The Chance To Dream

One of the wonderful things we learn from little children, especially children who have been born with physical challenges, is how amazingly quick they are to take hold of every opportunity they are given. They don’t feel sorry for themselves or lay blame on anyone; they just grab the offer of help and begin to live to their full potential.

Little Siqi, whose photograph appeared in my March 29, 2009 post, is just such an amazing child.

Siqi came to us when she was less than a month old. Her caregiver, Mother Chao said, “Siqi is a smart, responsible and passionate extrovert who blends in well with the other kids. She gets frustrated sometimes because she cannot do simple things by herself, such as eat, walk, dress and wash her face, but she tries to help baby sit the younger kids.  She has a strong personality and is determined to live as normal a life as she can.”

It seems that Siqi had already begun dreaming about the possibilities in her own future!  We brought her to Hong Kong for a check up and I could see for myself that she has a strong personality because she was here at the same time as Mia  and they fought constantly!  We placed her in the care of a loving foster family in 2002 because we believe that life in a children’s home cannot be compared to living with a family.

And then in 2010 Siqi officially became a member of the Rumbaugh family in the USA.  Before they left China, Kelly Rumbaugh, who is a pastor’s wife, came to the Children’s Home with Siqi bringing a whole lot of toys that Siqi had selected. She then personally went around giving her gifts to children in the Home!

When I saw them shortly before their departure for the US, I was delighted at the way the family was already bonding.

Kelly has just written that Siqi (who is now called Piper) has settled in well with her seven siblings; surgery and rehabilitation work continues, and Piper’s English is coming along “amazingly fast!”

Before Siqi left our Children’s Home she went around taking lots of photos around the Home and Rehab Centre with her toy camera!  Perhaps we should dream of the day Xining Children’s Home can boast that we were once home to a world class photographer!