Brand New Day

One thing is certain. It is almost impossible to talk about abandoned babies without getting choked-up. When Beijing This Month was invited to visit the special needs New Day Foster Home in Qingyundian, 25 kilometres southeast of Beijing, it was expected there might well be some tears before bedtime.

A difficult place to find, we were inside the door just a few minutes, when a little fella in bare feet and shorts came soft-paddling across the wooden floor and threw his "Me! Me! Me!" arms in the air, and insistently patted my stomach with tiny hands. "Ba Ba," he said. Along the corridor an adventurous young lady on a tricycle came hurtling toward us with a big smile of welcome. On the other side of a glass partition, children scrutinized us. Interrupted from their games and perhaps a little startled, some children smiled while others cried.

Getting to the New Day Foster Home was circuitous, and careful attention was needed not to miss the ring road exits and barely visible turnings. But these were small matters. The exuberant little boy who called me "Dad" was 4-year-old Patrick, aka Zhen Lichan, who suffers from something called Bladder Extrophia, a congenital condition that leaves the bladder permanently exposed and requires costly corrective surgery. Patrick has had one operation and follow-up surgery will cost about US$5,000 plus US$300 for a six-month supply of medicine. And that huge welcoming smile from 2-year-old Molly, aka Guo Jiali, is also special, because Molly has spina bifida, a birth-defect of the spinal column that adversely affects normal development and also requires corrective surgery. Molly had her first operation when she was just 10 months old and will also need further surgery. These facts alone make them extraordinary souls. Add to that the fact they were abandoned shortly after birth and there is something miraculous about there energetic happy faces.

The Home has a capacity to take care of 30 such remarkable youngsters, aged from a couple of months to a number of years like Patrick. At present 9 babies and 16 children, all registered orphans, are in the care of the Home's 30 trained nannies.

Patrick speaks a little English to me, and this is important for him, because one day, one day very soon, he will be adopted by a foreign family.

Upstairs a group of babies eat lunch, while we meet an exceptional little man called Reuben. Born in January, Reuben weighed only 6 pounds, 1 ounce when he arrived at the Home in February. He's already had surgery to fix a cleft palate and all being well will soon be adopted.

Providing help to the New Day Foster Home, many organisations give cut-price services, donate money and baby and medical supplies as well as lobby on behalf of children who need immediate attention. These organisations include the Beijing Union Hospital, where many of the children have had surgery; BICF, which provides donations; the children's charity Children's Hope and Kimberly-Clark.

As we leave, Patrick is racing around the concrete on a pedal push-car with Molly not far behind on her tricycle. It is easy to see though that they are not deprived here. Only once did I feel moved and a little choked up, when Patrick dragged me down the corridor to show me where he slept; his hand so small in mine felt strong and determined and his little face brilliant with hope.

For further information call 86-10-80284074 ext 8005 or visit their website www.newdaycreations.com.

STOP PRESS!

New Day Foster Home Charity Gala Evening

New Day Foster Home is a haven for special children from local children's welfare institutes who come to the Home with minor disabilities that need correction. Through generous donation by supporters and reduced rates by doctors and hospitals surgery is made possible.

The New Day Foster Home Charity Gala on Saturday July 10 at 8 p.m. hopes to raise money for children in desperate medical need and create awareness for the Home. It promises to be a great evening and will include classical music, auctions, food and drink. It is being held at the Flamenco Club (by Workers Stadium West Gate), Tel: 6553 5277 and tickets are 90 yuan. Sponsors include: Novotel Xinqiao, Beijing Presidential Plaza Beijing, The Great Wall Sheraton, Linktech, Yinda Property, Eastline Advertising, British Chamber of Commerce in China, Australian Chamber of Commerce in China, The British School of Beijing.

For ticket information, please contact the event organisers at info@eecbeijing.com or phone 6518 8650.