Qing Zu Qiao was abandoned at the entrance of Sanniao Market of ShiJiao Town, Qingyuan City on 2/26/06. She was sent to the Qingyuan County SWI and at her entrance weighed 8.5 lbs and was 18 inches long. She was diagnosed with a cleft palate II and was given a birthdate of 12/26/05 according to her development. The name she was given at the SWI meant Pretty Ancestor.
In May of 2006, a team from Love without Boundries, located Cassi in the SWI and along with facilitator, Zhang Ming, worked to have her moved to a foster home. She needed one on one care and this is something that the caring but busy staff at the SWI could not provide. She was moved to foster care on June 15, 2006, and the foster family provided care for her until the LWB team could return in October to perform her cleft palate surgery. She received the surgery on October 31, 2006, and it was a great success.
If you visit http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ and go to their blog, you can see a picture of Keren, as they refer to her, on October 31, 2006, with two of the staff as they were reunited with her before her surgery. They have sent information through our placing agency that "she was LOVED and prayed over for a long time." Heidi Reitz from the US and Julie Flynn Coleman from Ireland are the two ladies holding her in their arms.
After recovering at the hospital and then with the foster family, she returned to the Qingyuan County SWI in February (we think). At that time, the CCAA started preparing her records in order to make her available for adoption. We are so thankful to the LWB team and the Brehm foster family for all their love, prayers, and care given to Keren, our little Cassi.
Cassi's medical record now states that she is generally healthy and positive. She has a good appetite and is not particular about food (unlike her brother). She has developed normally in body and intelligence and now she can toddle alone. She is described as an independent little girl and she likes playing with other children. She screams loudly when her toy is taken away by others and if that doesn't work, she begs you to help her. (how sweet!!!)
She eats and pronounces words normally and except for the operation, has never had any other serious problems. At 15 months, she weighed a little over 21 lbs and was 27.75 inches tall. We may not receive any updates on her medical until we travel to bring her home, but if we do, we will definitely post them.
Paperwork is coming along slowly it seems, but we are doing everything we can as fast as we can. We hope to get some updated pictures in the next few days. We will keep you posted. Sending our love to Cassi......
