2 yr old Girl with Corneal Leukomas

THE MCCOMAS FAMILY

Age of Child at Adoption 2 yrs old

Special Need Corneal Leukomas (vision impairment)

toddler, vision impairment, corneal leukomas, very delayed on Gotcha Day

Our Experience in China

When we met our daughter, we suddenly realized that she was not developmentally 2 yrs old. She was more like 6-9 months. She didn’t know what a cheerio was or any snack. She only knew how to drink from a bottle. They had fed her cereal through a bottle. She was floppy, not able to sit up or stand well, and could not walk.

She was the little one out of our traveling group of special needs kids that was “different”. She wouldn’t look up in public, but she would giggle for us and let us tease her in our hotel room. When we went out on field trips with the group, she stayed in her stroller and wouldn’t respond to anyone or anything.

We were worried and grieving. We knew that our little girl had way more going on, way more needs than we thought.
We also saw a sweet precious little girl, who we were very quickly falling in love with even though. We knew how much she needed us.

Our Experience once Home

If we stopped at a stoplight, she would break down and cry. If someone said “goodbye” she would cry. If someone left the house she would cry. We could tell this little one had had a traumatic first two years.

Her Eyes: We found out that she was blind in her right eye with a little vision in her lift. Her vision impairment did not seem to impede her at all! In fact once home, she was a ball of energy, making her way around toys, steps, everything. She will hold things close up to her left eye to see them well, but most people don’t know she has a vision impairment except for her one wandering eye.

Her other special needs: We also find out she has a minor heart need, very high energy, and some emotional needs.

We can’t even imagine this little sweetheart still in the orphanage where she was obviously misunderstood. Other adoptive parents will understand when I say that we love her so much it hurts. We can’t talk about her after she goes to bed at night without wanting to go give her a hug. She is a light in our home. Some of her needs make normal life harder and less normal, but normal is overrated 🙂

Our Advice

Go knowing that your child may be delayed in every way, physically, mentally, emotionally…Your child may be sick, or look sick. Our daughter had a really bad fever which is why she was so limp when we got her. Your child is scared and probably traumatized already from many events in her life.

Also remember that there may be additional needs that weren’t in her paperwork.
Don’t give up on her. She needs you, and needs to learn to trust.