Visiting the Finding Spots and Orphanage

It is not legal in China to give up a child for adoption.  Perhaps because of this there are hundreds upon hundreds of abandoned children.  Some are left in public places where they will be quickly and easily found.  Some are left in secret places and their fate is often grim.  The police are notified about children that are found and have to file a report.  Part of the report includes the "finding spot."

What would cause a parent to abandon their child?  Having been to China and experienced first hand trying to get around with a child in a wheelchair, I will affirm that the country as a whole is just not set up for those with mobility issues. Their medical system seems to be on a cash basis also, so some parents just cannot afford to have their medically needy children treated.  There are many, many handicapped children in the orphanages.

There is also the one-child law in China, with the tradition of  a son taking care of his parents in their old age.  A daughter joins her husband's family leaving parents of a daughter without a "retirement" plan so to speak.  So traditionally a girl has been much more likely to be abandoned.  In this day of ultrasounds that can pretty accurately predict the sex of the child, there don't seem to be the number of healthy newborn girls found any more.

For reasons known only to their biological parents, our girls are counted among those who were found in the year of 2006.  Both were found in very public places.  We were able to visit their finding spots as stated in the police reports.  It was sobering to walk through these places.  I found myself searching faces that looked similar to those of our girls.

Walking near the hospital where one of the girls was found.

Jen was found inside the hospital building up these stairs.

Abigail was found near the gate of this hospital.

In addition to visiting their finding spots we were also able to visit the orphanage where they had both lived since infants.

Outside the orphanage

We believe their orphanage to be one of the really good ones.  I was impressed with the care and affection that the staff appeared to have for the children.  The building was very clean.   It was a  large, multistory building that housed not only the orphanage, but also a medical center and a section for older or handicapped people.  There was also a section dedicated to an NGO (non government organization) that housed a school.  The rooms there were decorated with appealing images and color, much like any preschool you'd see in our country.  They are doing a good work there!

Part of the medical section, hospital type beds I assume

View out the window

Playground in the courtyard

Our girls' classroom

Jen in her classroom

Inside the orphanage

Abigail had been in melt down mode off and on since coming to us, so we really thought long and hard about taking her back to visit.  But we felt we owed it to our girls to get as much information about their past as we were able, and to give them the chance to say their good byes.  Abigail's initial reaction wasn't much, but she began crying when a staff member spoke to her.  This continued off and on until it was nearly time to leave.  When it became apparent that our visit was over, she was suddenly cheerful again.  Our visit ended up being a turning point in our relationship.

Jen seemed to enjoy the attention and "introducing" us to her former caretakers and friends.

Jen poses for a good bye picture with teachers and staff