In Eastern Europe, children with mental or physical disabilities are almost always given up to orphanages soon after birth.
Unless they are adopted before then (and few are), these children are typically transferred to mental institutions at around age 4-6. They remain here for the rest of their lives.
This video, from The Today Show on NBC, shows the inside of a Serbian mental institution. I have heard that similar conditions exist all across Eastern Europe.
iwillcometoyou
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 
8 comments
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August 17, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Stef
this would totally be something I would be open to doing, if I didn’t already have kids. I will be praying for these children and for this ministry. My heart goes out to them….
August 18, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Stef
ugh… I came back to watch this with Jason and I can’t help but get so upset every time I see this. Even the news people make me ill. They’re feeling about all of this is that these babies should’ve been aborted. Who needs this “inconvenience.” I almost became angry when the one woman acted like she genuinely cared about the man in the crib. Whatever… its just something that makes the news really interesting, dramatic and emotional. None of these people are going to do anything about this. I think the news coverage makes me more mad than what’s really going on.
Shame on their parents and shame on the government in these countries. They will answer to God for this for sure.
August 18, 2010 at 3:28 pm
iwillcometoyou
I think the media did their job with this story- they showed what is happening in the world, and made the public aware of an atrocity that many would have otherwise never known about it. I didn’t pick up the implication that these people should have been aborted (maybe I need to watch it again)- the feeling I got was that these people are human beings deserving of dignity and respect, which they are clearly not getting in this situation.
I think the real question is what are WE going to do about it? Because now we know.
“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” Prov. 24:11-12
August 18, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Patricia Pedersen
With all of the criticism of our system, I am thankful to live in a country that works to protect the disabled and disadvantaged…. while the system is fallen and flawed, thank God we work toward compassion in many arenas. So sad….so many suffering…. I so long for Jesus to come and make things right!
August 19, 2010 at 10:28 am
Stef
oh, I didn’t mean the media in THIS specific story – just the media in general. We live in a country that’s all about mothers and their choices and not being burdened with the inconvenience of having a child that might “weigh us down”.
When I was pregnant with Kara, they detected a heart issue very early on in my pregnancy- I think I was 13 weeks and it horrified me how much they tried to convince me that the USA doesn’t need “another disabled child to care for.” They sent me home with all these guilt trips and pamphlets and such, trying to convince me that I will regret keeping my baby, when she causes me more work than a “normal” child would be. It was so sad.
And, my only issue with families WITH children going out and adopting children with these types of disabilities is that we put our own kids on the back burner and sacrifice their upbringing to care 100% for a very needy, disabled child. I think we leave off being faithful to the kids we chose to have, in order to “save” other kids who’s parents chose not to. Its very sad and I wish I could go make things right for all those babies/kids, but I know right now, something would have to give in a major way in our house, for us to be able to do that.
These children need constant, non-stop, one on one care and attention, medical help, etc… which sadly, I cannot provide right now.
Jason and I have been praying about how God might lead us to help in some way when our kids are grown. Even if its just volunteering at a home where we can speak God’s love to them and serve them in some way, showing them Christ like love. Its something I’d like to do even as our kids become old enough to help with that. I think it would be a good opportunity to help teach our kids about loving others and even loving those whom some would cast off and abandon.
August 24, 2010 at 9:24 am
Stef
Hey Janee, After I re-read what I wrote I realized I wasn’t nearly as clear as I wanted to be (shocking, since I wrote so much!) but anyway, I want to make sure I’m clear and especially not being offensive to you on YOUR website.
When I said we wouldn’t want to adopt a child with “these types of disabilities” I in no way meant down syndrome. Was just talking about the severe types where they need 90% hospital care, one on one attention non-stop, and special classes and courses to be in all the time. The type in this video that clearly need “special” constant and undivided care and attention.
I in NO way think you and Ryan are sacrificing your own kids well being to care for a baby with more needs than they have 😉
Emily has Cerebral Palsy and if anything, its been something God has used to teach me a great deal of patience and love and just understanding that no matter what our physical condition, we’re all precious and beautiful in God’s sight.
Anyway, just wanted to make sure I was clear about that, so I wasn’t coming off as unsupportive or rude to you guys.
-Stef
August 24, 2010 at 2:33 pm
iwillcometoyou
Thanks for your clarification- I really appreciate it and it definitely helps me understand better where you are coming from. We don’t feel called at this time to adopt a child with extremely severe special needs either, but I hope that if God calls us to that someday, we would be ready and willing.
I do believe (and I think this may be where we disagree) that God COULD call a family to adopt a child who needed constant, intensive care, even if they already have biological children. We know that, as part of His good and perfect plan, God can and does allow families to have bio children with severe special needs. And He promises that even THAT is for their good, and we must assume for the good of the other children in the home as well. If we are to believe this is true, then it must also be true that God could call a family (even a family with other children) to adopt a child with severe needs. Obviously it is important to consider the needs of the children you already have before making such a decision (a luxury that adoption usually gives us that is unlike having children the old-fashioned way). I know raising a child with major needs is a challenging task, but it’s an important one. These families deserve all of our support and appreciation, not our criticism.
August 24, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Stef
oh, I do agree with you. I guess WE just haven’t felt Him calling us to that, at this point. Its the same argument we hear (all the time) when people hear we’re leaving the number of kids we have completely up to God. We’re not cutting them off at a certain number. And fully understanding that one of those babies could very well be born with extreme health issues and require our undivided attention all his/her life. I would never consider it a “mistake” on God’s part. His plans for us are far better than anything we could ever plan for ourselves!
We’re really excited for you guys and overjoyed to see how God is blessing this whole adoption process. Wish we lived closer and could get to know your new daughter. I suppose online friendship will have to do for now 🙂