Simeon
Hello World,
Today I'd like to introduce to a little guy with a big personality. Simeon is five years old and currently lives outside of Beijing, China. Here are a few of the qualities that make Simeon so special:
Simeon is Happy: it's rare to find him without a smile that stretches from ear to ear. Life has not be easy for Simeon. He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and has a myelomeningocele [pronounced my-e-lo-MENING-o-seal]. Myelomeningocele is "a defect of the backbone [spine] and spinal cord. Before birth, the baby's backbone, spinal cord and the structure they float in (spinal canal) do not form or close normally. A myelomeningocele is the most serious form of spina bifida" (source). Simeon's myelomingocele limits ability to use his lower body. Despite all this, Simeon has never allowed these obstacles to impede his joy. His smile is contagious and always readily available. Whether he is playing games or simply enjoying the company of others, Simeon's joy fills the room and spreads to all who know him.
Simeon is a Hard Worker: he is currently learning how to push his own wheelchair. Even less than a year ago this seemed like an impossible feat. Simeon is about the size of a two year old child. Again, his myelomeningocele limits his ability to use his lower body, particularly his lower back and legs. This sounds intimidating, but Simeon has never used it as an excuse not to try his best. Simeon is already cruising in his wheelchair like a natural! He has also shown limited control of movement in his legs; an accomplishment completely unthinkable less than a year ago. God is showing his power through Simeon's impossible accomplishments. Simeon still has a lot of work to do to continue improving his physical stamina and abilities, but nothing is going to stop this tenacious little boy.
Today I'd like to introduce to a little guy with a big personality. Simeon is five years old and currently lives outside of Beijing, China. Here are a few of the qualities that make Simeon so special:
Simeon is Happy: it's rare to find him without a smile that stretches from ear to ear. Life has not be easy for Simeon. He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and has a myelomeningocele [pronounced my-e-lo-MENING-o-seal]. Myelomeningocele is "a defect of the backbone [spine] and spinal cord. Before birth, the baby's backbone, spinal cord and the structure they float in (spinal canal) do not form or close normally. A myelomeningocele is the most serious form of spina bifida" (source). Simeon's myelomingocele limits ability to use his lower body. Despite all this, Simeon has never allowed these obstacles to impede his joy. His smile is contagious and always readily available. Whether he is playing games or simply enjoying the company of others, Simeon's joy fills the room and spreads to all who know him.
Simeon is a Hard Worker: he is currently learning how to push his own wheelchair. Even less than a year ago this seemed like an impossible feat. Simeon is about the size of a two year old child. Again, his myelomeningocele limits his ability to use his lower body, particularly his lower back and legs. This sounds intimidating, but Simeon has never used it as an excuse not to try his best. Simeon is already cruising in his wheelchair like a natural! He has also shown limited control of movement in his legs; an accomplishment completely unthinkable less than a year ago. God is showing his power through Simeon's impossible accomplishments. Simeon still has a lot of work to do to continue improving his physical stamina and abilities, but nothing is going to stop this tenacious little boy.
Simeon is Bright: Simeon understands when spoken to, but he is still working on producing verbal responses. When asked to wheel in a certain direction or to point to a certain object, he usually performs the correct act. To help speed up his spoken language development, his foster home has begun incorporating American Sign Language into his therapy sessions. So far Simeon is doing a great job using the signs to repsond to questions and make requests, and hopefully he will begin to use the spoken language along with signing.
Simeon is a Foodie: It's incredible how much food this child can eat. The first two signs he started using on his own (and the ones he now uses most frequently) were "more" and "food." Whether it's crackers, seaweed, cookies, dumplings, pizza, fruit, or veggies, Simeon never turns down an opportunity to have another snack .
Simeon Deserves a Family: When I first met Simeon in 2013, this sweet little boy couldn't even hold his own head up. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the staff at his foster home, Simeon has been exceeding expectations day in and day out. Simeon is loved and well cared for, but nothing can compare to the love and care that a family could provide. Simeon deserves to grow up in a home with a mother, father, and perhaps some siblings to share in his joy. He deserves a family that will support him and push him to continue to grow and improve. He deserves people who will always be there for him throughout the highs and lows that life will bring. Please pray that 2017 will be the last year Simeon will be an orphan. Help us find Simeon's family by sharing his story with friends, family, or anyone else you know interested in bringing an amazing little boy into their lives!
Simeon is a Foodie: It's incredible how much food this child can eat. The first two signs he started using on his own (and the ones he now uses most frequently) were "more" and "food." Whether it's crackers, seaweed, cookies, dumplings, pizza, fruit, or veggies, Simeon never turns down an opportunity to have another snack .
Simeon Deserves a Family: When I first met Simeon in 2013, this sweet little boy couldn't even hold his own head up. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the staff at his foster home, Simeon has been exceeding expectations day in and day out. Simeon is loved and well cared for, but nothing can compare to the love and care that a family could provide. Simeon deserves to grow up in a home with a mother, father, and perhaps some siblings to share in his joy. He deserves a family that will support him and push him to continue to grow and improve. He deserves people who will always be there for him throughout the highs and lows that life will bring. Please pray that 2017 will be the last year Simeon will be an orphan. Help us find Simeon's family by sharing his story with friends, family, or anyone else you know interested in bringing an amazing little boy into their lives!
Check out this video of Simeon practicing how to manuever in his chair!
For more information on Simeon, please email us at [email protected]