A Dream Comes True

Silas is 3 years old and has physical therapy every day. He practices standing and moving his feet forward slowly while being supported. He has started walking a little with the walker but his dream is to walk on his own.

He is able to stand as long as someone is supporting him. As he became stronger his nanny thought he might be able to stand by himself, so she would slowly remove her hands. But Silas would fall forward giggling into her arms. He thought his nanny was playing with him.

Then we explained to him that we wanted to see if he could stand by himself when we took our hands away. He understood what we wanted him to try…..and he did it. He stood for a couple of seconds. Now we have started getting more pictures of him standing from his nannies.

One day Ruth, Amos, Libby and Silas were in one room. Silas was practicing standing. He stood on his own and we encouraged him, "Wow, look at you, you can stand yourself!"

Ruth was sitting there and saw this, without being prompted she clapped her hands to encourage her brother. My heart was broken for Ruth when we saw her so proud of her brother, because, you see, standing on her own is something that Ruth cannot yet do herself, and will likely never be able to do. But she wasn't thinking of herself or feeling sorry for herself, she was just purely happy for her brother.

Ruth

Amos was also watching, in the past he had been so fearful of falling that he did not want to use the stander or sit in a chair, but when he saw Silas standing, he crawled over to me, grabbed my hands and tried to stand. He fell when he let go, but it was exciting to see him confront his fears and try.

Amos

Silas was motivating the other children. Ruth was cheering for him and Amos was confronting his fears.

NDNorth: To A Very Special Girl...

Six years ago, something very special happened. A little girl was born. 

She lived in a place that was different from most children, but she still grew and learned and was loved by the ladies who cared for her.

Ever since her foster brother, Frank, celebrated his birthday in July, Ruth has been asking "what about me? When is my birthday?"

"September," we told her. And then the day came.

All of the nannies and uncles and aunties gathered for a celebration, and Ruth blew her candles out (with a little help).

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! To a very special little Ruth... Happy birthday to you!

As much as we loved celebrating your birthday with you, Ruth, we sincerely hope that next September you will be celebrating your birthday with your forever family. You're an amazing young lady. We love you!

NDNorth: A Story of Friendship

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named ShuaLi (formerly known as Veronica). 

ShuaLi was happy in her home with her little brother Frank, and happy with her nannies. She grew and learned and made her nannies laugh each and every day.

One day, a new little girl came to live in ShuaLi's home. This little girl's name was Ruth.

Ruth was 2 years older than ShuaLi, and she was from a city far away from ShuaLi's hometown. 

They had the same language, but they didn't share the same method of communicating. The challenges they faced each day with their bodies were different- in fact, opposite at times.

Slowly, however, as time passed, the two girls found that they perhaps had more in common than first met the eye...

And perhaps their differences simply worked to make them well-balanced friends.

And so a friendship sprouted, blossomed, and flourished...

...and this is not the end of the story, but rather just the beginning, because these two little girls still have so much life to live and so many memories to make. 

NDNorth: Children's Day pt 2

June 1, 2017, dawned clear and warm. The three small ones who live at New Day North Care Center are in for a treat—an outing to a local park to celebrate Children’s Day.

Ruth grins at Shua Li Rose as if to say, “Can you believe this???”

Ruth somehow knows she is in for a treat…she just doesn’t know how wonderful it will be.

 She is beyond happy to be able to “get her feet wet” in the lake water.

Shua Li Rose is having a totally new experience…squishing her toes in the mud.

While a bit unsure, she is letting her feet sink down into the muddy soil.

 And now she is investigating this strange substance that is covering her feet.

 Frank is thoroughly enjoying his chance to splash in the fountain.

He enjoys this time to be out in the late spring sun and to be celebrated for being a child.

Ruth is thrilled to get her chance to dip her feet in the fountain.

No matter where she goes, Shua Li Rose always seems to make new friends.

As the outing draws to a close, Ruth and Frank are happy to rest on the laps of New Day North Staff members and savor this wonderful experience.

 

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this post was written by our volunteer, Ruth

NDNorth: Music Time!

Many people believe the statement that music is a universal language. The children of New Day North seem to agree. When a visiting college student brought a guitar to the foster home, the children gladly participated in the singing.

Frank is keeping a keen eye on the guitar. He’s watching and paying close attention.

Ruth may not know the words, but she is certainly making a joyful noise of participation.

Shua Li Rose is doing a great job of clapping along to the songs.

Frank doesn’t seem too sure about all the work it takes to make the motions to the song, “Deep and Wide.”

But clearly from this winning smile, he is enjoying the time of “active” music.

Shua Li Rose is quite adept at keeping time with the tambourine.

And Ruth adds to the percussion section with her version of the maracas.

Shua Li Rose’s sweet grin captures the joy that these children have when music comes into their home. It’s a wonderful place to be!

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this post was written by our volunteer, Ruth