No Hands But Ours

The No Hands But Ours web site was started by Stefanie of Ni Hao Y'all. Stefanie is momma to 8. Yes, I said 8 children, 4 bio and 4 adopted from China. Besides being super woman she's a caring, empathetic person who is passionate about waiting children in China and had the idea for this web site to educate, encourage and be a resource for anyone interested in adopting a child with medical special needs. I recently wrote our family story for the web site and how we came to adopt Will and go the special needs route. On a personal note, adopting a child with a medical special need was something I never thought that much about in the past. There was one obstacle for both Dan and I and it was FEAR. Fear of the unknown I suppose, could I do it? What if I got so attached to a child and then something terrible happened? Having a child biologically or by adoption is always a leap of faith and we took that leap of faith last February when we changed our request with CCAA from a healthy female as young as possible to a boy or girl with a cleft lip and palate. William appeared on our agency's list and we asked to adopt him. We cannot imagine our life without this little boy in it now. When I look at my son I don't see the faint scar on his upper lip, I look at his sweet face and see the whole person, his personality and who he is...inside. I don't like the label or term 'Special Need.' It doesn't define who he is at all, Will's cleft lip and palate is just a very small part of him. I encourage you to go the the site and see what Stefanie and many other parents have done. Please read some of the family stories. If I have inspired one family to do this, I will have done my job as a person to help a child who needs a home. Because that's what adoption is all about...children who need a family.

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

~Edward Everett Hale