help. The phones may be down and a phone call may not even be possible, but if one is, then a phone call with an offer of extra money to help out could mean the difference in how much food the babies get over the next few days.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi all,
In the Netherlands one of our agencies posted that the official cut off dat is Dec 27th 2005.
Congrats to all families concerned.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Thanks RQ. Sobering news. I have used Blessed Kids myself before and they followed through on everything I asked. And nope, I do not work for them. I think RQ’s idea of a group call or having your agency call to figure out you can send money to your child’s SWI is a great idea. It sounds like many areas in China are taking a huge hit.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Thank you for all this helpful information. I will be passing it on to my friends who aren’t aware of how they can help but have been asking. So grateful to hear that there are ways we can mobilize - my daughter may not even be born yet (LID 12/06) but it’s wonderful to know that I can do something for another child who is waiting for his or her forever family. Appreciate the support of this message.
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Thank you RQ for keeping us up to date with this news. I have tried to become a member of the Yahoo group for our DD’s orphanage, but b/c we haven’t had the official PA we have to wait to be accepted. It seems that they are OK in spite of the need for more warm clothing. Thanks again!
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Dear Rumor Queen,
Thank you for always keeping us informed at every stage of this adoption process to China. As we sit in the sidelines it sometimes gets overwhelming…with the wait and all.
What can we do as a community to help China ??
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
For those of you who have children in non-HTS SWIs, check out the Coal for Kids thread in the General Discussion forum. OCDF is also taking donations, and you can specify which SWI you want to give it to.
klem
February 4th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Thanks, RQ. We are LID 12/20/05 and I honestly am having a tough time being in touch with my emotions right now. I’m not the sort of person that this generally happens to, I’m a psychotherapist, I have been analyzed and trained, I talk about feelings all the time, etc After all this waiting, and all the fears about handling all the changes in our lives, and all the hope and bitten finger nails, the news of the storm just pushed me into numb.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Thanks RQ for the post. I am just have a very difficult time with this. Here we are, about to get our referral (a very happy time) but we can’t be as happy because our children are suffering. It’s almost too much to bear. It makes my heart break and I am feeling so helpless. I HOPE that the weather lets up soon….
Wendy
LID 12/27/05
adoptionandfire.typepad.com
February 4th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Hi!
our agency has posted the CCAA information:
“”The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before December 27, 2005″
Nothing about review!
February 4th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Thanks for the updates RQ!
I am so worried about my baby! It is heartbreaking to think of any child in this situation– possibly freezing, hungry, and wet, but to think of your own child– and you are not there . . .
This just adds to the angst of getting a referral and traveling.
LID 12/20/05
February 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Half the Sky has updated their site again. They are now accepting donations for ANY SWI. When you donate, there’s a place at the bottom of the second screen to write in the name of the SWI. I’m thinking of all of you who are finding out that your children are in a place that is suffering right now. My Ella’s SWI is one of the hardest hit (Chenzhou, Hunan) and I’m a mess just thinking, “What if she was still there?” Good luck to everyone!
-Noelle
dd Ella
family day 8/20/07