48 hours

It took just 48 hours for 14 donors to raise $552.00. Money needed to get this:

 

to them:

 

They were washed:

 

 

And packaged for transport to Portland and then to Ukraine:

 

 

They will soon have new chairs:

 

 

For those who donated either through the chip in or the mail, I cannot express enough gratitude for what you've helped us achieve. Your response and generosity is heart warming. You've done a very, very, very good thing. My heart swells for what we were able to accomplish together.   

All hail to Shriners! Now, let's get them shipped!

Seth has a team of two PT's , an OT and a speech therapist.  Among the best of the best in our town.  Seth is incredibly lucky to have such quality therapists on his side.  Whenever people ask who Seth sees, I'm told we have the best working for our boy.  I know this is true.  I frequently leave therapy with tears in my eyes because while they are amazing, I'm not sure they really grasp just what they are doing for Seth or just how significant it really is to him.  They have become some of my very favorite people and I feel like we are in partnership to help Seth overcome what he has been through. 

The first appointment Seth ever had in our country was with Shriners Hospital.  In fact, we had that appointment set up before we even traveled to Ukraine.  Pretty incredible that while a little boy sat in a wheelchair in Ukraine, lacking in health care and without a family, our country was already setting up the care he'd need.  Say what you will about the USA, but that is phenomenal.  We landed in the US on Monday and Seth was at Shriners on Wednesday.  At that first appointment, he saw a myriad of doctors and therapists, had xrays and got a prescription for AFO's.  We also established a relationship with Shelly, Seth's PT at Shriners.  Seth sees Shelly every week. 

So when Helping Hands USA came to me with a request for wheelchairs for the six men and boys at Seth's institution, I, knowing the physical condition these boys are in, asked for Shelly's advice for sturdy yet affordable wheelchairs that would best accommodate them and their needs.  She directed me to their equipment lady, who, rather than making a recommendation, told me she'd like to donate to our cause.  She told me to come see her the following week and she'd have some things set aside.  So on Wednesday I came to Shriners and was stunned when I was presented with this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

and even these:

6 wheelchairs.  5 that tilt so that those with poor upper body control can still comfortably sit. 

And three bath seats for easier bathing.

Blown away.  What do you say when "thank you" is completely and totally inadequate?  What do you say when you're speechless?  What do you say when an organization that you've loved all along suddenly has done something to win your undying gratitude forever?

Over the course of two days and two trips, we loaded all the wheelchairs, trays and bath seats.

We cleaned them up, pumped up tires, made some minor adjustments and got them ready for their next leg of the journey- a semi truck ride to Helping Hands USA in Missouri.

Noah and Jeremy taking off to meet the semi:

And they're off!

The wheelchairs will arrive, via semi, in Missouri, within the next couple of days, where they will be transported to a ship to take them to a group of boys in an institution half way across the world in Ukraine. 

And these chairs:

Will be replaced with these:

Pretty dang amazing! 

Have I mentioned I love Shriners? 

So all we need to do now is help with shipping costs to get the wheelchairs to the institution.  Helping Hands USA gets an amazing shipping rate.  We paid over $200 to mail our stack of adoption papers to Ukraine.  They can ship all six wheelchairs and the bath seats for $400.  That's all we need to raise to finish pulling this off for the boys and men at Seth's institution.  What should have cost us $15,000 will only cost $400.  That's what happens when a bunch of people doing the right thing, work together for the good of those who need it most.

Won't you please help?  Even a little bit helps.  It's the last stretch of a very worthwhile effort.  Please be a part of it.

Click on the chip in on my blog and you will be directed to Helping Hands paypal account. Or, if you'd rather, you can mail a check to: 

Helping Hands Usa
Nadia Postevka
3719 E. Beaumont ST.
Springfield, MO. 65809

If you pay by check, please make a note that you'd like this to be applied to shipping on the wheelchairs.

Thank you for your help.  I appreciate it.  Helping Hands USA appreciates it.  Most of all, the boys will appreciate it.

And I'm sharing "Frank's" picture again.  Because he lives inside those walls. He needs a family. And maybe his mama will see him today and go get him out.

This boy....

This boy is on my mind.

This little guy is my friend "Frank".  Frank isn't his real name.  I know his real name, just like I know many other things about him.  I know Frank is curious, smart, fun and sweet.  I know he likes to play in the dirt and jump on the trampoline.  I know he is all boy.  I know he has brown eyes and brown hair and that he usually needs a bath, as most boys do.  I also know he needs a family.  Badly.  Frank is 12 years old and living in an institution in Eastern Europe.  I know what Frank's future is going to be like if that family doesn't find him soon. 

While we were adopting Seth, Frank quickly became one of our favorites.  Jeremy and I think about Frank every day.  Frank is on my mind.  A lot.  Frank is a little boy who ended up at the wrong place.  Frank is independent, a good eater, is happy and content.  We never saw him lose his temper or act out.  He's in with an older groupa, teenagers ages 16-24.  The institutions highest functioning groupa.   Frank is physically healthy. He walks, runs, feeds himself, speaks, does puzzles and interacts with others well.  For the life of us, we can't figure out why he's in an institution.  But he is.

Today, Frank received something he's never had before.  An advocate.  Really, a team of advocates.  People who are willing to fight for him.  People to help him.  I've agreed to be Franks "Zero the Zeroes Hero".  That means I'm helping to raise awareness and grant money to help Frank find a family.  I'm actually quite happy to be doing this, because I know what an amazing little boy he is.  I can't imagine him spending the rest of his days where he's at.  I want to see him in a family, building airplanes with legos, going to school, joining boy scouts, playing soccer.  This little boy has so much potential.  But first, he needs a family. 

You can help Frank find a family by donating to his grant fund.  Our goal is to get Frank to $100.00.  That's all.  And if you go to donate, and he's already at $100, it's okay to get him to $120.00, or $150.00.  Every little bit helps.  Because Franks chances of finding a family are slim.  He's older.  He's a boy.  And he's in an institution.  He has three big strikes against him.  Statistically, his chances are not good.  But Frank now has people fighting for him.  I know him.  I know the little boy in the picture.  He is real.  Tonight, he's going to bed on the cruddy mattress in the hot hot building with 70 other boys and men who are all in his institution, and he has no way out unless we help him.  Frank deserves more. 

Can you be a part of helping Frank?  If so, please click on the link below and donate to his grant fund through paypal.  Or, you can mail a check to Reeces Rainbow (address is on the website) and mark it with "Frank".  Let's help Frank reach his first goal- $100.00 in his grant fund. 

http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=Frank

If you are interested in adding an amazingly sweet little 12 year old boy to your family, please feel free to leave me a comment here with your email address.  I would be so happy to tell you more about Frank. I moderate all comments before they are published and won't publish your email address.