Last year, psychologists from Kiev ran a training session in orphanage where Sergey is staying. And it so happened, that this boy was one of those children whom the psychologists could use best as an example of how major changes would occur in a child's life if one spends quality time with the child.
Even back then, a year ago, sitting in his wheelchair, this boy often tried to reach down with his hand and to eat a blade of grass. Or a speck of dust. Perhaps he had gotten tired of the monotonous food served in the orphanage and he wanted something new. Even though to an outsider it seems that he doesn't understand what in his life is new and what is old.
It is true that he cannot read, write, or count. And it's difficult to say at this time if he will ever be able to learn these skills. But in any case, he can see others' affection. And he smiles back. Even if he simply noticed that someone looked specifically at him and not at someone else.
Sergey likes plush toys - but they cannot give him real human warmth. They cannot give him love and care. Perhaps it seems to him that the plush toys have souls confined in them, souls as carefree and unbound as the one confined in his body? And there will come a time when they'll be able to break free?
Because of lack of wheelchairs or simply because of lack of human caring, Sergey has not been able to engage even in his primitive "nature study" recently and he spends hours simply sitting or lying on the floor. Waiting for breakfast in the morning, then for lunch and in the evening for dinner, and probably never waiting for a miracle. Because he so rarely gets a smile back, in return for his marvelous smile.
We read funny signs or watch comedy programs and smile. We smile so often that we don't think how important smiling is for our health and for the world around us.
I have met dozens of special children recently. I find myself drawn to some and wanting to avoid others. Sergey is one of those children to whom one wants to give at least a little bit of happiness but one doesn't know how. And you, Mom and Dad, do you know how?
If you are interested in adopting Sergey, please read the memo to the potential adoptive parents, guardians, and foster parents; you can also contact Children’s Affairs' service of the Zaporozhia State Administration by telephone (061) 239-01-56 r contact us on 0990235609 or 0637336138 for location of the child and his profile number as he was referred to the orphanage from another region.
Other children who dream of finding a family
If for some reason you are currently not able to adopt (for example, you are a student and do not have a family of your own yet) you are still able to help children at a boarding school (an orphanage with your financial support. Ways you can help include: planning and participating in excursions and trips for children; visiting a child in an orphanage; or helping purchase developmental toys, books, construction sets, and sports equipment.
