|
Molly has disabilities, but the family who adopts the 5-year-old will be rewarded with many smiles and giggles. |
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Sometimes, when Molly doesn't want to sleep, her foster mother rocks her and sings a lullaby she has created: a medley of "You Are So Beautiful" and "You Are My Sunshine."
In the darkened, peaceful bedroom, Tauwana Greene's soft, lyrical voice soothes Molly to sleep:
And Molly, a 5-year-old girl who loves SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly and going to the beach, has brought joy and happiness to the family, Greene said.
But she's also brought a lot of work.
Molly can't talk, walk or crawl. She is severely disabled.
She uses special equipment to take a bath, to sit up, to swing. Her foster parents mix a special formula of oatmeal, baby food and PediaSure to feed her. Molly requires repeated doctors' visits.
And Greene herself battles a few health conditions.
"I don't know where I'll be in five years," she said, playing with Molly in her Richmond living room. "And it's not fair to Molly "
Greene's heard that older foster children are harder to place in adoptive homes. She knows Molly faces better odds of finding a family if she's adopted now.
"She is such a cutie-pie and so adorable; it would be unfair to keep her and then realize that I can't care for her the way she needs," Greene said. "We know that this is Molly's best chance."
The young girl might not talk, but she knows how to get her point across.
When she's unhappy, Molly's lower lip sticks out in a small pout and she lets out a quiet cry.
But more often, Molly's face lights up with a grin and she giggles.
She laughs when Patrick comes on during SpongeBob; when Greene sings "Itsy Bitsy Spider," when she rolls across the floor to a toy.
Wearing a hot-pink bib embroidered with the words "Spoil Me," Molly seems content to greet visitors, but not overly interested in new people.
At first, Greene said, Molly's new parents will put in a lot of effort and not see the rewards.
But after a little while, Molly will probably begin to recognize her new mom and dad.
She will smile across the room, or wave one skinny arm.
And suddenly all the work will be worth it, Greene said.
Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com
Interested in adopting Molly or any of the other children waiting? Contact Kristy Taylor at Children's Home Society of Virginia at 804/353-0191, To see other children waiting for adoption, |
On any given day, 1,600 Virginia children seek an adoptive family. As of May 1, 13 percent of Virginia's foster children were diagnosed with a disability. The Free Lance-Star joined with the Children's Home Society of Virginia, a private adoption agency offering foster-care services, to spotlight some of these children. First names are used, but no last names are published to protect their identities. The newspaper will periodically feature a Virginia child available for adoption. |
