Great News!

We had some wonderful news last week (no, it wasn't Travel Approval; unfortunately that is many months away yet)!
When we found Jaden, we knew that he was on the "Special Needs" list and would have some health issues.  Special needs kids can have anything from something very minor to something immediately life-threatening.  (Of note, both of my bio kids would have been considered "special needs" had they been born in China.)  When we saw Jaden, his special need became irrelevant.  He was our son regardless of his "special need."  As is often the case, his paperwork was not terribly illuminating.  Although we asked BAAS to hold his file and got a specialist that we know to look at Jaden's papers, we had already decided that Jaden was ours.

The specialist that reviewed his papers felt like there was a good possibility that Jaden was misdiagnosed and may have more issues than we might have expected.  Again, at that point it didn't matter.  We felt that God had placed this child into our lives for a reason and perhaps that as physicians, He was giving His special child to us because we would need that level of comfort with complex medical issues.

In the initial paperwork it was stated that Jaden had already had one surgery but other than that statement there was no documentation of it.  When we called about it, BAAS thought perhaps that line was wrong and that he needed surgery but had not actually had surgery.  We basically said, "whatever" and knew that we would deal with whatever was needed when we got him home.

On May 30, Jaden turned 3 years old.  We had a wonderful lady in China organize a birthday party at the orphanage, complete with cake, hats, goodies and a present.  Little did we realize the real gift was for us!  She sent several pictures of the event and new information about Jaden.  She spoke with someone at the orphanage and they told her that he had, indeed, had surgery already and was needing an additional one.  She also told us that the orphanage was very small and she thought that they were delaying the surgery due to the expense.  They also mentioned that Jaden seems very loved!  (Which shows clearly in the pics.  :)  )

Well, thinking about our son in China, needing surgery but unable to have it, sent me into a bit of a tailspin.  I will say here that Tim was much calmer about the whole thing.  We talked with Rebecca (our local caseworker) and with BAAS.  Rebecca suggested we contact Love without Boundaries (an awesome organization based here in Oklahoma--http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/.  I was somewhat reluctant because I know that they deal with really big surgeries (cleft lip/palate; complicated heart surgeries) and  I didn't initially contact them.  After BAAS told us that as individuals, we really didn't have any way to help pay or be involved, Rebecca again encouraged me to contact LWB.  I sent a letter through their medical department describing the situation and a week or so later we got an email from Rebecca.   (Okay, after a long build up, here is the Great News:)

LWB had contacted her to let her know that not only had they paid for and organized his first surgery, they had already committed to taking care of his next one!

We don't know at this point if he will still have the surgery;  (They asked her if she thought we would want to delay it til his homecoming.) If he does then we will be able to know without a doubt that he is in good hands.

Jaden means "God has heard."  Every time I have a doubt or worry I need to remember that.  We may not know exactly what will happen but surely God has heard and His plans are perfect.  :)