Heartbreak

There is no other word to describe how I feel right now.

Heartbreak.

I'm sitting here sobbing as I write this, for the little boy who I could not love more if he were my own flesh and blood.

I know you all remember Brett - one of the boys I've been screaming for for months.  Maybe you can even call his face to mind, remember the one picture I've posted of him, the only picture I ever had... this one.

Maybe you remember his story... born in the open country and abandoned in a field by his mother, before he was found and taken to the hospital... and from there to the orphanage.  Other than that we had so very little information about him.  No one had been to his institution.  No one had met him.  He was hidden away... precious buried treasure.


Today, this picture was posted to his profile with an update.  Someone has seen him, met him, been to where he is, heard his story, and taken new photos and video of him.

This is Brett today.

My boy.  My sweet boy!  Oh, how my heart absolutely breaks, to see what years of institutionalization have done to him.

Yes, he's still beautiful.  Precious.  I want to take his little hand in mine.  I want to fold him into a big hug, the kind mommies and aunts and families give.

What we knew before about his history was sad.  What we know now is absolutely heartwrenching.  There are just no words.  Read his new description from Reece's Rainbow:

"Brett was born premature at home and taken to an open field, where he was abandoned. He was there for 6 hours before being rescued and taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for shock, hypothermia, bug bites all over his body and difficulty breathing. Once released from the hospital, he was placed in an orphanage and later transferred to a mental institution, where he lives today.  From a physical standpoint, he suffered several bouts of bronchitis and other sicknesses as a young child. He does have alopecia (hair loss), but does not have any other health problems at this time. Based on one of the video clips, it appears that Brett is able to pop his hip out of socket, as his can turn his leg at an unnatural angle.   He can walk and move freely around in his environment. 

Brett suffers from many delays as a result of spending over 10 years in an institutionalized setting.   He walks, plays with toys, communicates using gestures and interact with adults at will. He is NOT aggressive.   The staff cares for all his basic needs and he is not receiving any academic instruction or any noted therapies at this time. 

Several photos and videos of Brett from December 2012 are available."

Poor sweet boy!  He was freezing, struggling for survival, covered in bug bites!  He was left, all alone, defenseless, and even when he was 'rescued', he only had spending the rest of his life in an institution to look forward to!  Oh, sweet boy, how you deserve to know the love of a family.

And now... now he's not even in an orphanage.  He's in a mental institution.  For adults.  If the orphanages in Eastern Europe are bad, the mental institutions are filled with untold horror.  Mogilino, the place featured in Bulgaria's Abandoned Children was a mental institution.  The place my friend's sweet, loving, beautiful 8 year old son came from, where he regressed from the skills he learned in the orphanage and boarding school, was a mental institution.  The place the men lived, young and old, with nothing but the clothes on their backs - not even an old TV to watch in a day room.

Brett DOES NOT BELONG in a mental institution.  He needs out. 

I'm begging for him.  Please, someone.  Take a leap of faith and say yes to Brett.  His country is a wonderful one to adopt from.  Easy travel, no upper age limit for parents, single moms are allowed, large families are welcome, relatively relaxed requirements, a well established adoption protocol (it is a Hague country)... and the costs for adopting from his country are relatively modest - and he already has $1,700 in his Reece's Rainbow grant!  In addition, I promise that whomever commits to him will have the full support of myself and a few other advocates - and when I say that, I mean I will move mountains.  If you think I'm crazy for shaving for Angel Tree, just wait until you see what I'd do to get this boy home.  I'll move across the country and be your live in nanny, for free.  I'll travel with you if you want.  I'll put on fundraiser after fundraiser after fundraiser to get you funded.  Seriously.  I love this boy.  I would go get him myself if I could.

In the past people have shied away from older boys like him because they are afraid they will be aggressive or have behaviors that are 'too difficult' to deal with.  From the new description, we know that Brett is NOT aggressive and it sounds like he would do absolutely wonderful in a family.  Some therapy, lots of love, and I can see him being the kind of amazing blessing my friend's son, who was adopted this year at 8 years old, is today (and he's only been home for four months!)

Look at him again.  Are you looking at your son?

Please see his full profile and inquire here at Reece's Rainbow.