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Susana and some Give Aways

*** Susana has someone willing to match any donations up to $500.  Please email, share or donate this need, this would be a huge boost for her creating a substantial adoption grant making her chances of being chosen by an adoptive family much higher***

 

Last week, Maria was chosen by her teacher, one of 3 kids in the class to win an award in front of the school.  We didn’t know for what, but let me back up.

We were in a dingy, gray building, dark gold water stains creeping up the walls, lined with old, frayed books, no computer organization.  It was dark in the afternoon, no natural light coming in, as a tired woman flipped through a file.  We heard kids outside the the chipped painted door, many of them, surrounded by other kids, but still alone.  You could see it in their eyes, feel it in the longing and fear if their fleeting shy gazes caught your eye.  Felt it in their lonely hands if they were brave enough to grab yours, “Mama?” a hopeful whisper, but most too scared to speak to you.

“Ahh!”  The woman found the name, “Maria, yes, ok let’s see, let’s see….hmmm….not good in math, very bad.  Very, very bad.  Not smart for math.”  The repeated adverbs annoying me.

Andrew and  I didn’t conceal rolling our eyes, how would these people even know, how do they even truly know any of them.  Have they tried to help them? A handful of tired, disrated adults to so many children.  For us to believe what is scribbled on these papers, ink marks to define a child for life.

Ink and neglect, the sum of each child.

Fast forward, up in front of an entire auditorium, Maria nervously fidgets with her sweater sleeves, sometimes catching her teacher’s eye and smiling, “Let me start off by saying,” Maria’s teacher started, “Maria’s work ethic is nothing short of inspiring.  She always works happily, she never gets discouraged….”  It’s all true.  The teacher filled in more and more, Maria staring at her feet,  just before handing her an award for excellence in

Math.

Maria is stunned, everyone is clapping like crazy people, or maybe that was just her parents, who’s to say, really.  No but really, it was an incredible moment.

She held her award, and that night, “Math?”she whispered looking at it.  She had been told she was not smart in math.

“See how smart you are?

***

“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things,” -Mother Teresa.  Each child in an orphanage has a heart, they have a mind, hope for a life, undiscovered talents, wasting away, lonely in a cold environment.  Alone, we can’t change the world, but together, we can change the world for a child. 

Don’t you think we too often fixate on the butterfly stage, while many times it’s the caterpillar, their persistent work going un-applauded.  Oh, our little ones who spent so much time in orphanages work so hard.  They never give up, working against all odds, it’s a gift to Andrew and I to see.

And I want to introduce you to Susana.

Before you see what the world sees, our looks centric society, look into her eyes.

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The hope, the shine, maybe even a bit of whimsy.

There is one line about her underneath her set backs, it reads, “Susana is a friendly and sociable girl!”  I believe it, that grin despite some missing or broken teeth.  (Haha, I bet Linzey is chomping at the bit to give this girl some dental attention 😉 )

She is 9 years old, the exact age of Maria when we committed to her.

Here are her medical needs: Mixed hemangioma of face and neck, Chronic viral hepatitis C, Other specified deforming dorsopathies (carriage defect), Astigmatism, Iron deficiency anemia.

My researcher friend said this: “There is definitely something going on with her lip and she might need plastic surgery of some sort. I read that the discoloration she has usually goes away by ten, but if not you can use laser treatments, and the before and after online looked amazing, but sometimes the same condition is more like a birth mark that became so large it looks a growth, so sometimes there is damage to the structure of the affected area.  That might have happened on her lip. I’m guessing her baby pictures had it much more severe and it has shrunk with age like it’s supposed to.  It breaks my heart because she should be someone’s princess and know how valuable she is and it’s probably the complete opposite.  She seems to have a variety of special needs, but they all seem really easy to correct. I haven’t gotten info on her back yet but it could be something like scoliosis .

 

So here’s what I am proposing.  We do nothing, and she sits in an orphanage forever, uncared for, none of her special needs get corrected, she never learns her true value or develops the skills she was born with…or we do something.  But, do something together.  Me, you, together.  I have gifts for you…

We’ve done something like this before, it’s incredible to watch unfold, so see, which such small efforts, a child being chosen and loved, FOREVER.  The creation of love, worth, security, and a life of purpose.  You.

Susana, our little diamond in the rough, with sparkling eyes like a river rock, if you donate, any amount to her fund (Be generous!  We all need less stuff, and more love in our lives) here: http://reecesrainbow.org/61112/susana

And message me, or comment or whatever, just say, “I’m in.”  In for this life change.

I’m going to chose some of you to win these:

1.  This gorgeous Noonday purse.  La Gloria Bag

Handmade with love in Peru. Prepare to get noticed, because this bag refuses to blend in! With festive tassels dangling from high quality woven cotton and leather, this roomy tote is truly one of a kind.  Sold at $168, but given to one person donating to Susana as a gift of love.

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2.  An Oil Kit: The Beginners Trio, the perfect way to start using and understanding the potency of Essential Oils, or stock up on your already favorites.  Free to another person who donates to Susana as a gift of love for being loving.  And an advocate for life change.

We use these ones on the daily in our house.

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3.  A bottle of Wild Orange, the scent is so, darn good.

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So, let me share these with you.  Which would you like most?   Let’s do this, another girl home.  From abandoned to someone’s daughter, cherished, loved, surprising even herself with what she can accomplish when maybe her whole life she’s been told she isn’t good enough.

Donate here: http://reecesrainbow.org/61112/susana

So, look around, is there something you could list on Craigslist and turn into a new life for a child?  No donation is too small or big.  As one, we can do a little, but together we can create an opportunity.

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Please share with your friends, and family members, share on social media.  This girl lives in a country where you are defined by beauty, well, let’s show this girl how beautiful and valuable she is.

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Susana

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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • julie June 2, 2015, 4:45 pm

    I’m in!!

    • tinyteam June 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

      THANK YOU!

  • Kelly Pappas June 2, 2015, 4:47 pm

    totally in. because I know Susanna is all kinds of smart and funny, and I can’t wait to see that bloom when she realizes how loved she is! (And also because, well, that purse is so fun, too).

    • tinyteam June 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

      Thank you! And, I know, right?

  • Lauren Watts June 2, 2015, 5:51 pm

    I’m in! Because she is beautiful and deserves to know it! And also because I’m interested in learning more about the oils. : )

    • tinyteam June 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

      Thank you!

  • hsmith June 2, 2015, 8:22 pm

    I’m in!

  • christy Moller June 2, 2015, 8:59 pm

    I’m in….

  • Jeanette Cloakey June 3, 2015, 4:38 am

    I’m in! What a sweet girl. Hoping she finds the family she so deserves!

  • Crystal June 3, 2015, 6:17 am

    I’ve seen you work miracles for my girl before, now it’s Susana’s turn! C’mon, sweet girl! You can see in her face that she hasn’t given up yet.

    • tinyteam June 3, 2015, 2:55 pm

      Thank you mama, you’re the reason I’m doing this again, too perfect of a match for sweet Abigail <3

  • Emily June 3, 2015, 7:19 am

    Just commenting that perhaps the discoloration on her chin and neck may be symptomatic of a condition called Klippel-Trenauney syndrome. It is a congenital condition characterized by vascular irregularities and soft tissue malformation. One of my children has it. Susana is beautiful btw and congratulations to Maria on her award! So happy for her.

  • Trish June 3, 2015, 12:19 pm

    I’m in. 🙂

  • Autumn June 4, 2015, 9:36 am

    In! Donation done. Matching grant here we come!

  • Meg and Liam June 4, 2015, 4:10 pm

    What a beautiful little girl! I hope she gets everything in life that she so deserves. <3 <3

  • Miriam July 1, 2015, 4:52 am

    Thanks for the recent reminder on FB about Susanna. I’m in & looking forward to hearing some great news when Susanna’s family find her & bring her home! 🙂

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