TRUE NEWS
September 2007

 
 

My Summer Vacation
 
 
 
When 11-year old Anastasia Wilson from California learned that her mother was going on a business trip to Dongguan, China this summer she asked to go along.
 
“I wanted to visit True Children’s Home so I could help children without parents and learn about another country. Before I went to China I held two fundraisers: one at my church, St. Clement’s by the Sea, and one at my school, St. George’s Academy. I bought clothes for the children with half the money raised and donated the other half to the medical care program that helps fund surgeries. I had a fun time playing with the children at the children’s home and on the playground. A few of the children we dressed up in their new
clothes and had a “fashion show.” I also went to visit several children in the hospital where we celebrated one child’s first birthday. One day we went to a local village to visit children in foster care. It was great to see how much these foster families love and care for these children. I wish to visit China again. My experience at True Children’s Home has changed my view of the world and my life. I have learned to be grateful for the things I
have!”
 
Thank you, Anastasia, for the funds you raised and for coming to visit True Children’s Home during your summer vacation.
 
 
Programs
 
Children’s Home Program
Excitement is mounting as preparations are underway to have the second children’s home ready to welcome the first children on Thursday, September 27. In the next issue of True News we will give you a “tour” of the new children’s home where you can meet the first children to arrive.
 
 
 
 
Update on Ming
 
  Ming’s story was featured in the May issue of True News. Below is a picture of Ming when he arrived in May, weighing 3.7 lbs. A recent picture features Ming weighing 14.6 lbs. Ming likes formula and lets the staff know that he is hungry if he is not given a bottle right away. Ming will transition into foster care later this
month. What a miracle!		  
 
New Children Welcomed
 
 
Fen
  
Jun
 
We recently developed a new relationship with an orphanage in Guangdong Province which makes the sixth orphanage we are partnering with. On August 27, we welcomed Jun and Fen, from this orphanage to TCH. June, born November 20, 2006, has a cleft lip/palate and weighs14.5 lbs. Fen, born September 25, 2006, has a cleft lip/palate and weighs 15.4 lbs.
 
  While Katrina and Jenny were in Jiangxi Province last month for Ping’s adoption they were also able to visit another orphan in need, Yan. She was born July 24, 2007, with spina bifida. She had emergency surgery shortly after birth and was still in the hospital recovering. The orphanage knew they would not be able to provide Yan with the special care she would need when dismissed from the hospital. The orphanage director, familiar with the quality of care at TCH, requested that Yan be taken to TCH. On August 28, Yan was dismissed from the hospital and spent the next 12 hours traveling by train to TCH where she was welcomed with loving arms.
 
Medical Care Program
 
 
Zhen
  
Jun

 
On August 23, Zhen had successful cleft palate surgery. While in the hospital Zhen’s foster mother was there caring for her. On September 10, Jun had successful cleft lip surgery. His recovery is going well and he should be dismissed from the hospital soon.
 
Foster Care Program
 
 
     
On August 18, we celebrated Zhen’s first birthday with foster care friends. Zhen enjoyed opening her presents and Men was a good helper.   September 6, we celebrated Gang’s second birthday. Gang was the first child to receive cleft lip surgery through TCH. The birthday celebration was held outside in front of Gang’s foster home. Foster care friends and neighbors joined in the celebration.
 
Community Outreach
 
Hui returns September 15, for cleft palate surgery. In February 2007, Mac and Jenny went to a park during Chinese New Year and saw a young boy with a cleft lip/palate begging for money
with a teenager. Hui had been abandoned shortly after birth in a poor rural village in Anhui Province. A man from the village took Hui under his care creating a father and son relationship. Hui’s “father” has been providing care for Hui, yet has been unable to pay for the cleft surgeries that Hui needs. The pair came to Dongguan, homeless and penniless. They subsisted on money received from selling trash to recycling centers. Through our community outreach program Hui had successful cleft lip surgery on March 2. His cleft palate surgery is scheduled for September 17.
 
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.
 
 
 
Deanna and Brian Gerken moved to China three years ago from Indiana. They provided funding for Mu’s cleft lip surgery. Deanna volunteers on a regular basis in the children’s home and also makes a photo album for each child filled with pictures from their time at TCH. The photo album is given to the parents once a child is adopted. Thank you Deanna for making a difference in the lives of children that come to TCH. You are a True Hero.
 
Another Successful Adoption
The Shoemaker Family Adopts Yu, by Sara Shoemaker
 

Mark and I had the unique opportunity to visit True Children’s Home while we were in China in August adopting our son, Mao Ai Yu, now known as Jack. Jack had three surgeries at the hospital in Dongguan: cleft lip and palate repair and eyelid surgery. Little did we know, while we were in the U.S. preparing to bring our son home, that he was receiving such good care from the staff at TCH.

We first met Jenny Smith and Katrina Ouyang the day after we adopted Jack at the civil affairs office in Guangzhou. We were simply blown away when they presented us with gifts for Jack, including a quilt made by Stitches from the Heart, a quilting group in Phoenix, Arizona and a photo album capturing every major milestone in Jack’s life.
 
A few days later, we brought Jack to TCH for a visit. The staff was so excited to see him with his new parents. We are the first family to adopt a child who has been at the children’s home, to come back and visit. It really helped for the staff to see that the job they are doing really does make a difference. Jack was a little apprehensive at first, but once he realized that we were okay with these people, and we weren’t going anywhere or leaving him there, he warmed up pretty quickly and was playing hard. Jack had slept in the Green Room with Winnie the Pooh décor – which explains why he loves Winnie the Pooh!
 

We then visited the hospital and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Li, the U.S. trained Chinese surgeon who repaired Jack’s lip and palate. He was very sweet, and it was so nice of him to take time out of his busy schedule to let us thank him. A TCH caregiver had been assigned to stay with Jack and care for him the entire time he was in the hospital. While Mark and I were home worrying about our little boy, he was doing just fine!

We’re forever grateful to the True Children’s Home for being Jack’s family until we could bring him home. He is doing very well, has had no problems with eating or drinking and has allowed us to bond with him quickly. He fits right in with us and his big sister and big brother. Mark and I feel it’s because of the special attention he received at TCH that has made it so much easier for Jack to love and accept us.
 
Vital Statistics
 
Children who received care………………………………………………………………………….…..46
Children who transitioned to foster care………………………………………………….……..28
Children adopted……………………………………………………………………………………….….……6
Cleft Palate/Lip surgeries performed……………………………………………………………...34
Club foot surgeries performed……………………………………………………………………..……1
Hernia repair………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..1
Hand surgery performed………………………………………………………………………………...…1
 
True Children’s Home relies on donations from individuals, organizations and corporations. 100% of donated funds go into one of our four programs: children’s home, medical care, foster care and 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 your 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.
 
Working together we can make a difference in
the lives of children…one child at a time!