True Children's Home

Every Child Has a Story: Happy’s Story
as told by Jenny Smith

Her name is Kai Xin; it means “Happy”. She was born in November 2006, in Jiangxi Province. She is a warm, cuddly girl who loves to be held. She smiles when she sees your face. She laughs just like any other child. The Challenge is, “Happy” was born with hydrocephalus.

I first learned about Happy in January 2007 , when I was in Jiangxi Province for the adoption of a child that had received medical care at TCH. The orphanage director brought Happy with her and asked if TCH could provide medical care for this little girl who has hydrocephalus.

Happy in January 2007

I sent Happy’s MRI scans to numerous doctors throughout China. None of them were willing to perform shunt surgery due to the risks involved. I wanted to find someone who could help Happy so I asked the orphanage
director to complete Visa paperwork so I could take Happy to Hong Kong for another medical opinion. The director told me that she would not complete the paperwork as she did not believe that Happy would live much longer.

My heart ached. I thought of Happy, lying in a crib in a cold, dark, damp orphanage, with no one to hold and love her. I had to do something. At TCH we believe that every child deserves to live and to die with dignity, and sometimes the only difference we can make in a child’s life is to ensure they die with dignity.

I then remembered China Little Flower Foundation, a children’s hospice in Beijing. I contacted the director and asked if there was room for our little Happy. Several days later, in May 2007, Happy and a representative from the orphanage traveled by train to China Little Flower, where Happy can reside in a loving and nurturing
environment.

In January 2008, Happy had another MRI and the results were the same: inserting a shunt to drain the water would not be, ethically and medically, in Happy’s best interest. There is a great amount of pressure in her head. Once the water begins to drain through the shunt, there could be no more cushioning left for her small brain. The organ would basically bounce around in her head.

These last few months have seen an improvement in her well being and development. Happy is smiling, kicking her legs and arms, and rolls from her back to her stomach. She follows people with her eyes.

While Happy’s head size seems to have stabilized, she cannot support the weight and
size of her head; she either lies on a floor mat or is held by a caregiver. We have
found a special chair, the Wenzelite MSS Tilt and Recline, that will support Happy’s
head and allow her to participate in her environment from a sitting position. The
chair is $1200 and we need your help.

To donate to Happy’s chair please be sure to write “TCH-Happy” in the memo section
of your check. Checks should be made payable to China Care and mailed to
TCH, P.O. Box 51057, Irvine, CA 92619. Donations by credit card can be made at
www.truechildrenshome.org.

Thank you for making a difference!

Children’s Home Program
Earthquake Update

We have received numerous e-mails asking if the three True Children’s Home s were affected by the recent
earthquake, which was the strongest earthquake to hit China in more than three decades. The two children’s
homes in Dongguan, Guangdong Province and the one children’s home in Anji, Zhejiang Province, were not
affected. All three children’s homes are located south of Sichuan Province where the quake was centered. We
currently work with eleven orphanages. Fortunately, none of these orphanages were affected by the earthquake.
Unfortunately, due to the devastation and destruction, many more children will now become orphans.

May 19 marked three days of national mourning. Flags were to be flown at half-staff and all public entertainment
suspended for three days. People were asked to stand in silence for three minutes, starting at 2:28 pm, while automobiles, trains and ships sounded their horns and sirens. The China Daily reported that 32,477 had been confirmed dead and 220,019 injured.

New Arrivals — Dongguan Homes 1 & 2

New Arrivals—Anji Home


Ting (girl) born May 2007 Abandoned Jiangxi Province Cleft lip & palate	Hui (boy) born August 2007 Abandoned Jiangxi Province Cleft lip & palate

Medical Care Program
Surgeries


Yu is comforted after heart surgery	Xiong (2 days old) rests after colostomy surgery


Di after adipoma surgery	Hui sleeps after cleft lip surgery


Feng’s tumors	“Sweet” Feng—post-op

Feng is currently a resident of TCH in Anji and has spina bifida. During his pre-op check the doctor found a
second tumor; he recommended Feng have only one removed now as he is very weak and removing both at
the same time would be risky. One tumor was successfully removed and it has now been determined that
Feng has scoliosis. The doctor recommended another surgery for the scoliosis, perhaps when Feng is seven
years old. In the meantime, Feng will continue to have regular medical checks. He is such a sweet child; his
cute smile can melt your heart.

Foster Care Program


You FC Mother—Li Xiu Ying FC Father—Li Wei Man First time foster parents	Feng FC Mother—Li Mao Xiang FC Father—Liu Song Sheng First time foster parents	Heng FC Mother—Miao Yue Rong FC Father—Chen Cai You Third time foster parents

Birthday Celebrations


Gu celeberates with friends Cao and Zhi, and Foster Care Coordinator June	Gu learns to play a game

Community Outreach

Head Nurses from Tung Wah Hospital Visit TCH

Several head nurses from Tung Wah Hospital came to visit
True Children’s Home during National Nurses Week. This
was a chance for the nurses to have a fun visit with some of
their small patients. The nurses brought formula, toys,
diapers and a monetary donation for the children.

Community Outreach
Dental Program

Dental Program for TCH Staff-Russell Raines

My family and I are so proud of the work accom-plished by True Children’s Home in China. We feel blessed, and our lives have been enriched, to have been introduced to TCH and to have had the
opportunity to visit two of the three TCH locations.
During our visit in October 2007, we were very impressed with the staff. The staff seemed so dedicated, and it was easy to see in their eyes they believed in the children and wanted a better future for them. Assisting financially with surgeries is something we will do as long as we possibly can, but I wanted to do something else for TCH—something for the caring staff who impressed us so very much. My family decided in 2008, as a reward to the staff at TCH, to provide financial assistance for staff to have regular dental cleanings. We wanted to be a

A caregiver receives a dental check-up

part of a program that recognized the staff’s hard work and show our appreciation for all they do each and every day for the children at TCH. We hope all staff will take advantage of the dental program and have regular dental visits and cleanings.

True Hero

There are many people working together to make a difference in the lives of children that come to TCH.
Each month we will spotlight one of those individuals as our True Hero.

	Baby Hui and QSI Friends
QSI Staff and Students

Our May True Heroes are the students, staff and parents of the Quality Schools International—“QSI” - in
Dongguan, Chang’an, Zhuhai and Shekou. Through numerous fundraisers, the students have provided supplies
for our Children’s Home Program and funded several children’s surgeries for our Medical Care Program.

Heartstrings

Foster Mother Miao Yue Rong meets Adoptive Mother Sue

Translation from Miao Yue Rong, Foster Mother:

“I was willing to meet Zhi’s adoptive mother because I wanted to know what kind of family Zhi would be going
to, even though I had seen pictures of the family in a care package they had sent to Zhi. I wanted to know
what the parents looked like and if they were nice.

I was pleased that I was able to meet Zhi’s adoptive mother. She seemed nice and I think Zhi will be happy!
Since Zhi’s adoptive mother was willing to meet me, that means she cares about Zhi and that is why I am
happy too!

Succesful Adoptions

Max (Zhi) and his family from the U.S.

Adoption Update—Daniel (Jian)


Daniel and his mother	Reading stories together

Hi Jenny,

Thank you so much for the photo album and calligraphy pen (from first haircut). The photo album was won-derful! I cried because it was so awesome seeing pictures of Daniel’s first year of life. We will treasure that
album and I look forward to sharing it with Daniel throughout the years to come.

Please share with all of his former caretakers that he is doing extremely well. He is now walking and getting
into everything! We are so grateful to TCH and his foster family because he is thriving and adjusting well.
Everyone is so impressed with his motor skills and level of intelligence.

- Kirsten

Vital Statistics

Children who received care—84

Surgeries performed—78

Children transitioned to foster care—45

Children adopted—19*

*Children have been adopted into families in China, Holland, Spain and the U.S.

True Children’s Home relies on donations from individuals, organizations and corporations. One hundred percent of donated funds goes into one of our four programs: children’s home, medical care, foster care or community outreach.

True Children’s Home is affiliated with China Care foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Donations to TCH are completely tax deductible. All administrative expenses are underwritten by Alan and Twila True.

If you would like more information on how you can help, contact us at info@truechildrenshome.org or visit our website at www.truechildrenshome.org.

For monetary donations, please make the check payable to China Care Foundation. In the Memo/For section of the check write “True Children’s Home.” All checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Send your check to True Children’s Home, c/o True North America, P.O. Box 51057, Irvine, CA 92619-1057. To make donations by credit card, please visit our website at www.truechildrenshome.org.

Making a difference in the lives of children…..one child at a time!