I’m just a little boy, I was born in April 2003. Most of the others my age have left in the arms of people who are called Mom and Dad. I’m still waiting! Everyone calls me handsome and fun. The American Aunty says I’m happy, playful, smiley and giggly when we play together. I love playing with my caretaker too. She hugs me and picks me up a lot. She kind of understands that I like things my own way and I’ve learned that all I have to do is to cry a bit and she picks me up right away. She says that she doesn’t want me to cry because it worries her that I still haven’t had my surgery yet. I guess I love her so much that I get a bit sad when she plays with one of her other babies. I want her attention all the time. I like being special.

I’m told that I need surgery for my heart. They call it a Tetrology of the Fallot surgery. Boy, I’ve been to lots of doctors. I’ve been to doctors in the city near where I live and one time my caretaker and someone else took me on a long train ride to a really big city in another state and I saw even more doctors and had even more tests. The doctor’s are feeling very positive about my surgery HOWEVER they want me to gain weight before they will do the surgery. They say I have to reach 10kgs. I don’t like eating much, maybe it’s because they try too hard to make me gain weight. I even had to change house mothers at one time because my first one couldn’t get me to eat enough. I love the ‘Mommy’ taking care of me now and she’s helped me gain some weight.

Even if I have a heart that doesn’t work well and even though I’m not a great eater I still have the energy to play and they say I look pretty healthy. Everyone keeps looking at my fingers and toes and lips to see if they are changing shape or are blue. I do tend to get tired at the end of the day and maybe I don’t play quite as long as my friends but I can fight for the toys I like best without any problem.

I’ve heard the words stubborn and strong willed used when they are talking about me. I’m not sure what these words mean but I can tell you that I like doing things when I want to do them and not when others want me to. Actually, I also resisted walking when they thought I should start walking. I like doing things on my own time schedule. The American Aunty who visits us here says that maybe I’m too smart for my own good. I wonder how you can be too smart?!

A note from the American Aunty:

For more information on TOF, here is a good place to get started:http://atoz.iqhealth.com/HealthAnswers/encyclopedia/HTMLfiles/63.html

Children needing TOF surgery can develop clubbing of their fingers and toes and cyanosis (blueness) which is usually first noticed on the lips. My last trip to visit this little guy was in July. There was still no sign of these symptoms at that time. A significant subsidy for the adoption of this special child is available to qualifying families.

Teri L. Bell, LSW, MAaiaateri@aol.com

Special Needs Coordinator

http://aiaaadopt.org

Americans for International Aid and Adoption

651 687-0259

651 688-6639 fax