When my husband and I began this process, we knew did not care about race or gender, but wanted a child who was as young as healthy as possible. When we started out, we had no idea what a waiting child or a special focus child was. Now, tas we have just completed our home study, we have found ourselves at a point where we would like to adopt a 3 year old boy with Arthpygrosis, a condition I had never heard of. The little boy we want to adopt was born with club feet and has already had a number of surgeries. He also has a contracture of his right knee and is not able to bend it beyond 10 degrees. He is therefore not able to walk at this time and is very limited in his mobility. Although he is able to stand and drag his leg if he is holding onto something, his primary method of getting around is to "army crawl" using his elbows and dragging his body. He receives minimal physical therapy at the orphanage and he does not have access to any aides, such as a walker. His file reports that he is ready to be potty trained, but he cannot bend his leg to use the squat style toilets in the orphanage, so he has to remain in diapers. I am not sure what drew me to his profile, but upon seeing his sweet face, I just wanted to learn more. At first I was taken aback by this child who gets around by dragging himself across the floor and who clearly has so much need for assistance. But what I saw most of all was a happy and determined little boy who quickly made his way into my heart. My husband was drawn to him, as well. I went to bed in tears that night, wondering why I was even considering this, especially when we could be matched with a younger child with fewer needs if we were to just wait a couple of months. I wondered if I had been so engrossed in this adoption process that I had just gotten completely off track. I cried on my husband's shoulder and asked why anyone would choose the more difficult path-this had not been in our plans. I spent a lot of time in prayer, begging for God's guidance in making this life-changing decision. In the following days, I read the child's files over and over, and must have watched his videos 100 times, and I just knew he was meant to be ours. I never understood until now when adoptive parents have described that feeling, or their ability to see past a significant disability, but I look at this child and see the most beautiful face and infectious laugh and I cannot wait to hold him in my arms. We had a team of pediatricians review his file and express their concerns about his future ability to walk, and the fact that he will require intensive therapies for a long time. One doctor stated that he is a very lucky little boy that we have chosen to adopt him. However, I feel we are the lucky ones to be so wonderfully blessed with a child who I truly feel is a gift from God. I still cry about this child every day, but they are now tears of joy and hope for the life we will have together. Although we have good medical insurance, we are feeling overwhelmed with the cost of his adoption and the necessary follow-up care. We've started a fundraiser on Pure Charity to raise the funding that we need to bring this little boy home and get him all the medical help he needs. We believe he will not only walk one day, but RUN! Please help us create a wonderful future for this sweet and deserving boy. Every donation is important and will help make this adoption a success. Would you kindly consider making a donation? Also, we would appreciate your willingness to share this with others who may want to participate. Thank you so much for being a part of our lives and helping accomplish something that's important to all of us!