special needs adoption

smithpaint

Have any of you adopted a child with special needs?  I am considering this at this time (this or possibly still a child from Russia - not sure).  We are looking at children with mild and/or possibly correctable needs at this time.  Just wondered if any of you have any stories of your own to share or blogs that I maybe should check out. 

There are so many children out there in need of a family.  I really had no idea until I started feeling the desire to adopt.  Researching has really opened up my eyes.  I can't believe some of the conditions these children are in and how many kids there are that don't have families.  My husband tells me I can't help them all which I need to understand.  But I really wish I could help them. 

kacelle

We're considering SN adoption as well, although we're looking at less correctable issues.  My favourite blog on SN adoption and parenting is No Greater Joy Mom.

DaisyZH

We are hoping to adopt a child with special needs, either through foster care of international adoption. 

I second No Greater Joy Mom, it is an amazing blog that was really instrumental in getting us to consider international adoption.  Also I know you said minor or possibly correctable but you might want to check out Reece's Rainbow, they are a ministry for children with Down Syndrome and also other needs too.  They have a pretty big photolisting.

 

CaptainSerious

Yes, we adopted my older son, M, in 2010.  At the time, we knew he had to have cardiac surgery pretty immediately.  His issue was congenital, and once fixed, he was expected to have a normal, healthy life.  It was scary and beyond what we initially thought we could handle, but we felt like he was meant to be our son, and we jumped in.  The days during and immediately after his surgery were the most difficult of my life, but he is now a very healthy, strong, growing-like-a-weed boy!

As it turned out, the surgery was not his most difficult special need.  M has dyslexia, and other learning issues so severe that we are now having him evaluated for fetal alcohol syndrome.  Although those first days after the surgery were my most difficult individually, my husband and I are actually finding the FASD much more difficult to navigate and cope with.  It affects so much of M's everyday life and we are having a hard tie trying to develop his self esteem while also best advocating for him, especially with schools.  It's been very tough, and scary and even depressing at times when we think about what kinds of limitations  he may face as he ages.

We adopted our younger son, J, this past March.  J has neurofibromatosis, type 1, which is a congential disorder in which tumors grow on the nervous tissue throughout life.  The tumors are mostly benign, but can turn malignant, cause discomfort, and grow in dangerous places, such as on the optic nerve and spinal column.  Again, we initially feared the diagnosis and thought it was outside our ability, but when we adopted M we met J, and just fell in love.  We knew our family would not be complete until we returned and adopted him.

Feel free to ask me any questions about our journey with our boys.  I'm pretty much a open book.

smithpaint

kacelle:

We're considering SN adoption as well, although we're looking at less correctable issues.  My favourite blog on SN adoption and parenting is No Greater Joy Mom.

Absolutely love this blog.  It is what started me thinking of adopting a special needs child.

smithpaint

DaisyZH:

We are hoping to adopt a child with special needs, either through foster care of international adoption. 

I second No Greater Joy Mom, it is an amazing blog that was really instrumental in getting us to consider international adoption.  Also I know you said minor or possibly correctable but you might want to check out Reece's Rainbow, they are a ministry for children with Down Syndrome and also other needs too.  They have a pretty big photolisting.

 

Reece's Rainbow is amazing.  All those precious little faces.

smithpaint

CaptainSerious:

Yes, we adopted my older son, M, in 2010.  At the time, we knew he had to have cardiac surgery pretty immediately.  His issue was congenital, and once fixed, he was expected to have a normal, healthy life.  It was scary and beyond what we initially thought we could handle, but we felt like he was meant to be our son, and we jumped in.  The days during and immediately after his surgery were the most difficult of my life, but he is now a very healthy, strong, growing-like-a-weed boy!

As it turned out, the surgery was not his most difficult special need.  M has dyslexia, and other learning issues so severe that we are now having him evaluated for fetal alcohol syndrome.  Although those first days after the surgery were my most difficult individually, my husband and I are actually finding the FASD much more difficult to navigate and cope with.  It affects so much of M's everyday life and we are having a hard tie trying to develop his self esteem while also best advocating for him, especially with schools.  It's been very tough, and scary and even depressing at times when we think about what kinds of limitations  he may face as he ages.

We adopted our younger son, J, this past March.  J has neurofibromatosis, type 1, which is a congential disorder in which tumors grow on the nervous tissue throughout life.  The tumors are mostly benign, but can turn malignant, cause discomfort, and grow in dangerous places, such as on the optic nerve and spinal column.  Again, we initially feared the diagnosis and thought it was outside our ability, but when we adopted M we met J, and just fell in love.  We knew our family would not be complete until we returned and adopted him.

Feel free to ask me any questions about our journey with our boys.  I'm pretty much a open book.

Wow.  What a journey.  When we were considering adopting a child from Russia I heard about FAS.  Hadn't heard much about it before.  I am learning so much already it's amazing.  I may have questions for you soon!

septemberdreams

We adopted from Russia and did not intend to adopt a child with special needs.  At the most we wanted correctable needs.  However, we got more than anticipated and continue to struggle with his various issues.  I really urge you to do a lot of research.