Sherman

Sherman is a joyful and loving boy (born May 2008) who entered ICC's care in August 2019.  He was previously under the care of his local Social Welfare Center.  His Social Welfare Center has not made an adoption file for him, but they have given us permission to advocate for him.  Once an adoptive family steps forward, they will make him an adoption file.

Sherman loves having fun with his ICC brothers in his community group home where he is living in family style care.  Sherman has Down Syndrome.  He is a great helper and will assist with weekly chores or tasks.  His caregivers report they appreciate his enthusiasm, positiveness and ability to bring warmth to others within his home.

Sherman enjoys spending time and interacting with his friends and carers.  He is quick to show affection, give hugs or take a friends hand to simply be with them.  He loves to play, particularly spending time outside on the playground or in the garden.  He is ables to entertain himself for long periods of time by creating his own games.  Sherman is a boy who knows what he wants, and can communicate this by using a range of simple words or actions.

Sherman attends a local special school, which is located outside of the ICC project, 5 days per week.  He is continuing to make progress with his learning goals.  For example, he is able to recognize and write basic Chinese characters and numbers 1-10.  He is independent in his self-care skills and is working towards acquiring more life skills such as washing his bowl following mealtimes.

Sherman is playful and silly, and enjoys making little jokes like sticking his tongue out for photos or making a funny face!  His sense of humor and personality will bring much joy to any family!

Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org if your family is interested in adopting Sherman.

Benson

Benson, age 5 (born May 2014), is a delightful, gentle and happy little fellow.  His diagnosis of Down Syndrome has slowed his development, but he is making continual progress in all areas of his life.  Benson lives with 7 other children with in his ICC family style care center and has consistent care givers.  He is very settled with in his ICC family, and enjoys the company of his ICC siblings.

Mr. Cuteness - Oct 2019

During this past year, Benson has made good progress and improvement in his social communicative skills.  He interacts with adults and children well.  He loves pre-kindergarten group playtime which he attends several times a week.  It has free play with focus on manipulative skills, singing, rhythm and socialization.  Often in his group settings, he perceives happy situations and will raise his hands in the air and exclaim "Horray!"  "He is delightful" state his carers.

Hooray for Park Outings - May 2019

Benson loves to watch and imitate his caregivers.  They have been teaching him how to stomp, twist and dance; he is able to follow their instructions.  He understands his caregiver's interactions with him, but he currently has a very limited vocabulary.

In July 2019, Benson took his first steps!  Our ICC staff were so excited to see this major milestone and even captured it on video!  It is not often that children in institutional care have milestones like this one captured! We are thankful that Benson is experience family style care and is loved and celebrated.

He enjoys the freedom to walk around and explore different things.  He can walk from his ICC family home to the kindergarten classroom every day.  At kindy class, he enjoys shape sorting and displays fine motor skills to pick up shapes, small objects, instruments and has a good grip.  His carers have recently started to teach him to feed himself and put on his socks.  He is trying to do both of these skills by himself!    

Sweet Benson has made a lot of progress in the last year!  He is delightful, well adjusted little boy whose happy kind ways would bring sunshine and joy into a forever family.  We pray that his forever family will see him soon!

Benson has a Reece's Rainbow Account where funds are being raised for his adoption.  https://reecesrainbow.org/130309/benson

Benson may also be eligible for adoption grants via certain adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards his adoption.

Benson is currently on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org for Benson's identifying information if you wish for your agency to pursue his file.

Everly

Everly is a sweet 3 year old girl born Nov 2016 who is affectionate and has an infectious giggle!  She has Down Syndrome which has delayed her development.  Over the last 4 months, Everly has made some significant improvements in her social and physical development.  ICC is so proud of the progress she is making with the help of her loving ICC family.

Everly can roll over independently, and crawls quickly when motivated!  She is able to get up into standing position happily, and enjoys cruising around furniture.  She has started walking with carer's holding both of her hands.  She LOVES this!  She can sit unsupported, and enjoys watching bubbles being blown!

This sunshine girl enjoys hugs and the company of others!  She loves to play hand games with people and gives kisses on the cheek!  She loves receiving kisses too!  Everly is part of family style care where she has 5 consistent caregivers, and lives with 8 other children all under the age of 4.

Everly has therapy sessions two times per week where she has opportunities to work on her development through play!  She makes sounds to communicate and enjoys face to face time with others.  She has not verbalized with simple words yet, but she enjoys connecting with people and has become a sociable little girls in the last few months.

Our hope is that Everly will have a forever family very soon who will be blessed by her!

Everly has an adoption account on Reece's Rainbow where funds are raised for her adoption, and she may be eligible for additional grants through various adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards her adoption fees.

https://reecesrainbow.org/130045/everly

Everly is on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org  for Everly's identifying information if you wish to have your agency locate her file.

Chloe

Chloe is now assigned to Madison Adoption Associates, 

and MAA is offering a $1500 adoption grant to eligible families!

Chloe is a playful and happy girl who is currently 9 years old (DOB 9/2010).  She fills every room with laughter and joy.  She loves to play, socialize and have fun in all aspects of her day.  She has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, and has recently joined ICC's care in August 2019.  Prior to moving into ICC's care, she was under the care of her Welfare Center.

Chloe is the youngest member of her ICC community group home, and she is very loved by all her older sisters and carers!  She is a very social girl who enjoys spending time with others.  She is able to express herself through use of gestures, simple phrases and sentences.

                      


She is friendly, greeting those she knows with a big smile and hug!  She also displays confidence and has been observed introducing herself to new people and is willing to spend time with them. She is caring and will make sure that all of her friends are included in any games or activities that are taking place!  She can be a bit mischievous - she has been caught several times sneaking into her ICC sister's room to eat snacks with a big smile on her face!

Chloe is independent in most self care skills through out the day.  At times, her carers will supervise her to make sure she is completing a task correctly like dressing.  She enjoys mealtimes and can feed herself with a spoon.  She can brush her teeth and toilet independently.  She loves selecting her own clothes and wearing pretty dresses!  Her carers report she will change clothes if she prefers to wear something else over what has been selected for the day :)

Chloe attends a special school outside of the Project and Welfare Center.  She attends school 5 days a week.  Her classes at school include fine motor activities, exercise, language, art and self care skill development.  Despite some difficulties with focus and concentration, Chloe has shown she has an ability to learn and is making progress in her subjects.  

Chloe loves many activities, especially if she can do them with other children or a carer.  Some of the activities she enjoys are:  Dancing and Singing, Playing games with ICC sisters, Watching stories on TV, Going for a walk or to the playground, Drawing/Crafting, Having her picture taken!    She LOVES all things girly including dresses, painting her nails and sparkly headbands.

Chloe's file was just released on 1/14/2020 to the Shared List.  Madison Adoption Associates is now holding her file, and MAA is offering a $1500 grant towards her adoption fees!   Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org or MAA directly to receive more information about Chloe!

Nathaniel

Cutie pie Nathaniel is 7 years old, and was born in August 2012.  He now is under the care of ICC, and living in family style care!  He previously lived for 5 years at the Welfare Center that has a partnership with ICC, and he has Down Syndrome.

Mr. Adorable!

When Nathaniel entered into care, he was estimated to be 6 months old.  His file says "he could not adapt well, always cried and would not like to sit or be quiet."  Sweet boy was most likely grieving the loss of his first family. The welfare center enrolled him the Grandmother Plan where Nathaniel was paired up with a very special Grandmother who cared and loved on him.

Love his smile and hair!
He's gonna have great hair to style :)

This one-on-one doting by his grandmother helped Nathaniel reach his milestones.  He can walk, can call "granny" if happy, likes being outside and explore nature.  While outside he likes pointing to the sky with one hand!

What fun he is!!!
Pictures all taken in Dec 2015

Nathaniel has good balance, can understand simple directions, can imitate well, likes being close to an adult and being accompanied by the caregiver.  He can be timid, and his caregivers say he is becoming more "bright" and his cognition ability is good.

An older picture from his adoption file

This sweet, loveable boy needs a family to help him reach all of his potential.  He sounds like a gem!  Nathaniel's name means Gift from God and Victorious.  He certainly is a gift, and we look forward with anticipation to see how Nathaniel's life is used!  We can't wait to praise and thank God for raising up Nathaniel's forever family.   

"But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  

I Cor 15:57

Nathaniel is now back on the shared list.  Please contact Erin Schmidt, ICC Adoptive Families Coordinator, at erin.schmidt@china.concern.org to receive is identifying information if you wish to have your agency pursue his file.

Lionel

Sweet Lionel is 6 years old and was born in February 2013.  Lionel, which means Little Lion, wears his name well.  He is a strong and courageous fighter, and is a little miracle.  Lionel was born with a heart issue (TOF) and has Down Syndrome.  He had surgery to repair his Tetrology of Fallot when he was 10 months old, and has recovered well!

ICC Christmas Party - Dec 2015

Lionel is growing!
Look at how he has filled out!

Sweet and handsome Lionel
Oct 2015

Lionel is a miracle because when he was found he had severe pneumonia in addition to his heart issue and was dying!  Many had given up hope, but he recovered miraculously!  After he gained strength and recovered from pneumonia, he received heart surgery in Beijing.

Lionel would bring much joy to his Mama and Baba too!

This little fighter recovered well from open heart surgery, and had a rosy face and would sleep well after eating.  He would play with his fingers when he woke up.  His caregivers "liked him very much and took good care of him!"  He is the joy of the caretaker!!!  

Lionel's file say he is very "docile"

From his file, it says Lionel loves the playful interaction of his caregivers, and loves to be tickled and held up.  He likes listening to music and dances with the music.  Today Lionel is a cute, active boy who likes to crawl towards colorful toys, and loves the noises from rattles and bells. During therapy time, he still loves to be tickled and to play on the therapy ball.  He gets really excited and is quite vocal!

Because of his rough start to life, little Lionel is delayed but is making strides to catch up!  He does not use any words yet but expresses his likes and dislikes through cries and vocalizations.  He knows his name and plays briefly with toys.  He can independently roll over, use his arms to prop up and commando crawl!  He is working on gaining core strength in therapy, and is prop sitting when he is back in his room with his caregivers and other ICC siblings. Currently he has low muscle tone, but with growth and therapy he may get stronger.  He uses his hands well in play, and can manipulate a simple toy or block with both hands.  

 

This little miracle needs a family who will dote on him and help him catch up and reach his fullest potential!  We have seen that God was with Lionel from the start, watching over him and healing him when it looked doubtful he would make it!  Thank you Lord for your steadfast love and protection over little Lionel.

Lionel's name and scripture come from Psalms 26:3 ESV "For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness."   We wait with excitement and anticipation to find out who will step out in faithfulness and call this miracle their son!

Lionel is waiting on the shared list.  Please contact Erin Schmidt, ICC Adoptive Families Coordinator at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org to receive his identifying information if you wish to have your agency pursue his file.  In addition, we have an ICC development assessment and a Little Hearts Medical Cardiologist review of his file that we can share with interested families.

Lionel Out Takes

He is so cute!!!

                                      

Shawn

Shawn is a precious 7 year old (born July 2012) with Down's Syndrome.   He came into care when he was 1 month old, and he lives at the Welfare Center that has a partnership with ICC.  

A new ICC team mate wrote this about Shawn in Sept 2015:  "Shawn seems like a bright boy and from our short time visiting him he integrated well and seemed content. He was very smiley! A family wanting to adopt a child with Downs Syndrome would be very blessed by Shawn."

Dec 2, 2015 pictures

A January 2016 update states:  Shawn is nearly ready to walk by himself! He loves to move around either by crawling or when holding onto something for support or someone’s hand he can walk. He tried taking a few steps unaided but his balance wasn’t quite there yet.  He looks for things hidden such as when I put my phone under my leg he searched around for it.  He is very eager to engage and play with those around him.

What a sweetheart!

Hmmmm...let's see...how about a family for Christmas?!?!

Shawn is a cute boy who loves to get around.  He crawls all over the place and will stand up and walk when holding onto something or someone!  Most of all, he enjoys his independence when in the baby walker.  While he feeds well from a bottle, he has not yet transitioned to solid food.

What a sweetheart!

Shawn communicates with sounds and gestures but is not yet saying words.  He is very interactive with others and smiles when he sees loved ones.  He loves to reach out and be with other children as well as his care givers.  He is especially fond of hugs and watching TV.

UPDATED PICTUrES - March 2015

Shawn is on the shared list.  Contact Erin Schmidt, ICC's Adoptive Families Coordinator at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org to get his identifying information if you wish to have your agency pursue his file.

Bobby

Bobby now has a $15,000 Reece's Rainbow Grant! 

Additionally some agencies will provide grants for him starting at $3000. 

Bobby, born in April 2007,  is a delightful 12 year old boy who has Down Syndrome.  He is an active boy who loves to play, especially with play dough, sand and bouncy balls.  He enjoys bouncing on the trampoline and swinging on the swingset! During these times, you will hear his infectious giggles!

Watch Bobby giggle and play with sand!  Love his laugh...it is the best!

Bobby currently does not communicate using words, but understands commands and instructions and responds through sounds and gestures. He would benefit from using sign language to help his communication skills.

Bobby is in the care of ICC and lives in a group style home with consistent caregivers. He attends kindergarten classes each day where he interacts with his teachers and has a good relationship with them. He enjoys painting and doing simple puzzles which is developing his fine motor control.

VIDEOS:

Dec 2015 Christmas Party video - Bobby playing the drums and following directions!

Bobby also loves to dance! There is a time of dancing every morning at the ICC center and he regularly joins in. Check out this cute video of him dancing one morning in Sept 2015.

A new October 2015 video of Bobby playing!

He is a determined little guy!  He needs an active home and household to keep him from boredom.

Updated Pictures - August 2014

What a smile!

More Updated Pictures!

Oh my goodness...look at that smile!

JOY!

Spring 2014 picture

Bobby has a Reece's Rainbow account, and is now eligible for a $15,0000 grant! His advocacy name in RR is Boden.   http://reecesrainbow.org/48170/boden

Bobby is currently on the shared list.  Contact Erin Schmidt, ICC's Adoptive Families Coordinator, at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org to receive his identifying information if you wish to have your agency pursue his file.