Can We Help Her Walk??
Last year one of our
Heritage families noticed this little girl in an orphanage. She caught
their eye several times with a scared smile, apprehensive of new
people in her room. The family asked the orphanage director about the
child and they were told she is not available for adoption. The
director said the child, Zhao Yu, is a sweet and affectionate little
girl who is loved by her care givers.
Zhao Yu has some
serious medical conditions including cerebral palsy and severe
clubbing of both feet. Because her caretakers are concerned she will
get hurt, she is discouraged from trying to walk except on her knees.
This limited movement requires her to spend quite a bit of time away
from the other children. She can not run and catch up with them when
they go outside to play. The director continued to say that Zhao Yu is
healthy apart from her medical issues and is so eager to be able to
run and play with the other children.
Our family returned from
China with their new daughter, but Zhao Yu did not leave their hearts
or their memories. Finally they decided to contact Heritage to see if
our employee in Beijing, Kathy Wang, could check to see if Zhao Yu was
still at the orphanage and if there had been any arrangements made for
her to receive surgery on her feet. Kathy had this response:
“Zhao Yu was video-taped &
photographed in the early July, 2008. Madame Zhang, who is in charge
of the Special Needs Program at China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA),
met Zhao Yu in person when she had an inspection in July to Jiamusi
Children Welfare Institute, Heilongjiang Province. CCAA, Director Ji,
has decided to include seven year old Zhao Yu in their "Tomorrow's
Plan" and now they are looking for help to fundraise for her surgery.
She will have her surgery in Beijing- estimated in October after
Olympics and Para - Olympics. The doctors in No.1 Hospital Affiliated
by Peking University will perform the surgery. The exact cost is
unknown; the estimate is around USD $3000- USD$4000 total. Zhao Yu
needs to be brought to Beijing with a care giver and stay until she
has recuperated. Both of her club feet need to be corrected.”
We hope you will also be
moved by this little girl who desperately wants to walk and your
donation can help change her life forever. The older she gets the more
difficult the surgery and recovery will be for Zhao Yu. We hope the
time is now for the funds to be raised and in October, surgery can be
completed.
We don’t usually ask for
child specific special donations from our families. We are making an
exception now for Zhao Yu. We are asking for your help, your monetary
gift will go 100% to Zhao Yu’s surgery fund. We will be able to send
pictures and updates to you before and after her surgery. You will be
able to see how your gift has changed a young life. Please help a
child who is thousands of miles away, a child who you will never meet,
a child who you will never forget!
Heritage Zhao Yu Fund
10011 SE Division St., Ste 314
Portland, OR 97214
Thank you for your support!
