Be Brave for Judah T-Shirt Fundraiser!

Thank you for supporting the Macauley Family as they work to bring home their new son, Judah! This boy has a special place in my heart, see blog I wrote when I was advocating for him: (http://hoping4afamily.blogspot.com/2015/10/garrett.html).

This boy has gone by many English names in the past as he was transferred from agency to agency and advocates would give him a new name to help draw attention to him, so that someone would SEE him and say "Yes! He is our son!" 

 Unfortunately, it took many years for that to happen, but I'm so happy that he finally has a family! He is now almost 12 years old and has transfustion-dependent thalassemia, like our Joshua. Adoption is literally life-saving for him. Please help support this family as they step out in faith and welcome Judah HOME!

Below are pictures of the shirts available for purchase. Here are the instructions for ordering. ALL proceeds from the sales of these shirts will go towards the family's adoption expenses.

To order via big cartel.com go here: http://bebraveforjudah.bigcartel.com/

OR order this way to save us PayPal fees: 
Once you chose your shirt(s), style, color, size, etc complete these 3 easy steps:

1. Tally up the cost and PayPal me the total at: alisondri@hotmail.com

Please choose the "send money to friends and family" in order save the fees! More money to the family!

If you need to pay by check, email the order to me.

Prices are below. *Please add $3.00 for shipping (flat rate for entire order no matter how many shirts!) If you are local and want to pick up from me, you don't need to pay shipping. 
*Add $2.00 for XXL and XXXL sizes.

2. In the message box on PayPal, write your style(s), colors, sizes, and Full name, address, and email. 

3. Send your donation that you've calculated via PayPal! That's it! 

After the fundraiser closes on 3/27, I will order the shirts. They should be to me in about a week and then will be to you about 2 weeks after that!

Here are the shirts! (When in doubt on the size, order up!)

Adult unisex Bella Canvas Brand, super soft!

Sizes- XS-XXXL

Colors: Heather Kelly (navy arrows), Heather Red (black arrows), Heather Navy (coral arrows), Dark Gray Heather (red arrows){not pictured yet}

PRICE: $20 (plus $3 shipping if needed, plus $2 for XXL and XXXL)

Adult Baseball Tees, Bella Canvas Brand,
super soft!

Sizes: XS-XXL

Colors: White Fleck/Charcoal Triblend, Grey/Red Triblend, White/Denim

PRICE: $24 (plus $3 shipping if needed, FLAT RATE; plus $2 for XXL)

Youth Tees, Bella Canvas Brand, super soft!

Sizes- YS (6-8), YM (10-12), YL (14-16) Retail fit, runs slightly small,
when in doubt size up

Colors: Green Triblend (navy arrows), Red Triblend (black arrows), Heather Navy (coral arrows), Dark Gray Heather (red arrows)

PRICE: $16 (plus $3 shipping if needed, FLAT RATE)

{PHOTOS COMING SOON}

Little Kids Tees, Rabbit Skins Brand, super soft!

Sizes- 2T, 3T, 4T, 5/6  Retail fit, runs slightly small,
when in doubt size up

Colors: Vintage Green (navy arrows), Vintage Red (black arrows), Vintage Royal Blue (coral arrows), Vintage Hot Pink (red arrows)

PRICE: $16 (plus $3 shipping if needed, FLAT RATE)

How to order recap:

Once you chose your shirt(s), style, color, size, etc complete these 3 easy steps:

1. Tally up the cost and PayPal me the total at: alisondri@hotmail.com

Please choose the "send money to friends and family" in order save the fees!

If you need to pay by check, email the order.

Prices are above. *Please add $3.00 for shipping (flat rate for entire order no matter how many shirts!) If you are local and want to pick up from me, you don't need to pay shipping. 
*Add $2.00 for XXL and XXXL sizes.

2. In the message box on PayPal, write your style(s), colors, sizes, and Full name, address, and email. 

3. Send your donation that you've calculated via PayPal! That's it! 

Fundraiser closes shop 3/27!! Thank you so much for supporting this adoption!

Garrett (a.k.a. Emery for advocacy purposes)

 

In April of 2005 a little boy was born in China. He was loved and cared for by his family for the first year and a half of his life. Sadly in October of 2006, this precious son was left at a children's hospital in a large city in China. He was estimated to be about 1 1/2 years old.  It was most likely his parents' only hope of his survival. He was diagnosed as having Thalassemia (and has been in the care of the orphanage since that time.) He gets blood transfusions every 1-2 months. 



He has not received adequate transfusions during his life, but he is a fighter and is doing well! But his hemoglobin falls to very low levels before they give him a blood transfusion. This is damaging and life-threatening to his body. He needs a family very soon.

Garrett lives in the orphanage and is now 10 years old. He is described as outgoing, very talkative, and he gets along well with his classmates and roommates. Another boy who knew Garrett at his orphanage said he was a "nice boy." Because of his need for blood transfusions, he goes to school inside the orphanage and he is now in 4th grade. He is said to be among the best in his class not only in his studies but other aspects. 

Garrett's file was prepared for international adoption when he was 4 years old. 4 years old.... over six years ago. It is heartbreaking and tragic that he has waited so long.  Look at that sweet face... so long ago.

Garrett is a boy who's file has fallen through the cracks it seems. His file was prepared in 2009 when it was still very new to bring home a child with Thalassemia from China. Adoptive parents were just beginning to learn about this disorder since it is not very prevalent in the U.S.  Since that time many more families are open to Thalassemia, and more children's files began to be prepared as China learned that these children whose lives depend on blood transfusions to live are "adoptable." Not only are they "adoptable," they are amazingly strong, resilient, and beautiful children who absolutely thrive in families and in countries where they can receive proper care.

Another picture from years ago

But the sad truth is that boys wait longer and the longer they wait, the older they get... which in turn makes them wait even longer. So now Garrett is 10 and he has less than four years left to find a family. When he turns 14 he will no longer be able to be adopted, his chance at a family will be gone forever. And if he is not adopted and stays in China, he will not live long. He would most likely pass away from complications of inadequate care in his late teens or early twenties. Iron is building up in his organs with every blood transfusion and the needed medication to remove that iron is not readily available in China. Adoption is not only his is only chance at a family of his own, but it is his only chance at a long and fulfilling life. 

 

Links to Garrett's videos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE3YnuhK_T4&feature=youtu.be

https://vimeo.com/142335277

https://vimeo.com/142334073

Adoption is much more than "saving" a child. 

It's not about feeding and clothing a child or giving him medical care (although in many cases, that is life-saving). It's not about taking him on trips or watching his joy when he gets his first new bike. 

Adoption is much, much more than that. 

It's about a joy and peace that is unimaginable to us. And often that joy and peace is preceded by chaos, uneasiness, and unknowns. Adoption is about finding a place in your heart you never knew was there. It's about following a calling that seems crazy and unnatural. It's about loss and grieving. But mostly it's about experiencing God's unfailing and unconditional LOVE through this gift we call 'adoption.'  There are no words to capture the magnitude of this blessing. I can't tell you it will always be easy, but I can tell you it will always be worth it.

Please share Garrett's story. Let's not wait until he's about to age out of the system for his family to find him. Pray that his family sees him NOW. He needs to come home.

"There are no unwanted children, just unfound families."

"Adopting 1 child won't change the world....

But for that 1 child, the world will change."

Resources to learn about Thalassemia and raising a child with Thal: 

http://www.thalassemia.org/learn-about-thalassemia/about-thalassemia/

http://choosingthalassemia.blogspot.com/

http://www.nohandsbutours.com/2015/03/17/the-sea-in-our-blood/

http://crazylifeofthewilksfamily.blogspot.com/2013/11/all-about-thalassemia.html

Here is a video of a boy adopted from China with Thalassemia. He has to take a medication through a subcutaneous infusion at night, but some people can take an oral medication. Either way, it all becomes routine:) There is also a strong parent support group for people who have children with Thalassemia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjILWvM4Yvo



Garrett's file is currently on the shared list (meaning any agency can pull it for a family.)

Please contact me if you are interested in seeing Garrett's file. alisondri@hotmail.com