Frustrating news first...we received an email yesterday evening saying that China's new adoption database is experiencing a lot of malfunctions, particularly with log-in dates and letters of acceptance, which is exactly where we are right now. All we can do is continue to wait and pray that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible. We want to get Leah home so badly! Why does an orphan have to sit and wait when there is a family longing for her? Argh.
On a different note, I received some very exciting news yesterday, and I just have to share with you all. Back when we were looking at files of children to adopt, we were given three specific files from our agency. One of those three was another little girl with down syndrome a little older than our Leah. We had a phone consult with a physician at an international adoption clinic and discussed all three of these children's files. The really great part of this conversation was that this physician had actually traveled to China and met the children we were discussing! Anyway, the doctor lit up when talking about this little girl and her big personality. Her medical file indicated some major heart defects. Any family that were to commit to bringing her home would be looking at multiple heart surgeries with no guarantee of success. The doctor explained that she has a significantly shortened life expectancy if she does not get these surgeries. She said that if this child could just get the first surgery done in China somehow, it would greatly increase her chances of being adopted. On a whim, I emailed Love Without Boundaries, an agency that works to get medical care for orphans in China. I briefly explained her medical needs and asked if there was anything they could do to help. I received a very quick response asking for more details about her name and orphanage. When I told them the name of her orphanage, they said they had worked with them before and had a good relationship. The agency said they would be in touch to keep me updated. So about a month and a half later (yesterday), I got an email from them saying that she will be having a heart catheterization in Shanghai on Monday!! Being relatively clueless about Chinese geography, I mapped from her city to Shanghai...over 1,000 miles. This is a huge trip for her! However, if she is a candidate for surgery, she will have to return to her orphanage until they can raise the funds for it. But please pray for her this weekend! Pray that she would not be too scared, that travel would go smoothly, and that the test will go well. I will update as soon as I hear from them!
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