The Little Boy in the Striped Cardigan

There is a little boy on the waiting list.  He turns 3 years old next week.  His picture has probably elicited gasps from hundreds of people.  He's so very, very handsome.  I mean, he is just unbelievably cute in his striped cardigan. They have probably clicked on his profile and eagerly read on to find out how they could make him part of their family, only to stop midway through. He is cute, for sure.

He's is also now blind.

He didn't used to be. A disorder has taken his sight over the past few years.  I could speculate how he ended up on the waiting child list a couple months after turning 2, but instead I will just focus on that fact that he is waiting. He waited with my Little Moon for a while, their little profile pictures lining up next to each other in dueling cutest-kid-ever contests.

Appa and I have been drawn to him ever since he showed up on the list last Fall.  Not in a "he's our son" way, but in a heartbreaking need to see him be okay way. We both know how the clock ticks for the children who wait on that list and what happens when they wait too long. We both know that the full and happy life a blind person can lead with the support and love of a well-equipped family is light years away from the life this little boy will live if he is taken from his foster family who have been fierce advocates for his blindness and placed in an orphanage with resources spread too thin for kids who can see and take care of themselves, let alone for a blind child.

It weighs on my soul that this little boy literally has months left before a life-altering path with be chosen for him. Weighs.on.my.soul.

Appa and I have talked about how we can change the lives of children who wait, specifically this little boy. We can't adopt him. We've considering providing a private donation grant to spur someone to take a second look, but legalities prevent it while still in process for Little Moon.  I've tried to advocate for him, but my reach doesn't extend very far; and I certainly don't personally know anyone who is willing to adopt a blind child into their home.

But those people ARE out there.  Lots of them, I imagine. There ARE families who could be the right parents for this charming, spunky, silly little boy.  There ARE families who are well equipped to provide a blind child with a vibrant life.  They ARE out there.

Do you know someone who might be able to give this beautiful (BEAUTIFUL) child a life before his chance has passed? Someone who perhaps is thinking of a different country or different route to parenthood? Someone who already knows the ropes of blindness?  If so, have them contact me, and I can point you to the two agencies that are both listing him on their waiting child page and you can receive more information from them.