Hello I'm JW and I'm 21/2 years old. You may have guessed that I'm not actually writing this myself, someone else is doing it for me. She's guessing that maybe this is what I'd have to say if I was old enough to say it. Also, she has first hand information from some really nice people who have spent time with me. Those people said that they liked me a lot. So, first let me tell you that I can't really see. I can see light and shadows when there is light in the room but that's about it. I've been like this all my life, so I don't really know any thing different. I may not be able to see objects as well as my friends, but I can feel them, bring them to my mouth and test them, hear things around me and I observe things by being very curious and concentrating really hard. For me, it's just the way things are. I'm a happy little boy!

Everyone who meets me describes me as happy. A visiting lady took a video of me and that video shows how happy I am. I like to smile. I'm especially happy when I'm the center of attention and being fussed over, but I guess my friends feel like that too. The day they did my video was a fun day for me. I was the only child in the room and there were lots of toys and people. After I played with the drums for a while, they gave me a game where I put shaped things into holes. I can't do it on my own yet but I keep trying. I love to learn and I spend lots of time trying and trying to get things right. When I do, I can tell how happy the people are. When I try hard and do well it makes me smile lots, clap and loudly let people know how happy I am. For some reason that makes people laugh, say ahhhhhh and ohhhhh and then they clap. When they do that I'm happy all over again and loudly say YEAHHHH to let them know how happy I am.

This doesn't mean I don't get sad. Occasionally I'm frustrated. Sometimes my friends take my toys away and it's hard for me to find them again. Occasionally I fall and that's not too much fun. What really upsets me though is when I want to be with my room mother the other kids in our room get in my way. I love her a lot and she loves me and I guess you could say I don't much like sharing her.

I love to play with toys and to beat on the toy drums that they have where I live. Did I tell you that I live in a rehabilitation center? Well, I do and I'm lucky because the people here are nice and there are even special people here who help children who need to learn some extra skills. I learned some extra things with their help. I can now walk all over this place on my own; without help. I can use a cup to drink and with just a little help in scooping food, I can feed myself. Pretty good, huh?

My room mom, my physical therapist and my occupational therapist all say that I understand what they say to me. They are right, I do. I'm not really able yet to talk like they want me to but I'm still pretty loud and vocal when I want to be. I have about five words that I use well and I love to repeat the sounds and words they use when they ask me to. They tell me that soon a speech therapist will come to work with me and my friends so that all of us can talk a bit better. Besides all of that, the people here think I'm smart, isn't that nice? When they ask me to do something I can do it. It's fun to help.

There are many volunteers and visitors who come here. Last October some visitors came from America and they liked me a lot. I could tell because they spent a lot of time with me and the older boy played lots of games with me. That was a lucky and fun day for me. I guess when they came here and met me; they expected me to be sad. Here is what they had to say to the lady helping me with my story:

"I did not meet a sad little boy.  Instead he was full of life and laughter and did not seem to recognize that he is blind.  He made his way around the halls where we played completely on his own.  He was not walking yet, but he was extremely skillful with his crawl.  He and my 15 year old son played and played as he would imitate sounds my son made or he would wander away and my son would call out for JW and he would answer from across the room and make his way back to my son.  He did all of this without the use of good eyes like most children.  He might not have functioning eyes, but he makes up for it in ways that left me astounded.  His sense of touch seemed very acute as he was handed new objects and he would explore them carefully...sometimes kicking them away if he did not like what he felt.  JW was very affectionate and seemed most at home with his head resting on my son's shoulder.  I do not think I will ever forget this very special child as he will forever be in my heart." 

See, I told you they liked me and that was before I could do all the things I can do today. By the time you read this I'll probably be doing even more. OK, that's all I have to say, I'm here waiting for you. JW

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Note from Teri : This little boy was born with congenital glaucoma. On his last exam, it was noted that his intraocular pressure is increasing and may need enucleation (surgical removal of the eye ball) if this continues. He is presently being monitored on a continual basis. Here is a place to start learning more about his condition: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/primary_congenital_glaucoma/article_em.htm

This child is available to two parent families only. His listing on Rainbow kids can be found at: JW's Listing

***A significant subsidy for qualifying families will be available for the adoption of this little boy.

For information on JW, last month's child (who's STILL waiting) and the other children AIAA represents, please contact Moti Irani at Americans for International Aid and Adoption (AIAA). Phone number: 248 362-1207 and email moti@aiaaadopt.org .

Teri L. Bell, LSW , MA
Special Needs Coordinator
Americans for International Aid and Adoption
651 687-0259
FAX 651 688-6639