Awarness is everything!

Only recently did Marc and I learn of the great need of orphans with disabilities (and those without) in the regions of Eastern Europe. There really is no place in society there for children or adults with chromosomal abnormalities or disabilities. So what happens to these precious children? Though a very small number of parents decide to raise these children on their own, the vast majority of parents feel that they lack the resources and are referred by their medical communities to place these precious little ones in residential care (orphanages). The parents are told that their children won't ever be able to do anything and won't be able to contribute to society. Though some orphanages have very nice directors who are progressive in providing care, in the majority of cases, these children are left in their cribs with very little attention and no opportunity.

The baby houses can only keep the children until the age of 4 at which point these sweet children are not sent on to a normal "older" orphanage like the other children, but are sent to a mental institution. Several of the undernourished children don't make it through the first year. Of those that do survive, the treatment is usually not anywhere close to good and those who have been bedridden, will remain bedridden for life. Yep. You read that right.

Reece's Rainbow is a wonderful organization run by Andrea, an awesome mama of a boy with Down Syndrome (his name is Reece :) . This ministry promotes and facilitates the adoption of children with Down Syndrome from areas in Eastern Europe and all over the world, and also the adoption of "other angels" - children who are facing institution because of things like a cleft lip, cleft palate, Fetal Alcohol Sydrome, general mental delays, Cerebral Palsy (all ranges), arthrogryposis (look it up!), other trisomies, and physical deformities - just to name a few.

You CAN directly impact the life of a child by looking on Reece's Rainbow and choosing to pray for one of these little ones, donate to their grant fund, spread the word about them, start a blog (like this one!) or adopt! There is something new that Reece's Rainbow has started, too, called Connecting the Rainbow! Connecting the Rainbow encourages families in E.European countries to keep and raise their children with disabilities and provides support groups for them. You can support Connecting the Rainbow, too!

Orphans are at the very heart of God. There is much work to do, yes. So let's get busy!


Side note: I do have to mention that "normal" children in E.European countries who aren't adopted by the age of 4, are sent to an older orphanage. When they are 16, they are released to care for themselves. There are ministries working with children on this end of things to get them skills so that they may be able to land a job in the real world. Google it, saddle up and find a place to help in our world!