In the past few weeks, we have added a new “Blog” to our website, and included a “Newsletter” option for friends and donors to receive updates via email. We are also in the process of adding an Online Payment system that will allow donors to securely donate funds online. We will be starting a new Fundraising campaign this winter, reaching out to friends, co-workers, and business partners so that we can reach 100% of our Fundraising goals. Please check back for more details soon.

To our past and future donors, we are pleased to share with you an update from Amanda at Starfish Foster Home in Xi’an on the 8 babies being sponsored by Zetian Children’s Foundation. Though we were saddened to hear of the death of one of the babies, Katherine, we are moved by the progress and development of the other babies in Amanda’s care. Katherine had a severe heart condition and kept getting pneumonia. She had to be constantly on oxygen, but unfortunately she was not able to recover from her last bout. We join the loving, caring staff at Starfish in grieving the loss of this little one.

Below is the rest of the update from Amanda, and we thank her for the precious pictures!

River: He has gotten his mold fitted and is almost done with the realignment of his palate and gums.  He is drinking a lot of milk and has really gotten a Buddha belly.  He is able to move himself in the walker. He is scheduled for surgery in November with Dr. Lisa Buckmiller and we will be traveling to Beijing with 13 babies if not more.

Cameron: Cameron has improved so much from the baby that came to us.  He is growing so much bigger and is developing well.  He still has some catching up to do.  He will not get the mold because he only has a cleft lip and not a palate.  He is also going to Beijing for surgery in November.

Olivia: After a few weeks waiting. Olivia got her mold in.  She adapted to it really well.  Sometimes it takes babies a few days before they accept this strange thing in their mouths.  She is really good at spitting the mold out of her mouth much to the surprise of the dentist.  She is eating well which is going to make her surgery so much easier. She is able to roll over.

Jessica: I think there is an undiagnosed problem with Jessica.  I am not sure what is going on but she has not caught up in her development.  She is eating well but still continues to be a skinny little thing.  She is growing taller and she is picking up weight.  It could be her personal body type but I would be satisfied if I could make sure.  She needs more doctors visits just to make sure. She is pulling herself up on things and she is able to say “Mama”. She also loves to sit in the walker and move in it, and plays well on her own.

Matilda: Matilda is sitting up well and is also pulling herself up on things so she is standing. I think before too long she is going to be walking.  She is also much more comfortable with strangers and is getting social with people she does not know.  After the scare with the platelet count in which she bled for 12 hours from her nose, her regular blood tests are not showing any problems.  We celebrated her first birthday with a cake. Her chipmunk cheeks are still there. Dr. Li has asked that we wait for a while longer before we redo the echo to see if her heart condition has improved or not and if she will need surgery.

Nava: Her head continues to be the strangest shape.  It makes a cone in the back.  She has gotten a lot stronger over the last few months even though she started out really weak in the beginning. She able to roll over but cannot get back again. Dr. Li has also asked for us to wait until after she is one to do another echo to see if she is healing her heart.  She is able to rock herself in the bouncer chair with her legs and loves that.

Daniel:  Daniel is eating as much as he can and he is picking up weight as fast as he can.  He loves to sleep a lot and that helps him to catch up with his development. He loves to “talk” to you and loves to be held.

Please join us in our efforts to reach children in need by donating today!

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Posted by Administrator on September 17th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

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In April 2009, Zaynab traveled to the Chinese cities of Beijing, Dalian and Luoyang to introduce the work of the Foundation and begin funding projects. In Beijing, she met with Lisa Misraje Bentley, the author of Saving Levi published by Focus on the Family. She is an orphan advocate and has served this cause for years in China (http://www.lisamisrajebentley.com/). Lisa’s story and determination to change the lives of children in need is truly inspirational. She is an asset to the work of the Foundation and led us to our first project in Xi’an while we were on a trip to visit two children she had funded for surgeries in Luoyang, China.

In Luoyang, we were introduced to the work of Amanda de Lange, Founder of Starfish Foster Home in Xi’an, China (http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org). When we met Amanda, she had 36 babies under her care, and a Xi’an orphanage was begging her to take in 8 more babies. In order to do so, she would need to expand her location and hire more nannies, as well as provide for the daily care and feeding of the babies. Amanda also takes charge of all the children’s medical needs at Starfish, and carefully nourishes them back to health so they can undergo the necessary surgeries before being adopted.

Zetian Children’s Foundation quickly stepped in and offered to sponsor Amanda’s 8 new babies (6 girls, 2 boys). A week later they are now settled into their new home: Nava, Jessica, Matilda, Caroline, Katherine & Joshua, (Heart) River & Olivia (Cleft Palette). We will receive regular updates on the children’s progress and look forward to seeing them grow and receive an education, either through the Foundation or by being lovingly adopted. In their short 3-year history, Starfish Foster Home has taken care of 84 children, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions. You can also follow their blog with updates online at http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com/

In Dalian, Zaynab met with several people involved in orphan work. We will also be posting pictures and a brief story of each baby at Starfish, as well as any other new projects here, please check back soon!

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Posted by Administrator on August 14th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized

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