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Special Needs Children Available

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We have video footage available on some of the children as well.

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Females:

109 – 4 year old girl - She has a thick lymphedema at the back side of the feet; diagnosed with Malformative Syndrome. It is suspected that the child has a Turner`s Syndrome. (It is a genetic disorder characterized by a number of different symptoms. Children with this issue tend to have cardiovascular issues so she should be closely monitored by a cardiologist. Any family interested in adopting this child should consult their pediatrician regarding the long term challenges associated with this diagnosis.) The girl is sociable, friendly, calm. She has good emotional tonus and adequate reactions.

278 - This sweet girl was born in May 1999 and lived with her family until 2004. She has adapted well to life in the orphanage and is said to be healthy with normal hearing and vision. This child does have a mild mental delay, common to children raised in institutions. She communicates well and can express herself using correct grammar. She enjoys attention and has a good ability to focus on a task until it is completed. She can also be stubborn and sometimes bossy with other children.

276 - This sweet child was born in March 2001 and lived with her parents until the age of seven. Upon entering the orphanage, she experienced "pseudo-epileptic seizures" which were determined after rigorous testing to be an attention-getting method. This child is healthy, with a mild mental delay. She has become less shy with time in the orphanage and is adapting well. She follows the routine and is eager to perform her assigned tasks. She has a good vocabulary and understands abstract concepts.

280 - Girl, born in November 1998. This lovely young lady has no special needs but is listed simply due to her age. This child has no diseases or chronic illnesses and her only surgery was an appendectomy in 2010. She has a very positive attitude towards her school work, but does require resource help. With some assistance, she is doing well. This child is described as respectful, diligent, athletic and consistent. She has formed attachments to her caregivers. Despite the fact that family members have visited her in the orphanage, she says that she does not wish a closer relationship with her birth family and desires instead to be adopted.

264 – This lovely young girl was born in November 2002. She lived with her parents until she entered an orphanage in November 2006. Upon entering the orphanage, she was inaccurately diagnosed with attachment problems and developmental difficulties. This child had been given very little time, attention and affection and she was very needy at first, seeking attention from her orphanage caregivers through positive behavior when possible, but often through negative actions, crowding out other children. Her orphanage director stated that this child gradually was adjusting to life in the institution when a group of younger children arrived and she changed completely. Seeing herself as a protector and caregiver to the younger ones, this young girl blossomed into a child who is described as kind, caring, friendly and well-mannered. Her diagnosis of slight mental delay actually shows her testing close to the norm, instead of on the slightly delayed end. She has mild long-sightedness, which was corrected with glasses, but her glasses were broken and she currently has none. She is able to read, draw and see well enough without them. She surprised our representative in Bulgaria; when asked to name the colors of the pencils on the table, she named them in English! This child is bright and has a wonderful future ahead of her, far from the struggles and deprivation of her past. She just needs a loving family to make it happen. Videos of this child are available!

274 - This sweet little girl was born in September 2005 and has been diagnosed with infantile cerebral palsy and strabismus. She has been using corrective shoes and is making good progress. She can walk with the use of a walker or holding hands. This little one is described as a smiling and radiant child who shows a normal attachment to her caregivers and relates very well with other children in the orphanage. Our representatives feel that she has great potential, if raised in a loving family.

262 -- This sweet young lady was born in May 1999. She is healthy physically and mentally and is only listed as special needs due to her age. She is described as a calm, emotionally stable young girl who enjoys praise and attention and is easily motivated by a desire to please. She has good educational potential and is taking computer and English classes at the orphanage. This child is energetic and involved and enjoys sports. She is neat and has good personal care habits. This child was placed for adoption at the age of 3 but the adoption disrupted after about a year. The adoptive parents were not educated or prepared to understand the needs of a child who had been raised in an institution. Due to this early experience, this child needs a committed family who will help her grow into her fullest potential.

32 – This curly haired little girl was born in November 2006. She was diagnosed with ductus arteriosus, a fairly common congenital heart defect in which there is an abnormal blood flow between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. This child had a surgical correction of the condition and will not require medication or any limitations to her activities. She has done well, post-surgery. Her diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis (infection) should be followed with a pediatrician. This child has a deformity of the fourth finger on one hand, which does not affect her mobility or dexterity. She is described as curious, interested, sociable and energetic. She enjoys music and dancing with the other children. Since moving to a family type center in early 2011, this child has made significant progress in overcoming her physical and developmental delays. Our representatives in Bulgaria believe that she will continue to make progress if placed in a family.
227 – This lovely little girl was born in November 2004. She experienced neglect and injuries in her early life, but since entering an orphanage has been very healthy. She was hospitalized for pneumonia in 2008 and 2008. In 2010 she was hospitalized for treatment of a wound to her right foot. She has not had any other diseases or illnesses. She is healthy and does not require medical treatment. This little girl has delays in her speech and social development and is receiving assistance from support resources to address these delays. She likes to sing and dance and works to follow the rules of the orphanage. UPDATE: This little girl continues to develop well and has been moved to a more family-type setting where she can overcome her delays. She is being followed by numerous professionals and the opinion is that this child will do very well in a family setting. Videos of this child are available.
57 – This cute little girl was born in August 2003 and placed in the care of an orphanage as a very young infant. In previous reports, it was noted that she understood what was spoken to her but had difficulty verbalizing her response. This child’s vocabulary is still not well-developed, but it is noted that she is making progress and her caregivers are optimistic about continued improvement. She is noted to be calm and not aggressive. This child likes to please and seeks adults’ attention. Our representatives in Bulgaria recommend her for adoption and feel that a family setting will enable her to reach her fullest potential.
80 - This sweet little girl was born in October 2001. She is in good health and has a slight delay in her development. This child has a great need for love and acceptance; she seeks positive reinforcement from her caregivers and wants their attention. She enjoys singing and dancing and expresses her emotions freely. She is friendly to others and has no behavioral concerns. Since receiving additional resource help, this child has improved a good deal and is described as healthy and developing well. There are videos available of this child.
212 - This sweet little girl was born in 10/2001. She suffered a brain hemorrhage at birth and has a significant speech delay. It is possible that the hemorrhage affected the area of the brain which controls speech, although this has not been substantiated. This child is described as kind and quiet, willing to share toys and not prone to aggression or conflict. She seeks adults’ attention and gets attached to them. She recognizes and responds appropriately to others’ emotions. This child has not been hospitalized while in orphanage care and is said to be healthy with a diagnosis of slight mental delay, IQ of 54. It should be noted that the low IQ could be resulting from the child’s inability to verbally express herself and may not be indicative of her level of functioning.
87 – This beautiful child was born in July 2001. Her birth mother had a history of drug usage and behavior issues. This little girl suffered a seizure upon entering foster care from an orphanage setting and was originally diagnosed with epilepsy. She did not suffer any additional such episodes and a recent review of her condition (July 2011) has shown that the epilepsy diagnosis was in error. This child is described as healthy, radiant, shy and sensitive. She loves music and is said to be very talented and capable. Our representatives in Bulgaria have told us that this adorable little girl is “truly charming” and bright and they highly recommend her for adoption. We have several videos of this child for interested families to view.
204 - This 11 year old girl was born in 6/2000 and lived in a family environment until age five, when she entered an orphanage. She has a slight mental delay and is receiving resource help. Her evaluator stated that living in a family environment, this child will develop her intellectual potential. This child is described as sociable, curious and is said to be very artistic and musical. She is active in all the artistic and theatrical activities. She enjoys playing with peers and has good focus and is able to appropriately distribute her attention. Her speech development is appropriate to her age and her vocabulary has increased in the last year. She constructs sentences correctly. This little girl is very nice, well developing and longing for a family, and we hope to help her find it. Update: we have been told that this child was not receiving the best level of care and social interaction at her former orphanage and it has been said that this is the primary reason for her delays. Since moving to a new environment, she has been progressing well. Videos of this child are available.
219 – This 11-year-old girl was born in January 2000 and was diagnosed with infantile cerebral palsy, said to be latent. This child is reported to be very bright and performs excellently in school. She has a very logical mind and often helps classmates when they are in need. This child has very well developed fine motor skills and good gross motor skills. She is described as “flexible and energetic.” This child participates in extracurricular activities, such as playing sports, singing and recitation. She has a positive emotional state and is kind and polite. She expresses her anger readily when she feels it but also has many friends. She is reported to help other children who use wheelchairs to move around. Orphanage staff indicated that she is progressing very well and has become quite attached to some of her caregivers; for this reason, they recommended that an adoptive family work very gently with this child to help ease her transition.
134 - Female born in 2000. After birth she was raised in a family environment. The child is in good physical and mental health. No mental diseases or problems have been detected for her. She is capable of managing things by herself. The child has developed habits. She is sociable. Her attention is sometimes unsteady. The child’s thought process is visual and pictorial. She finds it difficult to form concepts. The child’s speech is normal and correspondent to her age. She has good orientation in new environment. Her hygienic and living habits are at good level .The child gets involved in the initiatives of the orphanage. The child needs supervision and individual work with group educator as well as psychological support with the purpose of forming self-control skills and developing values. The child needs to be included in activities that correspond to her interests and that improve her cognitive development.
142 - Female born 7/1998. She is a very beautiful, intelligent, affectionate, well behaved and healthy girl. She is a kind, sociable, careful, well brought - up child who likes to be clean, well dressed and to receive personal attention. The girl is friendly and her peers like to interact with her. She attends school eagerly and shows interest in learning. She is artistic and enjoys singing and dancing too. She demonstrates respect toward adults and is highly recommend for adoption by Bulgaria. She is social and has good self-esteem. She shows empathy toward other children and has an interest in computer activities, drawing, singing and dancing. She is an eager student and shows an interest in learning. She is diligent and industrious and likes to help the younger children and adults. One of our representatives in Bulgaria recently visited this child and said "she totally enchanted me." This child is described as tender, sweet and tolerant towards the younger children in the orphanage. She carries herself with "a natural elegance" according to our representative and takes great joy in even the simplest gesture, gift or bit of special attention. This child is highly recommended for adoption. UPDATE: a family intended to adopt this child, but were unable to complete the process and she is again available. Our representatives in Bulgaria continue to have only very positive things to say about this child and hope she soon finds a family!
160 - This child was born in 1998 and is currently 12 years old. She is healthy and has normal mental development. She has been diagnosed with Hemophilia Type A (an inherited disorder in which one of the proteins needed to clot the blood is missing or reduced). She adapts easily, has good self-care skills and keeps her room and possessions neat and tidy. She has no mental illness or delay and is appropriately physically and mentally developed for her age. She loves to help and assists eagerly in work activities. She is described as energetic and tenacious. She expresses herself well, using correct grammar and uses complex words and sentences. She was in fifth grade in the 2009/10 school year. She is satisfied when she does well in school and feels disappointed or discouraged when she does not perform well. She often performs below her abilities, satisfied with minimum results. She has good self-esteem, is active and independent. She can be more tolerant of her own shortcomings than those of others. She is very social and tries to influence even older children. This child loves to draw and make cards and decorations. She is imaginative and creative.
102 – This is a 13 year old girl. She is clinically healthy and her mental development corresponds to her age. She is in the fifth grade. She prefers sports, games, dancing and drawing. She is artistic. She has leadership qualities with younger children and seeks acceptance and approval with older children. She attaches herself easily and wants to be adopted and have a family. She quickly and easily interacts with new people.

217 - This little girl was born in January 2009 and it was noted prenatally that she had an issue with hydrocephaly (water on the brain). This was surgically corrected with a shunt between 2 adn 3 months of age. This little girl has a diagnosis of central hemiparesis on the right side, which will affect her motor skills and possibly her speech. Extra resources such as physical therapy and speech therapy will help her achieve her fullest potential. This cute little girl eats and sleeps well and has bonded well to her "Granny" through the Granny's Grandchild program. Videos of this child are available.

Males:

126 - 2 year old boy with delayed psychomotor development. He is diagnosed with hypolastic scrotum and incomplete descending of the testicles which can be surgically repaired. He has a short forehead and narrow face but no other physical issues. He is generally healthy but will need speech therapy and special education classes. He is curious, calm, and always smiling.

277 - This handsome child was born in August 2000. He is healthy, with normal physical and mental development. He has academic difficulties, but is ambitious and is working with resource personnel to improve his academics. He loves to read, especially fiction and he asks a lot of questions about what he has read! This child dreams of becoming an astronaut. From time to time, this child has acted with some mild aggression, but is working to gain better control of his emotions. He shows a good understanding of others' feelings and is quick to apologize. This child said that his biological family live with his sister in London and that he wishes to be with them. Sadly, his family has not looked for him and it is very unlikely that reunification will occur. This child is open to adoption but is insightful enough to know that he would need time to get to know a new family and fit in.

16 -- This cute little boy was born in February 2003. He is healthy, with a slight mental delay which his caregivers have indicated is due to his institutional upbringing. His speech is the most delayed and he communicates via short verbal responses. However, it is documented that he understands everything that is said to him and he can correctly identify animals and objects by pointing to them when asked. He also demonstrates an understanding of concepts such as up/down, big/little, etc. This child is recommended by our representatives in Bulgaria, who feel that he will overcome his delays in a family setting. Videos of this child are available.

254 - This handsome young man was born in April 2003. He lived with his family until 2008 when he entered a shelter for homeless children and subsequently went to live in an orphanage. This child is healthy and has not been hospitalized since entering the orphanage. He is hearing impaired and wears hearing aids; he knows and uses sign language, as well. This child has crossed eyes and would need consultation with a physician to determine proper treatment. He has well-developed fine and gross motor skills and an IQ of 100. His speech is lagging behind, due to his hearing impairment and he sees a speech therapist. He is sociable and likes the company of adults. He has adapted well to his peer group in the orphanage and to his school. Our representatives in Bulgaria recently visited this child and called him fascinating. He hears with the assistance of two hearing aids and is able to conduct long conversations with adults. He is described as a very intelligent child who is healthy and has great potential. We do have videos available of this child, for interested families to view!

257 - This handsome young man was born in December 2002. He was born with bone and muscle agenesis of the right foot (missing or not fully formed aspects of the foot). He is missing the first, second and third toes on his right foot, but this does not prevent him from walking, running, and performing the normal activities of a child his age. He is healthy. This child experienced an emotional setback when an attempt to reunite him with his biological family was unsuccessful. For a time, he displayed difficult behaviors (problems concentrating, poor school work), but he is making progress now. This child is described as “charming, affectionate, joyful, playful and social” and our representatives in Bulgaria recommend him for adoption. Videos of this child are available.

107 – Boy born in 2008 who was born with hydrocephalus. He is considered a happy child who communicates his emotions without difficulty, is curious, smiles all the time, and gets along with others. He has been diagnosed with delayed psychomotor development. He has had no growth in head circumference and has not started talking yet. He is lagging in the motor skills development and has a multi disciplinary team working with him. During emergency surgery on his abdomen, the surgeon “nicked” the bowel which created an infection in the intestines. He had to have a colostomy. Would need intense rehabilitation and future independent prognosis is unsure at this time. Update: In July 2011, one of our representatives visited this little one and said that his progress was easy to see! This child is now walking independently and is adding to the words he understands. He is described as happy and active and he enjoys being with others. This child’s primary special needs diagnoses were hydrocephalus and “anus praeter”: the hydrocephaly has presented no concerns and he has not needed a shunt in order to progress. Anus Praeter is a condition where the anus is positioned differently; it is surgically correctable and this child has been cleared as healthy for surgery, but we do not have a date set for the procedure.
200 - This boy, born 12/2007 is reported to be in good health with mental and motor developmental delays, most likely due to illness early in life. This child was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and pylorospasm, which prevented him from getting adequate nutrition. Under care, he has developed well and is a social and happy child. He still lags behind in his development (can crawl and stand but walks with a walker) but his recent report indicates that he would do well with a loving family and consistent care. This child is small for his age but understands speech, imitates sounds and emotionally connects with others. He enjoys songs and music and moves his hands and body in rhythm. Videos of this child are available for interested families to view.

578 - This five and a half year old boy is physically and mentally healthy, with a diagnosis of slight mental and speech delays. He was hospitalized as an infant but has had no hospitalizations since six months of age. He has no allergies or hereditary illnesses or defects. He was evaluated by a pediatric neurologist and found to have normal neurologic status. He is showing progress in his speech development and can say many words and sing simple children’s songs. This child is very emotionally bonded to one of his caregivers and treats younger and weaker children carefully and attentively. He can at times be negative or aggressive, but is learning to function within the rules of the orphanage. He has developed good self-care habits and can feed and dress himself.f He also brushes his teeth and washes his hands and face. He is described as having an ear for music and good natural rhythm. He eagerly helps with serving and clearing the table and tidying the toys in the play room.
52 - This cute little boy was born in May 2004. He has made significant progress since the last report; he actively takes part in games and is doing well with a new “grandparent” type caregiver in his life. This child enjoys pleasing adults and can follow instructions, dress himself, communicate physical needs and has increased his fine and gross motor skills and is now running, throwing and kicking a ball, going up and down stairs and coloring in a book. This child is very affectionate towards people he knows but is shy with strangers. The person completing the report in June 2011 stated that she believed his shyness was the most serious obstacle in communicating with him. This child is highly recommended for adoption and it is believed that he will overcome his slight delays with individualized care and attention. Videos of this child are available.
201 – This adorable little boy was born 12/2003 and lived with his parents until he was 7 months old, when he entered an orphanage. He has been diagnosed with chronic hepatits B and an allergy to cow’s milk. He does not have any mental disease or irregularity. He is said to have very well developed motor skills, draws well and enjoys playing games. He walks, runs and climbs well and has very good hand- eye coordination. He has a good vocabulary and a good memory for stories. He likes to tell stories of everyday life experiences. He is developing very well socially and emotionally and is described as a sociable, talkative, observant and inquisitive child who likes to ask a lot of questions! He was described by our representative who visited him in August 2011 as "overall a wonderful child." Videos of this child are available.
192 - This little boy is described as sociable and charming. He was born in July 2003 and lived with his mother and grandmother until May 2008, when he entered an orphanage. He was moved to a different facility that is a family-type placement and has made marked improvement since then. This child has been diagnosed with a slight mental delay but is healthy with no physical issues except psoriasis, for which he is receiving treatment under the care of a dermatologist. This little boy has been receiving speech therapy and has made considerable gains in his speech. He will continue to receive speech therapy to help him overcome his early delays. This child did not receive the individualized attention he should have in the first orphanage and has had to work hard to make up for lost time, but a recent visit to his current placement showed great improvement. His caregivers believe that he will continue to grow and develop if placed with a loving and attentive family. This child is well-behaved, is not aggressive, observes the rules of his environment and seeks help from his educators when he needs it. He is active, but his attention span has improved since he began attending school.
856 – This 7 yr old boy, born 06/03 is adorable. He was born healthy and without any significant issues. He dresses, undresses and arranges his clothes by himself. He helps in collecting toys after games. There was a psychiatric consultation in 2006 and 2010 where the diagnosis of slight mental delay was issued. Physically, the only problem noted is a slightly deformed chest with the ribs curved outwards that was a result of rickets in the past. He does suffer from a significant speech delay. He uses only two-syllable words and answers with yes, no, and gestures. He also has some difficulty with fine motor skills. It is also noted that he has trouble with concentration and attention. He would benefit from speech and occupational therapies. An adoptive couple should take these developmental delays into consideration, but these types of delays and potential diagnoses are manageable.
16 - This precious little boy was born in February 2003. He is healthy with slight delays, particularly in his speech. He can correctly identify items by pointing to them and identifies animals by correctly imitating the sounds they make. He understands and maintains good hygiene habits and seeks attention and approval from his caregivers, sometimes becoming jealous when their attention is focused elsewhere. This little boy was noted to have not received sufficient care and attention in a previous institution but in his current orphanage, he is making good progress. This child was recently seen by one of the most experienced specialists and it was her opinion that he would do extremely well if placed in a family environment. He is described as “a very lively, energetic, radiant and friendly boy who wins you over the moment you meet him.” He is not shy, but enjoys interacting with others and has expressed a strong desire for his very own Mommy and Daddy. Videos of this child are available.
35 - Male born in 2003. The child’s intellectual development corresponds to slight mental delay. The child has a good physical development for his age. He has a delay in the neuro-psychological development due to institutionalism. He is very energetic. The child is lagging in the development of skills and habits. No special care is needed for his upbringing. He gets distracted easily. The child had a consultation with child psychiatrist, who recommended assistance for the child of a psychologist and a resource teacher. The child walks stably and independently. He runs, climbs, takes part in dynamic games and performs motor exercises. The fine manipulative skills have not been well developed yet. He uses simple sentences but his active vocabulary is getting enriched. He needs systematic work with speech therapist in order to perfect the speech development. He takes part in individual and group activities. He does not provoke conflict situations. The child fits in a group well. He likes listening to music. He interacts well with children and adults. He looks for the help of the staff and feels secure when close to adult person. He is adapted to the condition in the orphanage and keeps the rules. He easily relates when meeting unknown people. He takes part in individual and group activities.
123 – This is an 8 yr old little boy, born in April 2002. He was raised by his biological mother after birth. At about age 5 months at the hospital, they took a routine fecal sample and found that he had E.Coli in his stool. He soon after was also found with salmonella and in poor physical condition. Once recovered, he was moved to three different orphanages over a 7 year period. He is noted to have suffered from both respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in the past. This child is noted to have some social issues and has some problems with self-control. He also is noted to be somewhat introverted when hurt and is described as "shy and indecisive". He has struggles in school with some learning difficulties and he has trouble with attention. He has trouble with his memory. The child receives resource help for his learning difficulties. Great progress is observed in his development. He eagerly responds to communication and is getting more and more sociable.
The child is quiet, diligent and without uncontrolled affected conditions. He is interested and motivated to perform and solve the school tasks. This child would benefit from a psychiatric evaluation.
187 - This cute 8-year-old boy was born in 2002. He has a delay in his speech and language development, which his evaluator feels he can overcome in a stable and loving home. He has difficulty forming some sounds, but his speech is said to be very understandable. He is described as a calm child who shows appropriate emotions and attaches easily to caregivers. He is also said to make friends easily. He has on rare occasions shown verbal aggression when a desired toy was taken from him. He enjoys helping in the orphanage activities and is especially enthusiastic about helping to clean. He is empathetic toward others and conscious of their feelings. This child enjoys typical boys’ games such as playing with cars, trucks and blocks and is well adapted to the routine and rules of his group. He has had no serious illnesses or injuries and has received the normal series of vaccinations. Videos of this child are available.
133 - This 8 yr old little boy was found to have an inborn heart condition shortly after birth. He had cardiac surgery in 2002 to close multiple intraventicular defects found. A consultation with a cardiologist in 2008 concluded that the child does not need further cardiac intervention and physically, he is otherwise healthy. He has been diagnosed with behavioral difficulties. He also has problems with attention and focus (which could be ADHD). He is described as impatient and sometimes shows anger at school and finds it difficult to to adapt to a group. He is struggling with social skills. He completed the first grade and has been working with a resource teacher. He is working towards adapting to school and the rules as well as learning how to take responsibility for his schoolwork. Videos of this child are available.

86 – This is 9 yr old boy, born 12/01, has finished the 2nd grade. He likes listening to music and singing, coloring books with pictures, making figures with a constructor. He easily performs folk dances. He is diagnosed with blindness in the left eye and is cross-eyed. Despite his visual impairment, he is able to read, write, and see with the right eye. He did have surgical correction to repair the crossed eyes, but I am not sure that it was successful. He seems to have a slight learning disability which requires individual attention in school. The child would benefit from regular opthamology appointments and evaluations, as well as a pediatric evaluation. He would probably also benefit from some special education classes at school which would give him individual attention to his specific learning needs. All of these things should be taken into consideration by a potential adoptive family.
208 - This 9 year old boy was born in May 2001 and has lived in an orphanage since early infancy. He is described as healthy physically and mentally and his IQ tests at the borderline between normal and a slight delay. This boy is active, artistic, playful, communicative and friendly. He is in the third grade for the 2010/11 school year and is receiving some assistance through a resource teacher. He has some problems keeping his attention focused and it would be a good idea for a prospective adoptive family to have him tested for ADHD. This child is said to have an interest in artistic pursuits. He can be demanding of others and is described as stubborn proud and very self-respecting. He likes to joke and can take criticism without offense, if the critic is someone he feels close to and comfortable with. This child is no confrontational or aggressive, although he can show a reaction if he feels rejected or neglected. It was said in his report that this child does not give way to his anger quickly, but will first express his feelings verbally. This child has well developed self-service and everyday life skills and does not need active guidance in these matters. He tries to keep his clothes and outer appearance in good condition and his personal hygiene at a high level. He enjoys watching cartoons and other TV in his spare time and has enjoyed attending events and shows when he has had the opportunity. Videos of this child are available.
116 – This is a 9 yr old boy who was raised by his family after birth and then transferred to an orphanage at age 1. He lived at that orphanage until age 7 and when transferred to another orphanage, was found to be in a "very neglected condition". This child is overall very healthy with a speech delay and having trouble in school. He is receiving individualized care at school and he is progressing well. He is also receiving speech therapy with positive improvement. Because he did not receive such therapies and attention until age 7, he is behind in school and just completed the first grade. He will need continued special services in school to help him progress and he will also need continued speech therapy. He is described as very nice, extremely disciplined, and is becoming very sociable. His physical development is good.
232 – This cute boy was born in October 2000 and was placed in an orphanage at one month of age. He currently lives in a small group home (family type setting) and is said to be healthy with a slight mental delay. This child has good gross and fine motor skills and is fascinated with how things work. He is described as being good at fixing small objects and is called the “master” in his home because of his well-developed technical skills. This boy likes animals and would love to have a pet. This child is working with a speech therapist to overcome early speech delays caused by a short sublingual arch, which was corrected with surgery. He is now developing and enriching his speech. He is sympathetic to others’ suffering and treats people kindly. He is described as a pleasant child who inspires love and sympathy from others. This child has had incidents in the past where he utilized negative behaviors (aggression, crying) to gain attention. A recent update on him stated that these incidents have become much less frequent. The psychologist who completed his recent assessment stated that his negative behaviors should disappear completely if a family environment was provided for him. His prognosis for future development is good.
1338 - This 11-year-old boy is in good mental and physical health and should require no special care. His physical development is on target and he is described as “lively, curious and energetic.” He gets along well with other children his age and is polite and attentive toward adults. He does well in school and his favorite subjects are mathematics and sciences. He expresses his emotions freely and openly. He is cheerful, jovial, kind and attentive. He can become aggressive, nervous or cry when he feels that he has been treated unjustly. He has developed good hygiene and self-care skills and chooses his clothing appropriately to match the season. He likes to present a good appearance. He enjoys many athletic activities, including folk dancing at a local school, practicing soccer at a sports club, riding a bike and swimming.
100 – This is a cute 11 yr old boy, born 04/99. This boy does very well in school and is described to have good concentration, positive relations with his friends, and he wants to become a policeman when he grows up. He just completed the third grade. Initially, he was placed in an institution at 1 month. Then, at about 6 months, he was returned to his biological family where he lived until he was about 5 1/2 yrs old. He was then placed in an orphanage due to malnutrition and abuse and then moved an additional time to another orphanage. The abuse this poor child faced is horrible. He had multiple fractures in his legs and arms, he was malnourished, had rickets, and had to receive surgery for his broken left leg. He was initially hospitalized for anemia, rickets, and a growth delay. He has a deformity of the right leg that is shortened by 2 cm and the right thigh is curved outward most likely a result of rickets and malnutrition. He had surgical interventions for his right leg in 2005 and at present no further surgical interventions are needed. He is subject to follow up examinations until the bone growth process is completed. The child is developing very well in all aspects.
1380 - This boy, born 2/1999, lived with his family until 4/2007 when he entered an orphanage. He is mentally and physically healthy and shoes well-developed spatial concepts and the ability to distinguish between significant and insignificant details. He does well at problem solving and when he encounters difficulty, he uses the trial-and-error method to seek solutions. This child could use assistance with his verbal communication. It is said that his vocabulary needs enriching. He is good at mathematics and has a good attention span. This child is social and friendly, although a bit timid. He is unpretentious and shy, is said to be friendly and positive towards everyone. He is described as good natured and a good friend to other children. He observes rules and is responsible. This child is neat and careful with his appearance.
54 - 14 year old male born in 3/96. He is approximately 5 feet tall and weighs 99 lbs as of 11/12/ 2010. This child has been diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis B. This is a virus that infects the liver and over time it can damage the liver to the point of requiring a liver transplant. There is no information as to the present condition of this child’s liver. A liver biopsy would be required to learn more about the severity of his present condition. Most people with chronic hepatitis B can live active, full lives by taking good care of themselves and getting regular checkups. There are medicines for this disease but they may not be right for everyone. It is reported that this child is in good general condition. His physical development is normal for his age with average level of intelligence based on the Raven’s Standard IQ test. He has good visional and very good auditory memory, as well as verbal memory and a memory for numbers. It has been determined that he proves to be moderately extroverted and has average emotional stability. He is also understanding, talkative, has a sense of humor and is able to communicate well. He seems to be able to adapt easily and is sociable with children as well as adults. While he respects authority he is also diligent and takes initiative in performing tasks that are assigned to him. He defines himself as curious, hard-working and persevering. There is a high degree of oppositional behavior which is apparently due to striving for identity and a desire for his decisions to be respected. He shows interest in computer games and football. He has learned that when he encounters difficulties he can seek help with his school lessons.

Sibling Groups:

247 – This sweet girl was born in June 2002. She and her two brothers (Child 248 and Child 249) were placed in an orphanage together. This child has been raised in an institutional setting and exhibits the neuro-psychological delays associated with institutionalization. She is described as serious and responsible, with the ability to concentrate for long periods on a task. She has many opinions and is open and frank in her expression. She enjoyed singing and reciting poems for the videos made of the children. This child has adapted well to a school environment and has expressed her desire to live in a family setting. Our representatives in Bulgaria recommend this child and her brothers for adoption and indicate that the primary reason that they have not been adopted is that few families wish to adopt a sibling group of three children.
248 – This handsome child was born in August 2004 and has been raised in orphanages with his siblings (Child 247 and Child 249) his entire life. He is described as a healthy child whose personal care skills are correspondent with his age. He enjoys playing with his friends, drawing and coloring and watching cartoons. He enjoys attention and occasionally competes with his siblings for it. He was described by the representative who visited him in August 2011 as “very kind, good-hearted and trustful.” He is the more emotional of the children, but our representative said this indicates his desire to please and not negative behaviors. This child exhibits delays associated with long-term institutionalization but our representatives in Bulgaria feel confident that he will achieve much greater progress in a family environment. The primary reason he has not yet been placed with a family is that few families wish to adopt a three-sibling group.
249 – This cute boy was born in June 2003 and has been raised in orphanages, along with his sister and younger brother (Child 247 and Child 248). He is described as a healthy child who exhibits some ADD behaviors but whose behaviors are easily managed by adults’ consistency and encouragement. He is described as calm and shy, but he was exuberant when playing ball with his siblings. Our representative who visited the children in August 2011 found him to be serious and diligent. This child exhibits delays associated with long-term institutionalization but he is expected to make much more progress if placed in a family setting. He and his siblings have not yet found a family ready to bring three great kids home. All three children were highly recommended for adoption and it was stated that their current orphanage lacks the staff necessary to provide for the children’s many needs. Our representative stated that all the children would greatly benefit from the care and attention provided in a family setting.
167 - Male, fourteen years old. He is a handsome, dark-haired boy who is healthy, with normal physical and mental development. He sometimes has difficulty staying focused on a task. He can be emotional and has outbursts. This child has had incidents of verbal or physical aggression. He has had some disciplinary issues at school, where he performs at a moderate level in 8th grade. He is the older brother in a sibling group of three (siblings 168 and 169).
169 - Female, thirteen years old. This sweet and attractive young girl is healthy physically and mentally. She is emotionally stable and does not have any aggressive behaviors. She seeks opportunities to stand out in school and seeks approval and attention from adults. She is actively social and has friends with whom she engages in various social activities. She enjoys sports such as tae kwon do and dancing. She is in 6th grade and is a good student. She is the middle child in a sibling group (siblings 167 and 168).
168 - Male, almost 11 years old. This is a very cute child with brown hair and dark eyes. He has an infectious smile. This child is healthy, with normal physical and mental development. He does have a reduced ability to concentrate and has difficulty controlling his emotions. This child has had some acts of aggression towards peers. He is in need of a positive role model to help him form a sense of self. He seeks approval from adults and is social with his peers and with adults. He likes to be a leader in games and activities. He is in 3rd grade and receives help from a resource teacher. This is the youngest child in a sibling group of three (siblings 167 and 169).

131 - Ten-year-old boy, twin of Child ID#130. He is healthy and very close and attached to his twin brother. He has formed good friendships with other children and is described as quiet and good. He does not have an aggressive personality but is shy. He is becoming more confident and socializes well. This child is imaginative and has good verbal, auditory and visual memory. He shows a desire to help and cooperate. He likes to interact with adults. He attends school for half a day and is in third grade for the 2010/11 school year.

130 - Ten-year-old boy, twin of Child ID #131. He is energetic and in good physical health. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at age five and receives medication. He has had no seizures since April 2008. He had surgery on his left eye for deviation and it is reported that this has improved. This child is lively, social, lovable and responsive. He is very close to his twin brother and has formed friendships with other children. He attends school for half a day and is third grade for the 2010/11 school year. He has good fine and gross motor skills. He had been reported in the past to be moody, complain and show aggression. The most recent information indicates that his aggressive behavior has decreased. If his frustrated behaviors are caused by ADHD, this can be improved by medication.

159 - Female born in 2004. Twin sister is #1266. Physical development is corresponding to her age. She has a moderate delay in the neuro-psychological development. She eagerly listens to songs and takes part in dynamic games by making imitative movements and tries to sing songs. She is adapted to the routines in the orphanage and the children’s group although she still prefers playing alone. She feels insecure and has difficulties with pronunciation of words; she uses simple sentences. She feels uncomfortable in unknown environment and has certain difficulties in social adaptation. She takes part in dynamic games with other children. She eagerly participates in activities in physical education classes. The child has developed skills and habits corresponding to her age. She has difficulties in active speech and in forming emotional and social relationships with children. She has some difficulties in concentration and steadiness of attention. The imagination is not very rich and the thought process is visual and pictorial. She finds it a little hard to find, detect, and recall identical characteristics of several objects. The child’s quickness and precision of memorizing is a bit lower.
159_TS - Female born in 2004. Twin sister is #1265. She has normal neuro-psychological development regarding her age. She is physically well developed and performs the main movements- walking, running, jumping, throwing, catching and climbing. She controls her movements in accordance with the purpose of the particular motor activity. She follows the rules of dynamic and sport games. She has developed the necessary habits for her age and they are being improved constantly. She creates forms with prepared models. She can throw a ball to a certain target and catch it. The child often plays a main, central part in games. She prefers role games with plot. She has good habits for personal hygiene and eating. She controls her physiological needs and reports them. The child takes part in art activities- drawing, musical and theatrical. She sings age appropriate songs. She improvises dancing movements. The child speaks calmly and effortless using proper enlarged sentences. Her vocabulary is good. She looks at paintings and can compose a descriptive text of what she sees there. She asks various questions and waits for answers, which shows that speech and thought processes proceed together. The child is adaptive and clearly expresses her wishes. She has a strong personality and is active, lively and in constant contact with children and adults. She plays, runs and shows great curiosity. The child likes being around adults, receiving attention, looking at books and listening to adults.

We have video footage available on some of the children as well.

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