Saving Downsyndrome » Even If It Hurts, Please Don’t Turn Away

Tuesday April 29, 2014

by Mike

Today we have a guest blog by Alyssa Goodhue, from “Chosen to Bless”

When we got the absolutely amazing opportunity to write a guest post on this site, we were overjoyed that we could share our passions with you lovely people, but we weren’t sure what to write about. After some thought, we decided that sharing our main mission with you all would be best. The post below is really the every day life of millions of orphans all around the world. I (Alyssa) have been on Pick-up adoption trips, and have seen the neglect first hand, I’ve watched children go through withdrawals from the large doses of medicine that were given to keep them quiet. This is real. This is happening right now in many orphanages all over the world.

Even If It Hurts, Please Don’t Turn Away.

This wont be easy to read, and you will probably leave this blog with a hurting heart. But I would just like you to remember that this is the everyday reality for these kids, they don’t have the option to turn their eyes away, they can’t pretend like it’s not happening, because they live it. So please, even when it hurts, don’t turn away.

The life of orphans in other countries is far from what you may think. Most days are spent in their crib, with no interaction, no toys, these kids are lucky if they get their diapers changed even twice a day. With nothing to their name, they live on borrowed time, waiting for something, or someone to come along and change their everyday routine. If the child is lucky they will get a care taker who sees something special about them, and pays a little more attention to them than the other kids. But most days are spent alone, in a crib, chewing their hands, or hitting their head trying to feel something, anything.

Please, don’t stop reading, don’t turn away. Remember, this is their life that they cannot escape from.

Feedings are scary to think about, I’ve heard stories, and watched documentaries of feedings. The older kids have gruel shoveled into their mouths, so fast they don’t have time to swallow. I wonder how many older kids dread feeding time for fear of choking? But yet they know that might be the last time they are aloud to eat for who knows how long. Babies, and children who don’t have the ability to sit up are laid on their back in a crib, with the bottle propped up, as this think substance pours into their mouth faster than they can swallow. Not having time to breathe, causing them to aspirate this think gruel into their lungs, but since they cannot sit up, they cannot cough it up, and often times get so sick from this.

Please, don’t stop reading, don’t turn away. Remember, this is their life that they cannot escape from.

At the age of 4 their time runs out, and they are made to leave what’s been their “home” for the past years, they are sent away to an adult mental institution, where their heads are shaved, unneeded medicine is given to keep them quiet, and they are tied to a crib for hours on end. Statistics say that most children who are sent away to an institution wont last their first year, and I believe it. In most cases it’s extremely hard to adopt children once they have been transferred, because their institution directors don’t see their value, and don’t see the point in letting families rescue them.

When a child is born with a special need in other countries, they are deemed worthless, and parents are told that their child will never contribute anything to society. Or in some cases the families aren’t able to provide the proper care for their child, and doctors *convince* them that the orphanages will be able too. I hurt for those parents, the ones who are trying to do what’s best for their child, and have no clue what the orphanages are really like.

So, this my friends, is why Kaitlyn and I fight for these kids. This is their reality, their fate, and without advocates, and willing families, these kids will die in the hands of people who could careless about them. Without you, and me, these kids will pass away without ever knowing what it’s like to feel love, or to have mommy snuggles, and a daddy to wrestle with, they will know nothing other than the lies that have been fed to them over the years. They will believe the lies that they are worthless, unwanted, a burden, and have no purpose. You, and I know that those things aren’t true, and we know that they have potential, and are wanted. Will you fight with us? Will you join us, and help end this horrible injustice? In the words of Eric Ludy “We will rescue these little ones”

These two little ones both have Down syndrome, and have waited quite a while for their families to find them! Dawn, is 13 years old and lived at an orphanage until she was transferred to an institution at the age of 3 years old, she also has $10,000 towards the cost of her adoption. Ulysess, just turned 10 years old in February, and oh how this boy needs a mama and papa, such a sweet little one who has $5712 towards the cost of his adoption. We want to put them in the spot light, and ask you a question…Are you Dawn or Ulysess’s mama, and papa? Do you have room in your hearts? Or an empty spot at your table? Maybe space for another bed? They need a family, are you a family? Who is willing to love Dawn, and Ulysess?

We are so grateful for the opportunity to guest post on this beautiful blog, and thank everyone for reading, sharing, and commenting! You all are true the best!