An Orphans Wish

Target demographics: Orphaned Children in China

Programs: Clubfoot Casting Unit The Clubfoot Casting Unit at An Orphan’s Wish was created to treat and care for orphans born with clubfoot, who otherwise would not have an opportunity to have their feet corrected. The Ponseti Method of serial casting is used to gently manipulate the affected foot with a series of casts, changed weekly. Once the desired position is achieved, braces are worn to keep the correction, on a gradually reduced schedule, until the child is 4-5 years old. The children treated at An Orphan’s Wish live in our residential facility until correction is achieved. Once the bracing protocol is well underway, the children are placed with a foster family. Most clubfoot patients stay in our facility between 6 and 9 months before moving to foster care. Special Care Unit Our Special Care Unit (SCU) cares for orphaned children born with medical conditions, prematurely or those who are in need of specialized care. Children come into our unit from local orphanages and remain in our care until they are healthy enough to be placed into loving foster homes. Upon entering our unit, the children are bathed, fed, evaluated to determine their medical needs, and placed into the arms of one of our wonderful caretakers. With the help of medical professionals we begin to develop a medical and specialized care plan, specific to each child. If needed, we arrange for the child’s surgery and medical care by partnering with other charitable groups working in China. Our caretakers accompany the child during any surgery to ensure they are receiving the best care possible. Quality care post surgery is provided as well, so the child has the best opportunity for successful healing. Some children’s needs are too severe and the only care we can provide for them is palliative care. Other times the child only requires individualized care as well as lots of love and attention, and they begin to thrive. Residential and Cerebral Palsy Unit: The House of Love is a residential unit, opened in 2005, that provides full-time care for orphans with cerebral palsy and other special needs that require long term care. These children have a more difficult time finding adoptive families, and so this unit was created to provide a loving home environment. The children receive individualized physical therapy, quality education, and specialized care to help them achieve their highest potential.