Today I'm writing about Reece's Rainbow, which is a Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry for orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs. What I find staggering is that in only five years, they have helped to find adoptive families for over 500 children with Down syndrome and other special needs. They are not an adoption agency, but an advocacy and adoption grant/fundraising organization. They help families to fund the very expensive process of adopting a child with Down syndrome from overseas and I think that their work is incredible.
Talk about shedding light where there is darkness. Once you visit their website and see the incredible work they are doing to save the lives of children with Down syndrome you will never be the same. What breaks my heart the most is that so many of these babies have repairable health conditions. They have things like Joey had-- congenital heart defects that need followed by a qualified doctor. Eye issues like nystagmus and strabismus. Some of their conditions are life-threatening and yet would be easily treated with surgery. I have a hard time sleeping after I visit the precious little boys and girls featured on Reece's Rainbow. All I can think of is how can we help all of these kids to find a family? To find health care? How can we do it...
In the meantime, welcome to Reece's Rainbow.
About
Our Mission Statement:
The mission of Reece's Rainbow is to rescue orphans with Down syndrome through the gift of adoption, to raise awareness for all of the children who are waiting in 25 countries around the world, and to raise funds as adoption grants that help adoptive families afford the high cost of adopting these beautiful children.
Greetings and welcome! My name is Andrea Roberts. I am the mother of a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome, and a passionate advocate for other children around the world who were born with that extra 21st chromosome.
Like many unsuspecting birth parents, my husband and I grieved for quite some time after Reece's birth in April of 2002. The life we had envisioned for ourselves and our first-born-son was turned completely upside down, and we felt very much alone. We were so blessed to find help through the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and Parent-to-Parent of Georgia. Our faith that God had given Reece to us, and us to Reece, for a purpose, carried us through our darkest hours.
Reece's Rainbow was started in 2004 as an outreach program serving new families with babies with Down syndrome at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. The nurse who attended me post-partum with Reece, Mrs. Kim Wood, RN, called me one day out of the blue and asked if she could use Reece's name for her hospital service project. She asked if I would come talk to new families and share everything I have learned with them before they were discharged from the hospital. I was moved, honored, and terrified. Would I be able to face a new grieving mother? Would I be able to HELP and not break down again? YES.
Since that time, we have met countless numbers of new "colors" of Reece's Rainbow. We have made so many wonderful friends, and our life has been blessed in a million ways. Our network of friends and families continues to grow. But the one constant is REECE…the beauty and innocence that a child with Down syndrome brings to the world is truly one of Divine nature. God has led me through some very difficult times, but waiting on the other side of that "rainbow" for me was enlightenment, empowerment, compassion, mercy, and a tremendous "calling" to reach out to other children like Reece who were not as fortunate as he to have a loving, supportive family to grow up in.
In 2006, the program expanded to include promoting the international adoption of children with Down syndrome. By raising money to offer adoption grants on waiting children, we are able to give adoptive families the extra financial help they need to bring a child with Down syndrome home from a miserable existence in overseas orphanages.
Our Sponsorship Program provides a unique opportunity for anonymous donors to contribute to the adoption journey of our families. These children are viewed as outcasts with no ability to learn or be functional members of society. They languish in mental institutions, hidden away from the world in shame.
Even if you are not able to adopt a child at this time, you truly can change the course of a child's life by helping adoptive families afford the costs of international adoption. $20, $50, $1000….whatever you have goes into an interest-bearing fund for ANY family adopting a child with Down syndrome. Click here to learn the many ways you can help!
Families interested in adopting should visit our New Family page for more information on our country programs, our waiting children, the costs, and the process in general.
From these humble beginnings, Reece's Rainbow has been powered by the grace of God and thousands of passionate advocates. In only 5 years, we have found adoptive families for more than 500+ orphaned children with Down syndrome and other special needs around the world. More than $1.5 million in grant funds have been disbursed to make those adoptions possible. I can say with great confidence that if we had a full grant for every child on our website, there would BE no children on our website. There are hundreds of families in the US and Canada who would give their left arm to bring one or more of these children home. The money is the ONLY thing standing in their way.
If you have questions or would like to discuss adopting or donating, please do not hestitate to contact me! andrea@reecesrainbow.org Thank you VERY much for your financial support, your prayers, and for sharing our ministry with everyone you know.
Here are some of the kids waiting to find their forever family. To see all the kids who are awaiting adoption visit here. Reading about where these dear "lost boys and girls" will go breaks my heart in a million pieces. Praying for more money raised and more awareness and more adoptions! I'm also considering becoming a Christmas Warrior to try and help raise money toward the cost of adoptions.
The first group are boys up to 5, then girls up to 5, then boys and girls up to 10. Some of the descriptions may seem a little odd, but that is because sometimes the orphanages write the descriptions and the translation is a little different in English.
Jesse 2H
Boy, born May 2010
Eyes Grey
Hair blond
Character Calm
Love the smile on this little guy! Makes you want to scoop him up & tickle him!
Diagnosis: Down Syndrome, mental delay, congenital lung abnormality, atrial septal defect
Elijah 2H
Boy, born April 2008
Eyes: Gray
Hair: Dark
Character: needs some stimulation!
Hair: Dark
Character: needs some stimulation!
Elijah really needs a loving family to help him be the best he can be! He was born with a heart condition and struggles with chronic bronchitis. He also has right side undescended testes. But he is SO cute and will do so much better with a family of his own. Please consider Elijah!
Ty
Boy, Born October 2008
Ty is a sweet 3 year old boy who is now facing the institution in the coming year. He will be sent where "The Lost Boys" go. Ty is listed as healthy with no medical complications. He deserves life in a FAMILY!
Trey 2H
Boy, Born February 27, 2010
Trey is a darling little boy in dire need of a family. He was his mother's first child, delivered at 36 weeks. Cognitively he is developing well, he is very attentive, smiley, and affectionate. Medically, he is in urgent need of care.
Hope someone will consider him quickly! Full medical records available, single moms welcome!
From his medical records: The child had the following conditions: bronchial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, obstructive bronchitis. The boy is on constant base therapy with Pulmicort and Fenoterol+Ipratropium bromide.
Present diagnoses: Down Syndrome, open oval window, additional chord of the left ventricle of heart, hypostatura, perinatal hypoxic-ishemic affection of central nervous system, both-sided cryptorchism, congenital malformation of lungs (under question), bronchiectasis (under question).
Spencer
Boy, Born July 7, 2006
This blonde haired boy is ready to come home! He is 5 and will be facing the institution this year. He is HEALTHY, with no noted heart conditions. Spencer is physically capable and active, and should be in kindergarten, not a mental institution!
Spencer can be adopted with BRENT, who is in urgent need of a family as well. No family size or parental age restrictions. Travel is required.
Jack 2H
Boy, born October 2009
Eyes: Blue
Hair: blonde
Nature: calm
Donations will be accepted for this child when further information is received.
Silas
Boy, born May, 2007
Silas has Down syndrome. He is very bright and has excellent verbal skills for a child with Down syndrome. He likes to sing and perform. He is doing well at kindy. He has good relationships, but is a little cheeky, lively and has a strong will.
More photos and video available, along with full social history and medical records
Please contact: Ky Bower
Mara 8CH
7z5i-8
Girl, born January 2011
Blue eyes
Hair blonde
The quiet nature
Mariah 2H
Date of Birth : March 2010
Gender: Female
Eyes: Gray
Hair : blond
Character : seeking to communicate
Eyes: Gray
Hair : blond
Character : seeking to communicate
Diagnosis: Down Syndrome, mental delay; no other health issues listed.
Lucille 15H
1cpe3-15
Girl, born April 2008
Gray eyes
Hair dark brown
Lucille is calm, playful and close to transfer.
Her orphanage has shared her information with us, hoping we can find her a family before transfer. Please help us find this little dolly a home!
More pictures available.
From an adoptive family who met her in summer 2011:
She is (our daughter's) best friend! She is very calm and quiet, not yet verbal. She is so sweet! She needs a family soon or she'll be transferred! Breaks my heart!
Natalie 15H
26wlt-15
Girl, born May 2009
Gray eyes
Blonde hair hiding under that cute little hat
Girl, born May 2009
Gray eyes
Blonde hair hiding under that cute little hat
This little love is said to have a very mild delay — they don't even consider her as "special needs" at her orphanage, but yet she'll never find a family in her country due to her Down syndrome diagnosis.
She has some physical delays, but her neuro-psychological development is said to be at age level.
She has anemia, and "obstructive effects" in her lungs.
A RR family adopted from this orphanage recently and would be happy to share their experiences.
Madden #61-1
DOB: 2004
Madden is doing very well! He is physically healthy and has never had any medical concerns. Like most children with Down syndrome, he’s physically small for his age. He weighed 34 pounds on his 7th birthday.
Developmentally, Madden is delayed. He can walk and has good gross motor skills. He is talking and can say words and use simple sentences. He knows and pronounces his name and the names of the other children and care givers in his group. His articulation is not always clear. He is receiving speech therapy.
Madden is described has having difficult with focus and attention. He follows directions and is very compliant with the teachers and staff when given encouragement and positive feedback. He is learning a variety of life skills, including dressing himself, brushing his teeth and making his bed. He enjoys playing with toy blocks and trucks. In September 2011, he began attending a daycare center to assist him in learning appropriate social skills and to help integrate him into the local community.
More photos available.
Mitko #21-8
Boy, born 2004
Diagnosis: Down syndrome
Mitko is healthy and does not have any health concerns. He's attending kindergarten and participating in a special education program. He can walk, run, jump, climb and go up/down stairs without assistance. He loves playing with a ball and can throw it. He pronounce one and two syllable words and follows verbal directions. He responds to his name and copies movements and actions following instructions during games. He feeds himself with a spoon and drinks from a cup. He is described as lovable and kind.
This photo doesn't do justice to how cute this little guy is! A video clip is available of him that shows him "in action". He'd make a wonderful addition to any family!
Maxim 15H
fp2d-15
Boy, Born 2002
Oh, how this little boy melts my heart! Just look at his smile! He is very high functioning, and will do very well in a loving family environment. He has been blessed to grow up in a baby house and privately run home for children with special needs, and he has been LOVED. He has many advocates and volunteers who love him dearly, and have asked us to please help him find a family!
It is possible he has Mosaic Down syndrome; we do not have his full medical records. But he is very healthy, active, social…just a love!!
From his caregivers and friends: "Expectant parents need to prepare for Maxim difficulties and learn to accept it for what it is: hooligan, a little jealous, but very good-natured and charming. Maxim respectable hoodlum, may, for example, to climb into adult shoes (larger size, the merrier) and enthusiastically stomping down the corridor until you catch up. Loves to joke. In its immediacy and sunny smile forgiven all hooliganism. Given his state of health, Maxim has good prospects for further development. He can not speak, but communicates well with the world through gestures and some of the sounds, knows the names of colors and geometric shapes, animal names, colors, fruits and vegetables, loves to play around with toys, loves being read poems and fairy tales. Maxim is very housewifely, helps with cleaning. He needs a home where it will and will love. And it is impossible not to love.
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Catherine P. 8CH
17fz4 -8Date of Birth: December 2004
Gender: Female
Eyes: Blue
Hair: blond
Character: Sociable, calm, affectionate
Eyes: Blue
Hair: blond
Character: Sociable, calm, affectionate
Victoria F. (Vika)
uamt -14
Date of Birth: May 2005
Gender: Female
Eyes: Blue
Hair: brown
Character: active and social, possible cleft lip
Gender: Female
Eyes: Blue
Hair: brown
Character: active and social, possible cleft lip
"In the highest Volochek live girl – Vicky. The girl's alive, radiant blue eyes, a mischievous "tail", winning smile and open face. It is well built, childishly naive and coquettish – a child wants to love, embrace, lisping with him. She is always glad to new people, smiles all around, laughing loudly and zalivisto, fins and happy sitting on their hands. Wick – a lovely little girl, clockwork, energetic, affectionate and sociable, and in general, little girl, whose place at home, at the table with mom and dad, where you can happily talk down, sitting on a high chair, twist and tuck into cakes with apples …
In May 2005, in maternity mom did not know that her daughter will be a bright and good, she thought that this child with Down syndrome becomes a burden and an object of ridicule, and therefore given it up …
Vike almost 3 years, her illness with proper care, attention and care can be greatly adjusted. And now it is not very different from their peers. Vikusya already said a few words, knows the names of animals and birds can show them the picture. Of course, it is not very assiduously in the classroom, her mood quickly changed. But she already knows itself to assemble and disassemble pyramids, cups-liners, understands the differences in the sizes of objects can draw straight lines and closed lines. Likes to play with the doll, feeding her, shakes and washes. Girl with easily imitate adults, able to dress with a little help, eating – not a bit careful, but herself, asking for a pot, washes his hands … She loves affection. Vika – a normal child.
SINGLE MOMS WELCOME!
Celine 2H
Date of Birth: October 2005Gender: Female
Eyes: Blue
Hair: light brown
Character: sociable. Calm
FACING IMMINENT INSTITUTIONALIZATION!
So happy to have updated pics and medical information about Celine! She is a pretty little girl who is blessed to still be at the baby house. She is facing transfer soon. Celine has blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She is quite self-sufficient and independent physically. She very much enjoys the attention of adults, and likes to read books and engage.
From her medical records: Down syndrome, moderate mental deficiency; hypertrophy of tonsils of the II-III degree; farsightedness; adenoids the II-III degree; allergic dermatitis; hypostatura. Celine also has flat feet and congenital chord anomaly.
Celine will do very well in a family setting. Lots more photos available, along with FULL MEDICAL RECORDS.
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