Who is This Little Girl in Pink? Meet Jannine from Bulgaria

Isn’t Jannine a cutie? That’s her photo on the left (although Jannine isn’t her real name). She was born in 2001 and will be 12 in May.  Jannine lived with her birth parents off and on over the years, but has been placed in “a home for children deprived of parental care” (or orphanage) since 2009.

Jannine is described by her caregivers as “lively, energetic, and communicative.” She is good-natured and a “smiler,” with very good social skills and excellent self-care habits and personal hygiene. Her very favorite activity is painting. She makes friends easily and has proven to adjust very well to new environments and situations.

The following description of Jannine comes directly from the orphanage’s background summary: “Child has positive affect and empathy for others. External emotional expression is extremely bright and revealing. She is not aggressive and does not initiate conflict. She is sensitive and if verbally attacked by another child, she is quick to cry. Demonstrates good character.”

Jannine had surgery to correct a heart defect shortly after her birth, but shows no signs of heart problems today. She has normal mental and academic development with mild cognitive delays – which is the norm for kids in an institutionalized setting.

Wouldn’t Jannine make a wonderful addition to a loving Texas family? If you are interested in finding out more about her, or other children awaiting adoption in Bulgaria, we would be happy to share additional information with you. Please contact Konnie Gregg by email at Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org or call either 512-454-4611 or 800-396-4611.

From Bulgaria With Love: These Children Need Loving Homes

Texas is a long way from Bulgaria, but in that faraway nation, so many children live in orphanages with little chance of being adopted in their home country. Most are of Roma ancestry, and some of them have developmental delays, a common side effect of institutionalized group living. What these children need is a chance. They need the love and stability of a real family, and a life conducive to reaching their full potential.

We have been given permission to publish their real photos but not their real names. Some of the photos are more than a year old, but you can still catch a glimpse of how special each child is.

This is Sergio

He is seven years old now (older than in his photo). Sergio was born in the city of Pleven and placed in an orphanage a week later. He is a healthy child with some general developmental delays, including delayed speech and language for which he receives regular speech therapy. Sergio is small for his age and quite shy. He is described by his caretakers as “a calm child,” which is hard to beat!

Brothers Dondi & Yuri

Dondi and Yuri are two very handsome, healthy brothers, ages 10 and 12. They were both born in the city of Stara Zagora and their mother placed each of them in the area’s orphanage shortly after birth. They share common musical talents. The brothers also share a strong emotional bond

About Dondi: He is an active, well coordinated child with a “very well-developed imagination.” Extroverted and positive by nature, he is described as friendly and cooperative, with good self esteem. Currently, Dondi is in fifth grade and attends a local public school. He has some academic struggles

About Yuri:This 10-year-old is also well-coordinated and his report states that “his fine motor skills are exact and precise and he knows the multiplication tables and is eager to learn; he is motivated and tries to do a good job at school.”

Like his brother, Yuri is very social and at times “presents as verbose.” And here’s something every mother will love: “He keeps a very neat appearance, takes good care of his belongings – folds and keeps clean his clothes.”

Sister & Brother Ludmilla & Gino

This brother and sister have an excellent and supportive relationship. Ludmilla is very mature and loving around her brother. They were raised at home during their early years and have lived in the orphanage since 2008.

Eleven-year-old Ludmilla was almost eight before her placement in the orphanage. She is a very bright child who, understandably, is described as somewhat angry and moody. Ludmilla attends the local public school where she is very successful academically. Because of her excellent academic potential she would thrive on additional intellectual challenges and psychological support.

Gino, at age nine, has a sunny disposition, and based on school reports is an average student. He is friendly, builds relationships easily, and is neat and tidy. Gino is a “smiler” and is described as very pleasant and agreeable.

All we want for Christmas is to place these children with loving Texas families! We would be happy to share additional pictures, videos, and detailed information with you. Please contact Konnie Gregg by e-mail at Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org or call either 512-454-4611 or 800-396-4611.

A Wide World Awaits Ilya

Life in an institution is the only life six-year-old IIya knows [Note: this is not his real name and photo]. There is so much more to the world than the walls of an orphanage, and nothing would be better for this Bulgarian boy than to be adopted into a loving family in Texas. Everyone working in LSS adoption services wants to make that happen as soon as possible for Ilya.

Born in the Bulgarian town of Sofia May 13, 2005, Ilya is in healthy physical condition (he very rarely gets sick!) but has experienced developmental delays, particularly in speech and language. This is not uncommon for children who have lived in an orphanage since infancy, and he attends a center for early intervention twice a week. Ilya’s self-help skills include being able to feed and dress himself independently, but he currently needs some assistance and reminders for washing his hands, bathing, and brushing his teeth.

A bit of a loner, Ilya seems to prefer solitary play with his favorite toys and objects, which he likes to arrange in a circle. He seeks the approval and attention of caregivers and is at a critical point in his life when the stability (and more importantly the love) of a family is the ticket to the future he deserves.

We would be happy to share Ilya’s pictures and detailed information with you. If interested, please contact Konnie Gregg by e-mail at Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org or call either 512-454-4611 or 800-396-4611.

Meet Sonya: a little girl who gets the giggles

Sonya (not her real name and photo) was born on October 5, 2007, in the Bulgarian village of Medovene. Placed in the orphanage just five months later, the baby girl was given the diagnosis of “failure to thrive.” She is still tiny for her age and while she is somewhat delayed in her physical and neurological development, her institutional delays are quite common.

What Sonya does thrive on is praise! She just lights up when someone says “Well done!” She is described as “lively and responsive to emotional contact” as well as “rarely irritable or capricious.” She giggles happily when playfully teased, and while she speaks in unintelligible phrases she is able to imitate meaningful words.

Sonya has a slight limp in the left leg and only began walking around her second birthday. She can climb up and down stairs while holding someone’s hand and occasionally meets with a physical therapist and a speech/language pathologist. At only 3 ½ years old, Sonya has a hopeful future if she can find a nurturing family to give her the love and attention she needs to flourish.

For more information about adopting Sonya, please contact Konnie Gregg by e-mail at Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org or call either 512-454-4611 or 800-396-4611.

Sonya, like the other Bulgarian children we have been featuring, has special needs and is available for immediate adoption. The entire adoption process could take less than 12 months. Many healthy children, ages two and over, are also awaiting homes and families in the United States, but the process and the wait is longer.

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Meet Our Mother’s Day Twins

Mother’s Day is coming soon, which seems like the perfect time to introduce Stefan and Sylvia (not their real names and photo), the six-year-old Bulgarian twins who are anxiously waiting for a mother and a permanent family of their own.

Stefan and Sylvia were born January 19, 2005, in the town of Kjustendil, and placed in the orphanage four months later. Stefan is described as bright, verbal, and engaging. He is very social and actively participates in all class activities. When any of the other children are distressed and crying, Stefan tries to calm them, offering physical and verbal support. His intellectual abilities are described as “in the upper limits of the norm” and he shows no signs of the intellectual delays usually seen in children who’ve been institutionalized for many years.

Stefan was born with congenital hypoplasia of the left leg, which hampers his mobility significantly. He uses his left leg only to balance when standing and is able to get around better by crawling fast than trying to walk independently. His fine motor skills are very well developed.

Stefan’s sister Sylvia shows very good physical development yet she has developmental delays and her social communication skills are “below the norm.” She listens and tries to imitate and pronounce words, but has a hard time expressing herself. There is no doubt that she would benefit tremendously from a family environment, one where she would have more exposure to cognitive stimulation, toys, and one-on-one activities.

We would welcome the opportunity to tell you more about Stefan and Sylvia, and share their pictures and video with interested families. The twins will be placed together. Email internationaladoption@lsss.org or call 800-396-4611to find out all about the twins, and the other available, waiting Bulgarian children. Learn more about international adoption at www.lsss.org/adoption.

Note: The Bulgarian children we have been featuring have special needs and are available for immediate adoption. The entire adoption process could take less than 12 months. Many healthy children, ages two and over, are also awaiting homes and families in the United States, but the process and the wait is longer.

Searching for the perfect family for Bulgarian Twins

Playful, curious, good sleeper, active, engaging, very social. She sings, she dances, she draws, and she enjoys being the center of attention.

These words all describe Zoe [not her real name and photo], a cute little girl with big brown eyes.

Healthy, good sleeper, prefers to play independently, likes to play with dolls, enjoys listening to music. Diagnosed with moderate cognitive delay.

These words all describe Chloe [also not her real name and photo], another cute little girl with big brown eyes.

Zoe and Chloe live in an orphanage in Bulgaria and are currently awaiting adoption through Lutheran Social Services in Texas.

Zoe and Chloe were born in August of 2004, and one month later were placed in the orphanage. From reports, Zoe has “normal development for her age” with “a rich repertoire of age-appropriate skills and abilities.” In short, Zoe is a well-adjusted six-year-old with excellent physical skills and an active vocabulary. Chloe is less adaptable, but interacts well with her caregivers and peers. As a result of her intellectual delays, she speaks with short sentences and, while well coordinated, runs with a slower pace.

In the orphanage, the twins’ “basic” needs are met: good diet, clothing, shelter, safe and calm sleeping conditions, educational needs, play, walks and trips, and entertainment. Their need for a permanent, loving family, however, is where LSS can help.

We would like the opportunity to tell you more about Zoe and Chloe, and share their true names and pictures with interested families. One very important detail: we plan to place the two sisters together. Email internationaladoption@lsss.org or call 800-396-4611 to find out all about the twins, and the other available, waiting Bulgarian children. Learn more about international adoption at www.lsss.org/adoption.

All About DAVID: Seeking Adoptive Family for Six-Year-Old from Bulgaria

If you’ve been a reader of the “Bulgarian Adventures” on this website, you know that LSS is currently looking for families interested in adopting children from Bulgaria with special needs. David, an appealing little six-year-old boy from Bulgaria, needs a forever home, and most importantly, a family who will love him. [Note: To protect the privacy of this child, we are using an American name and a stock photo.]

David is a cute, shy, little boy of Bulgarian descent who recently turned six. He has no health problems; however, he is developmentally delayed and lacks some basic fine motor skills. Many of these delays may be due to orphanage living. The referral information reports that David has good self-help skills. He feeds himself holding a spoon, drinks from a cup, and uses a napkin at mealtime.

When involved in cognitive activities, David has a short attention span. He recognizes objects in his immediate environment. He differentiates between a circle and a square. He uses objects “in accordance with their intended function.” David can identify colors but has difficulty knowing left from right. David is able to describe the characteristics of animals and plants with adult assistance. He observes and reports on weather conditions. He can paint, draw, and construct simple objects. He enjoys books.

David is able to communicate and collaborate with adults and peers. He sings age-appropriate songs and can create dance and exercise movements based on previously remembered instructions. David’s greatest deficit is in language. He has good receptive language skills but has difficulty with language expression. David enjoys playing by himself; however, he is beginning to overcome his shyness.

David needs a family to give him the individual attention and LOVE he needs to reach his full potential. For more information, please contact Konnie Gregg by e-mail at Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org or call her at either 512-454-4611 or 800-396-4611. “Operators are standing by!”

Bulgaria is a GO! Now seeking families for Ellen, Seth, and Ivan

When Sonya Thompson, senior vice president of Foster Care and Adoption for LSS, returned from Bulgaria after exploring the facilitation of adoptions with that country, she shared vital information regarding the successful trip with the LSS Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Directors. They, in turn, endorsed moving ahead with the placement of Bulgarian children in adoptive homes. The Ministry of Justice in Bulgaria made a commitment to work with LSS to find forever families for all appropriate children waiting for international adoption in the future; however, at the current time, the focus is on children with special needs.

With several children now referred to us, we are actively looking for families willing to consider adopting one of these precious kids. If you’re interested, or might know someone who is, please e-mail Konnie.Gregg@lsss.org, or Donna.Morrison@lsss.org, for more information about LSS’s Bulgarian adoption program. You may also call 800-396-4611 and ask to speak to the International adoption department.

More about these waiting children.

Ellen is a cute, six-year-old child with cerebral palsy – mixed type. She is able to walk and climb stairs although she lacks good coordination. Ellen is able to throw and catch a ball using both hands simultaneously. She can build a tower with blocks. She can copy a circle and attempts to print letters with the assistance of an adult. Ellen converses with others but is difficult to understand. She takes turns in conversation, speaks in simple sentences, and asks and answers questions. Ellen is a social child. She participates in both individual and group activities, establishes friendships easily, and is well accepted by the other children in the orphanage. She respects adults and has appropriate boundaries. Ellen has a good memory. She is able to summarize experiences. She can recognize and name familiar objects, distinguish similarities and differences between objects, classify objects by size, and identify body parts. Ellen can eat independently with some spills, dress and undress herself, wash her hands without help, cover her mouth when coughing, use a tissue to wipe her nose, and let an adult know when she needs to use the bathroom. Ellen is a pleasant child who has the potential to bring great joy to a loving family.

Seth is a six-year-old boy. Even though he has a slight facial dysmorphy, he is a cute little boy. He has had a rough road medically but is progressing well in spite of it. Seth has had multiple surgeries to repair birth anomalies including two surgeries for cleft palate repair. As a result, Seth has been slow to develop. Seth runs, climbs, kicks a ball, and carries small objects. He rides a tricycle. He has excellent fine motor skills with precise eye-hand coordination, and enjoys learning new skills. He is able to build towers and trains out of blocks. He can insert and remove small objects from a bottle, screws and unscrews the cap on a bottle, strings beads, and places all nine objects in a Segen Board. He plays a child piano and a xylophone. Seth is able to classify objects by color but cannot always name the colors. He is able to handle a pencil. He enjoys cartoons, and listening to children’s songs and stories. Seth appears to have good receptive language; however, his speech is significantly impaired. He is receiving small group instruction to improve his language skills. Seth can feed himself independently and dress and undress himself with minimal assistance. He is toilet trained but does have some accidents. Seth adjusts well to new environments. He has a calm nature. He seeks involvement with other children and they enjoy playing with him. Seth also enjoys quiet individual play. He is very curious and eager to learn. He expresses his emotions appropriately and is effective in interacting with adults to get his needs met. Seth needs a family who can help him continue the great progress that he is making.

Ivan is a handsome, seven-year-old boy. He showed signs of intraventricular hemorrhage, level I, at birth. He was placed in the Home for Children with Medical and Social Needs when he was a year and a half. He has a history of seizures, which are controlled by anti-seizure medication. Even though Ivan has significant developmental delays, he is able to walk, climb on playground equipment, and manage stairs with assistance. He enjoys music and attempts to participate in games involving movement. He has poor eye-hand coordination, but is able to work with clay and pull objects out of a box. He is working on learning how to stack blocks. He cannot yet use crayons or paints well. Ivan is receiving speech therapy due to significant delays in speech development. His receptive vocabulary is better than his expressive vocabulary. He has difficulty articulating consonant sounds. He initiates verbal contact; however, his speech is unclear. Although Ivan also has some cognitive impairment, his orientation to space is good. He can feed himself with some spills and can dress and undress himself with assistance. He is not yet toilet trained. Ivan is a very loving child. He is able to initiate relationships with both adults and his peers. Ivan is in a new orphanage where he is receiving special services intended to help him advance developmentally. This is a little boy who needs lots of individual attention to grow and develop to his fullest potential.

Bulgarian Adventure – Signing Off

It is said that the love of a country goes through the stomach. After many wonderful, unique Bulgarian meals, I would certainly echo that sentiment! However, I would add to that statement that the kindness of its people, the hope for its children, and the beauty of its lands makes the heart grow as well. That has certainly been our experience here.

It has been both my and Konnie’s privilege to work closely with Martin and Svet and to meet with the officials who are obviously dedicated to the future of the children of Bulgaria, especially those needing forever families. I find their mission to be closely aligned with ours at LSS, and am hopeful that once we return home, we will establish a framework to collaborate on behalf of the children, helping them to find loving adoptive homes.

Thanks for following us as we embarked upon this adventure. Your thoughts and prayers were much appreciated.

Ciao!

Sonya

Bulgarian Adventure – Days 9 & 10

DAY 9:

I spent the first part of the day getting to know the area and the hotel. The hotel is a nice one near the sea (lots of sea in Varna!) and is very family friendly. The rooms are large and have areas where families can cook if they want to. The pools are lovely and one can book an all-inclusive vacation here.

The view of the sea from the hotel is wonderful, and it is just a short walk to the waterfront. International adoption families may choose to stay here, since the hotel is only about two kilometers from the orphanage.

Martin, Svet, and I spent much of the afternoon/evening planning for the orphanage trip and discussing the local community of Varna. It was a quiet day, and aside from the walk near the pier, our time was spent on the business of the day. We were asked to visit with the local director of Social Care, to let her know what we may be doing with the orphanages and the international adoption program in Bulgaria. This program is the state social service program and as I understand it will provide some oversight with the Ministry of Justice. We are very excited about the orphanage and talking about working with children as we move forward.

DAY 10

We began the day at the local market, buying diapers, wipes, baby lotion, biscuits (crackers), toothbrushes and toothpaste for the children. The orphanage has 240 beds and relies on donations for such items. We met with the director of the orphanage (also known as the House for Medical and Social Care for Children – Varna) and she was most appreciative of the items we brought for the children. The director’s name is Stefka Dzhankova, MD, and she has been the orphanage director for at least 15 years.

Martin, Sonya & Svet with Dr. Dzhankova

The orphanage is a very bright, child-friendly environment as you can see from the following photos:

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The children smile readily and are happy. Dr. Dzhankova is proud of the facility and what it has to offer with the most up-to-date occupational, speech, and physical therapies. The orphanage also offers day treatment for children with special needs who live in the community. We met a young man with Prader Willi syndrome who comes from the local community each day to receive individualized services. Dr. Dzhankova feels very strongly that this level of support is necessary for both the progress of the children and the support to the family. When a child is able to receive targeted, developmentally necessary services, it is expected that the child will be able to stay at home with his or her family.

I was able to see a tiny child who was very premature and abandoned at birth. It was wonderful to see the medical equipment with the room looking much like a small hospital room! Dr. Dzhankova reports that she employs 10 doctors to work directly with children and often oversees premature children and children with specialized disabilities, as well as typically developing children. I was able to hold a beautiful baby boy who smiled and cooed and appeared to be very happy. I told Konnie I was fearful I would want to take them all home, and I was right about that! However, it did my heart great to see the wonderful care staff gave each of the children. The staff were singing, feeding, rocking, and working with the children, and it appeared to be “business as usual.” Dr. Dzhankova expressed her hopes that LSS, New Beginnings, and her program would be able to work closely together going forward.

With Dimitrichka Kancheva director of the social care agency

We then went to visit Dimitrichka Kancheva, director of the social care agency in Varna. She is the equivalent of Texas’ DFPS program administrator for her region, which includes Varna and the surrounding communities. There are 12 regions across Bulgaria and each one is responsible for the care of children, the elderly, the poor, and the disabled. She was very interested in learning more about LSS and what we do. Ms. Kancheva was impressed with the range of services offered by LSS, and by our diversity in terms of statewide services. She was also impressed by our continuum of care in the child and family services division, including our newest program in Louisiana. She indicated that Bulgaria is working to ensure there are services to meet the needs of the community. Her hope is to provide services to families up front when a need has been established and adoption services on the back end, so that all children have a chance at permanency. I told her that sounded very much like the philosophy of our state and our agency. Ms. Kancheva indicated that she is glad that we have chosen to visit Bulgaria and feels that we can work very closely together going forward. All in all, it was a very busy, but most productive, day!

That’s all for today,
Sonya L. Thompson