Adoption 41: Carmen to Maryland

So Carmen was one of the 5 babies that turned into 8 babies, most of them being heart babies. It is hard to take volunteers to the orphanage because they want to take so many babies home. That is how we landed up with eight on one day. The most amazing thing about that was so many of the babies we got on that day healed their hearts, but Carmen was not one of them.  She required surgery and in June 2010 her heart was repaired just before she got adopted.

Not only did she have a heart condition but she also had asthma.  The first winter with all the kids was horrible.  I think we had the nebulizer going 24/7.That was really hard to take care of because the doctors always thought she had a lung infection, but she luckily grew out of the worst over time.  The one thing I remembered so well is just how much she loved her nanny. Her nanny, took such excellent care of her and I would say that is why she thrived as a heart baby. I cannot emphasize the value of the nannies enough.  They are often so devoted to their babies and the time and effort that they invest in the children will stay with the babies for the rest of their lives. Carmen grew stronger and soon she was sitting and crawling and in time she walked. She loved playing with the other girls and at times they got dressed alike. People thought they were triples or twins depending how many of them were together.  You can also see from the photos that she has the best smile. I loved the way her eyes would almost disappear.

We prepared 13 adoption dossiers and when the babies got matched it took just a few days and most of them had families, so we waited to hear who the new families were.  Our babies tend to fly of the shared list. We heard nothing about Carmen's family at all. One day the orphanage called and said that we needed to get Carmen ready for her gotcha day and we prepared all her documents, records and pictures and sent her off to the civil affairs and then waited for the news.  Her mom and sister Alice aged nine, who is also adopted from China, came from Maryland  to get her. As you can imagine the beginning was a rough but from what I hear Carmen, whose new name is Louisa Mei, loves her sister very much. I love it when siblings come because they make the biggest difference. 

So our purpose to help save babies lives was fulfilled and another Starfish found her forever family.

Life, love and laughter,
Amanda

At Starfish, we have taken care of 124 children to date, arranged more than 100 surgeries and had 50 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and in China.  Our latest adoptions are to Washington State and New Mexico and Georgia.  We currently have 45 babies under the age of 3 and three foster homes.  Preparing to move to our new "castle" hopefully before the end of the year.

Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number:  20-4682916
Xian China

www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
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Email: throwingstarfish0913@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847