We can talk about our son's special medical need but what about him as a person? He has genetic anemia. I can't change that. He will have it no matter where his goes in life. But what about him?
We can assume his parents loved him very much and planned to keep him as their one child allowed. But when he was eight months old he became sickly. They most likely lived in the area he was found and there is a higher percentage of anemia there. So his parents or grandparents no doubt knew the beginning symptoms of anemia. Would they have kept him if they could afford the medical care? In China medical has to be paid for in advance of treatment. I thought a communistic country would cover the medical care but no.
His family risked something for him most families never do. They left him with a birth note. When a child is found the police are called to investigate. If the mother is found she goes to jail. China jail....
Leaving anything personal behind is a risk. Because of this we know his birthday is 2/xx/07. His file was in my hand on his 4th birthday.
These forms were filled out when he was 3 1/2. If the box is checked he has mastered that skill.
Child’s name: xxxxx
Welfare Institute: Social Welfare Center of xxxxx
Date: 2010-8-23
Name: xxxxx
Sex: male
DOB: Feb. xx 2007
POB: unknown
The baby is institutionalized: eq \o\ac(□,√) Intake time: 2007-10-29
Weight: 12kg Height: 89 cm Sitting height: Chest circumference: 49cm
Head circumference: 47cm Length of feet: Number of teeth: 20
Health History:
Routine schedule: Please describe when the baby gets up, has a nap after lunch, goes to bed at night and his/her meals? How many times does he/she urinate or defecate in a day?
Get up at 6:00, nap at 13:30, and go to bed at 20:30; time of meals: 7:30, 10:40, 16:40 and 19:30; defecation about once per day, and urination 8 times per day
Sleep:
Deep sleep eq \o\ac(□,√) Moderate sleep □ Light sleep □ Dreamy sleep □
In sleep he/he is liable to suck fingers□ or suck soother □ or something else:
Eating: Please describe his/her diet, capacity for eating, number of times of taking meals, appetite and favorite food:
Congee, noodles, rice, corn, eggs, milk, 4 times per day, one bowl per time, not a picky eater, good appetite
Physical motor development:
Going up and down the stairs without help eq \o\ac(□,√)
Imitating drawing vertical lines eq \o\ac(□,√) imitating drawing circles eq \o\ac(□,√)
Imitating drawing crosses eq \o\ac(□,√) Going up stairs one foot after another eq \o\ac(□,√)
Imitating drawing squares eq \o\ac(□,√)
Catching a ball thrown to him/her eq \o\ac(□,√)
Adaptability to the environment:
Knowing “big” and “small” eq \o\ac(□,√) Knowing “inner” and “outer” eq \o\ac(□,√)
Recognizing “red” eq \o\ac(□,√)
Recognizing two kinds of colors eq \o\ac(□,√)
Knowing “Chicken can swim” is wrong □ Knows “left” and “right” □
Knowing “Reading in the rain outdoors” is wrong doing □
By the way we asked Eric if a chicken could swim and he didn't know either.
Language and sociality:
Speaking a sentence of 5-10 words eq \o\ac(□,√) Asking “what’s it?” on his/her own initiative eq \o\ac(□,√)
Taking off unlined clothes eq \o\ac(□,√)
Knowing “Male” and “Female” eq \o\ac(□,√) Knowing “cold” “tired” and “hungry” eq \o\ac(□,√)
Buttoning or unbuttoning clothes eq \o\ac(□,√)
Knowing the answer to “why should you wash your hands before meals?” □ WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AT HOME STILL!
Counting his/her fingers eq \o\ac(□,√)
Personalities:
Timid □ Shy eq \o\ac(□,√) Quiet eq \o\ac(□,√) Active□ Restless□ Fond of imitating□
Fond of listening to music eq \o\ac(□,√) Fond of playing with toys eq \o\ac(□,√)
Fond of singing□ Talkative □
Having a ready smile□ Getting along with others well□
Fond of quietness eq \o\ac(□,√) Quick in reaction eq \o\ac(□,√)
Fond of reading picture books eq \o\ac(□,√) Fond of playing games □
Energetic□ Fairly introverted eq \o\ac(□,√)
Fairly extroverted□ Obstinate sometimes eq \o\ac(□,√)
Impatient sometimes □
Most close to: caretaker eq \o\ac(□,√) or roommates, classmates or other children in the same institution eq \o\ac(□,√) or others:
Favorite activity:
Favorite toy:
Filled by: XXX
Director of institute: XXX
Sealed by institute: Social Welfare Center of xxxxxxxx District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province
"Now he is able to speak long sentences, sing songs following TV, eat food on his own, answer some simple questions and take on his shoes. He is kind of introverted, and he is not talkative when being with persons who he is not familiar with. He is talkative and has a quick smile with acquaintances."
We've never had a quiet child. I bet he's not either once he joins our family.
Here is a rarity. A video taken of Guangbo at the SWI. If you listen carefully you can here him being called Guangbo and I think asked how old he is. Which was 3 1/2 at the time. You might need to copy and paste to get the video.
Growth Report for Long Guangbo
Social Welfare Center of xxxxxxxx District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province
1 In early days of being admitted
Long Guangbo, male, was sent to this center to be raised upon approval of civil affairs bureau of the district on Oct. 29 2007. After admission the medical staff in this center carried out a physical medical examination for him: 67 cm in height, 7kg in weight, 41.5cm in head size and 43cm in chest size with diagnosis: β-thalassanemia. His DOB was determined to be Feb. 23 2007 according to his birth note.
2 Development
1) Physical Development
Age (year) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Head Size (cm) | Chest Size (cm) | Number of teeth |
1 | 76 | 8.8 | 45 | 46 | 5 |
2 | 85 | 10.5 | 46.5 | 47.5 | 17 |
3 | 89 | 12 | 47 | 49 | 20 |
Under the excellent care as good as parents by the caretakers, Long Guangbo develops healthily and happily, has a routine life and good eating habits. Presently his main food is rice, 4 meals per day, porridge for breakfast, rice for lunch and supper, milk and bread for night snack. He has sufficient sleep per day and normal defecation and urination per day.
2) Physical and mental development
Long Guangbo has normal physical and mental development. He had the Gene analysis of thalassanemia in Nov. 2007, at which time he was diagnosed as β-thalassanemia. Averagely, he needs transfusion about once every other month, otherwise are normal. At the age of 1 year, he could stand on his own, respond when calling his name. At the age of 2 years, he could call mama, jiejie in Chinese, use toilet bowl on his own. Now he is able to speak long sentences, sing songs following TV, eat food on his own, answer some simple questions and take on his shoes. He is kind of introverted, and he is not talkative when being with persons who he is not familiar with. He is talkative and has a quick smile with acquaintances. Occasionally, he is stubborn. If he can not get the things he wants to get, he would cry. He often is easily to comfort if you say some gentle words, otherwise, he would be very stubborn. Therefore, it would be a good way to comfort him with gentle words in such situations.
3) Immunization
After admission, Long Guangbo is up to date on the children’s planned immunization program, and now he has been vaccinated with OPV, DPT, MMR, MV, JEV and HBV.
Sender: XXX
Social Welfare Center of xxxxxxxx District,
Anticipated Questions:
Why do you call him Bob? The listing agencies are not allowed to use the children's real names so they give them an American name. In China it is common to double the middle name as a nickname. So his might be bobo. Isn't Bob better? Also easy to spell and say. But his name will be Joseph after Granddad Joe.
Why does this picture look familiar? I have tried to show everyone photos of "Bob" without singling him out. Mom, you thought he was cute.
He needs new shoes. Just like E, toes hanging out.
