The first grade girl scout troop, lead by Missy Kotkin, gave Baobei a sweet donation from their hearts today.  They each brought 30 RMB (some more) to help Baobei save lives.  Thanks, girls!  Keep up the great work!

First Grade Concordia Girl Scouts

Liv Svanheld and Jaden Deneef, 3rd graders from SCIS Pudong, are already talking about starting their own charity after visiting Baby Wade at SCMC. 
Liv’s mother, Inga, said, “They feel so privileged now and want to help children less fortunate than themselves.”
The Svanhelds are moving to Singapore soon, and Liv had the idea to have a garage sale and donate the money to Baobei.  Jaden and she organised all of the items and after two days of sales raised 1300 RMB for Baby Wade’s surgery.
Thanks girls!  Keep up the great work!
Baby Wade will return to Anhui province with his caretaker later this week after having surgery to reconnect his colostomy. 

Liv and Jaden presenting money to Christine Marote (Volunteer Coordinator) who is holding Baby Wade

Baby Wade- 1 year old- he even celebrated his birthday at SCMC with a small cake from Baobei

A little late for the blog, but had to document this mark in history… we recently celebrated our 2 year birthday!  Rebecca Neilsen, Baobei volunteer, hosted this lovely event which took place near the Bund at the lovely, historic Hamilton House restaurant.  We had about 80 guests, including Dr. Bao from SCMC.  The highlight was testimonies from healing homes who will say good bye to their “baobeis” for adoption, and others who have been able to adopt these precious children as their own.  Enough words, let the pictures tell the story…  Thanks to all for helping us make these first two years a great success!  Our volunteer generosity makes our work possible!  Together we have helped over 45 children, half of whom are matched for adoption!

Maya enjoys yet one more cupcake!

Liu came into our lives in 2007 via BaoBei Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Shanghai that provides life saving surgeries for Chinese orphans. She was born with an Encephalocele (a rare condition which causes hydrocephalus). Liu was abandoned at an early age, and was subsequently taken into care at an orphanage in a province close to Shanghai. BaoBei Foundation became involved in helping Liu through a visit to her orphanage by one of their staff and a doctor from Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. She was found to be in need of a critical neuro-surgery that could only be done in Shanghai. Baobei Foundation’s volunteer staff helped to raise the funds necessary to help Liu and then arranged the aftercare she needed to be sure she did not have any complications.

My wife Claudine was aware of this, and offered to provide a Healing Home for Liu during her recovery.

So this timid, withdrawn, weak child came into our home, unable to communicate or walk, and immediately became part of our family.

We cared for Liu for 2 years, until my family moved back to UK . During that time, with much love from Claudine and my daughters Olivia and Sophia, Liu blossomed into a strong, confident, talkative, jumpy, beautiful young girl, and is now in the process of International adoption. We wish her adoptive family all the best fortune in having this approved by China’s authorities as soon as possible.

We became acutely aware, while living in China, that organizations like Baobei Foundation play a vital role in saving the lives of children with critical medical needs. The word ” Baobei ” means, Precious Child. Liu will always be a very special Baobei to our family. It is clearly apparent that without the help of this foundation Liu’s life would have turned out quite differently. We also know that there are many more who need help.

I am therefore undertaking a 250 km walk through the Western part of the Gobi Desert in July 2010, by competing in the Gobi March, as part of RacethePlanet (http://www.racingtheplanet.com/), in an effort to raise funds for BaoBei Foundation. This challenge is tiny in comparison to the challenges these Baobei’s encounter daily in just trying to cope and adapt to their every changing lives. I hope you will click here, and make a contribution that will change their lives.

Best wishes to all

David Wallace

Mandy is the new born we recently sent to Shanghai for her spina bifida removal surgery. Today I received an some gorgeous photos on this precious one along with some cute info written by Jessica Ling (our medical manager):

“She likes to be held. She has bright eyes and will look at you when you are talking to her. She makes some baby talk, just like she can understand you!! Her neck is strong. She can turn her face from one side to other side by herself when lying on her tummy. she is not fussy, only cries when she is hungry or wants to be held. When she cries,her voice just like a little cute donkey!! LOL!!”

Ever wondered how to clear out your families closets, update your wardrobe and have fun doing it?

That is exactly what a group of friends here in Shanghai recently asked themselves. Girlfriends; Malay Wu, Sophia Choi & Jenevieve Snyder decided to have some fun and raise money for Baobei Foundation by hosting a fundraising lunch and clothes swap with a number of their friends.

Malay Wu had heard about Baobei Foundation after attending the fundraising luncheon at M1NT with a friend back in March of this year. At that event Malay decided she would go straight home and donate the baby formula her son no longer needed, to the Baobeis who were currently in the hospital. This was just the start and she knew she wanted to do more. With a young son in the home, her free-time was short, but she talked with her girlfriends about ways they could help. Between them the idea of the charity fundraiser began to take shape.

Each friend donated 250rmb to take part in the event and at the end everyone got to take home some great items to update their wardrobes. I was lucky enough to be invited to give a short speech on the work of Baobei Foundation and I have to tell you I never knew clearing closets could be such fun. At the end of the lunch all remaining items were donated to charity. The ladies kindly gave any items useful for children under 4’s to Baobei Foundation and everything else went to River of Hearts.

The event was a lot of fun and there were plenty of great food, wine and raffle prizes to be had, but best of all there was a giving spirit and a common goal to make a difference.

The day after the event, Sophia Choi personally delivered the remaining baby clothing and shoes to my home, along with an amazing 5,700rmb that had been raised. I personally want to thank Malay, Sophia and Jenevieve for all their hard work in hosting this event, but I also want to thank them and all the ladies that attended on behalf of the babies of Baobei Foundation. The children may not ever know who you are, but they will always know you cared.