Joseph and His Heart

During my time at SFCV, I only knew that Joseph had a heart condition.

After talking to the adoption liaison, she gave me a better description of what his heart condition is really about:

He has a very complicated heart condition

that includes no pulmonary artery, a double anomalous aortic arch and he had a VSD (Ventricular Septal defect), 

He had a BT shunt (helps increase blood flow to the lungs) in 09/04/06. 

He has not been able to have his second surgery as it's high risk and he is doing very well at this time. 

He also has a Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome, but it can't be corrected until his heart is corrected. 

He is pale, but is happy and a great guy

I love this line because it is so true!!! I didn't realize Joseph was so sick because I didn't see it in his face and how he interacted with people. He is so friendly and full of life that you wouldn't expect him to be 

this sick.

One thing you all can pr*y for is his heart. Joseph does have a very complicated heart condition so continuing to lift that up to the Lord.

Also for Joseph's spiritual heart, pr*ying that God would give Joseph a family that is following HIM.

Merry Christmas!

Affection and Joseph.

I will never forget this moment with Joseph.

One of the last days I was in China, I told Grady (16 year old orphan at SFCV) I would pick him up at his house to go play cards with him and some of the other interns over at the Inn. Joseph (roommate of Grady) was over at the house and was pleading to go play cards as well. His nannies ended up letting him go so we all walked together.

While we were walking, Joseph reached out and started holding my hand.

I didn't think much about it really. We ended up playing lots of cards, taking pictures, and laughing way to hard. (Joseph loves cards, post on that later :)

After our fun, I kept thinking about that moment. I felt honored that he wanted to hold my hand but also it opened me to a new side of Joseph I have never seen before or realized Joseph had. Joseph is affectionate. He reaches out to people he is close with.

Even though he is 12 years old, I saw him strive for that affection this summer from the visitors/staff etc. Maybe that is a reason he started holding my hand. :)

Maybe he strives for that affection because he has never known what it feels like to have an affectionate family. To have a father pat him on the back and say "Good job son" or a mother telling him " I love you sweetie." Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful he is in SFCV but again, there is nothing like a forever family.

All I know is that I saw a different side of Joseph and it was a moment I will never forget. :)

                                                       Joseph and I being goofy that day :)                
                                         
                                                             
                                                             One year and 5 months.

Joseph and Bikes

Joseph likes to ride bikes.

I would rarely see him without his bike. He would usually bike around the campus checking up on people or just riding with his friends. He is always on that bike!

Even in the winter he is riding his bike! Crazy kid!

Also I wanted to let you all know that Joseph actually only has a year in a half to be adopted because his birthday is in May. 

Spread the word and I will try to post too as much as I can about him!

God bless! :)

Joseph the 12 year old orphan

Joseph is an orphan I met while I was in China. He was in my primary class so I pretty much spent a lot of time with him as I was very close with the kids in my class.

Joseph is known as the "Orphan who needs a family soon." Joseph is 12 right now which gives him only 2 more years before he will NOT be adoptable. Adoption Law of the People's Republic in China states that only orphans under the age of 14 are allowed to be adopted. Joseph has 2 more years before he will become an un-adoptable orphan. Two more years.

Like you who are reading it, I kept hearing from the staff at SFCV that Joseph needs a family. I didn't think much about it because I became distracted with other children from the foster home. It wasn't until the adoption liaison told me more about Joseph's situation that I felt like a sword just pierced my heart.

Joseph has been at SFCV for quite a while. He has seen his friends leave with their forever families wondering if his would ever come. When he was younger, he would always ask the adoption liaison when his family would come. I could just imagine him asking, " Why do I not have family yet? Is there a family out there for me? Why don't I have a family?"

Now that Joseph is 12, he doesn't ask why his family hasn't come yet. He tells her this:

"I really want an American family."

This blog is designed to make this boy's Christmas wish come true. This blog seeks to give people a view inside the life of a 12 year old Chinese orphan. This blog hopes to reach out to 

Joseph's forever family.