I was born in April 2002 and I’ve lived with my ‘family’ (OK, they are really my foster family), since I was tiny. I love them and if it was my choice I would never leave them.

Lately, I haven’t been very nice to my ‘mom’. Whenever she tells me that I’m going to the social work office, I really complain. I HATE going over there. Really, I’m tired of all the foreigners coming over to visit with me and my foster mom. The same thing happens every time. I get to the office and sit with a group of other children (most of whom are younger than I am) and their foster mothers. Some of the children I’ve played with in the office before and many I see for the first time. Then my ‘mom’ and I go into a special room. I do like the toys in there but that’s all I like. Then the big people start talking about me and asking me to smile for their cameras. They talk about me for a long time and then we leave. The foreign ladies ask things about me again and again and again. My ‘mom’ says they are trying to help me find my new Mom and Dad. She says they want a really wonderful family for me because I’m a great little boy. If this is true, why is it taking so long?

I used to be a good boy in the room and I even smiled lots for their cameras. Lately however, I just won’t go in the room. I hide behind my ‘mom’ or I look at the floor and refuse to look at anyone. I’m upset. At least the women (social workers) in the office are really nice. They know me well by now and they talk to me. I’m always pretty happy to see and talk to them. They always say nice things to my ‘mom’ about me, such as, “His speech is wonderful”, “He is always such a good boy” (OK, they may not be saying that lately), “He seems so smart and he learns new things easily” and “It is obvious, he loves you very much”. See, they are nice people.

So here is my story. I’m healthy, I adore my foster family and they adore me. I love to talk and they say I use complete sentences. My ‘mom’ says I talk a LOT. I’m not sure about that but I know that I love to talk to my family and my friends on my toy phone. I’m really basically a good boy, I’ve done nothing wrong and still they can’t seem to find one family that wants me to be their son. Why? I guess it is because I was born with eyes that look a bit different from everyone else’s eyes. I can see everything and I’ve had my eyes looked at by different doctors and checked in different ways, they always say the same thing, MY EYE SIGHT IS JUST FINE! They say I will need a surgery to open up the area around my eyes. Supposedly this isn’t a big deal, except I don’t like the idea of surgery…..whatever it may be. Still, all of this seems to keep me from getting a family. My foster mom is frustrated about my not finding a home but at the same time she says she can’t imagine parting with me. It’s going to be very difficult for everyone.

I know I will have to leave this home some day. It is so important to those who care about me that when I leave I go into a family and not to a big building with lots of other children. Do you need a son?

Note from one of the foreigners who’s visits make this little so unhappy:

The diagnosis for this little guy is, Ptosis-Blepharophimosis Syndrome (or Ptosis Associated with Blepharophimosis). For information on this condition a place to begin is: http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com/procedure_folder/eyelid_recon_folder/blepharophimosis.html

Teri L. Bell, LSW, MA

Special Needs Coordinator

http://aiaaadopt.org

Americans for International Aid and Adoption

651 687-0259

651 688-6639 fax