August 19, 2011
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Two little girls.
These are both pictures of 9 year-old girls with Down Syndrome alongside their mamas.
The first girl is my sister who has a huge family that loves her, lots of friends, parents who lovingly spend their time and money making sure she has access to every and any opportunity to be healthy and happy and a community that (for the most part) at least acknowledges that she is a person with basic rights.
The second little girl is Katie who has spent her life in an orphanage in Serbia. She is pictured here with her soon-to-be adoptive mama. She’s been left in a crib. No one holds her. She drinks bottles of “gravy.” Her body has stopped growing. No one has ever bothered to brush her teeth.
SHE IS NINE YEARS OLD. SHE HAS BEEN LIVING LIKE THIS FOR NINE YEARS.
It’s hard to even think after seeing pictures like this. But this is reality. This happens. This is happening right now.
This is happening right now to other little ones who don’t have a soon-to-be mama patiently wading through the adoption process trying to rescue them.
Today my sister turned 11. Tomorrow she will have a big birthday party with presents and ice cream and a bunch of people who love her.
Tomorrow, Katie will lay in her crib, alongside others, and have a bottle. If she fusses, they will tie her down.
If you want to read more about Katie’s adoption in process or find out about how you can help, go here.
If you want to see other children who desperately need help, go here.
And if you are like me and just don’t know what to do because this is completely overwhelming… pray. Pray a lot.
