Tiny Tim

 We've been home three weeks now and my mind still lingers on "my kids" back in China.  We haven't shared Tiny Tim's story with you yet but I want to introduce you to him.  

Is he not handsome?!?  Look at those wisps of baby soft hair!  Look at that tiny nose!

He was in our feeding room and very wary of strangers.  Unfortunately for Jason, he wasn't too keen on being fed by a stranger.  We were told his disability was a blood disease.  He's about 12-16 months old but he's sooo tiny for his age.

In addition to seeing him in the feeding room, we got to spend time with him in the Angel room.  He stayed pretty close to the nannies.  (This nanny in particular had such a caring gentle nature with the kids....here she is with a lap full of kiddos!)

We did learn more about his blood disorder towards the end of our visit.  He has Mediterranean anemia, also known as Thalassemia.  

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that may result in the need for regular transfusions. Here is some information that explains the urgency of adopting children with this disorder:
http://www.nohandsbutours.com/2013/11/02/waiting-child-spotlight-focus-on-thalassemia/

A quote from that blog: "The life expectancy for these children if they remain institutionalized is very grim."

From what I understand, this condition is fairly manageable in the US.

Tiny Tim's file has not yet been prepared but it is being finalized. There are others like him waiting to be adopted. Adopting a special needs child is not for everyone but perhaps this sweet face sparks an interest in someone to learn more about this opportunity.