SO here is a quick recap of Sealey's summer, so far, in photos. If you're not sure what is going on, go HERE !
The goal, in a nutshell, is to get Sealey SEEN by as many people as possible, so he can find his forever family.
I have sent Sealey's photo to many places around the USA - and even to Canada - and I have had several people take and post pictures of "Sealey" -during the month of August I held a contest for the best picture.
Here is the winner of August's $100 contest - not only did she take and post photos, she also wrote a little about them, too - as did several people - I have posted what she wrote directly below the photo.
"This Elephant Ear plant was a seasonal plant in uptown Charlotte when I worked at Starbucks. Each season the landscapers would take all of the plants out of the Uptown planters and throw them away and put in new seasonal plants.
I ran out the front door one Saturday with my green apron on and said WAIT! Can I have that one! The person said sure, dropped it and walked away. I put it in a trash bag outside, with a sign NOT TRASH, and was so excited, yet when my shift was over I was so eager to get off work and so tired I forgot it!
We drove back that night, it was still there, and I picked it up, my dog was riding with me and trampled it in the back seat! I took it home and planted it in a rubbermaid tote in our office. That house was FREEZING in the winter, and musty and moldy.
Several times I thought it was rotting but it was just going down for the season and then being reborn.
We moved and I took it with us and planted it in our small new backyard. every time it got crowded and had new growths, I split it.
Every winter it would dissappear, and then reappear big and green and BEAUTIFUL!
People said you cant keep elephant ears outside in this state, they won't survive, you have to bring them inside and dig them up, they are tropical!
Well I never have, and this plant is the most resilient and beautiful plant I have ever met.
All I have done is love it, and water it, and give it the shade it likes, and let it GROW and THRIVE! Now, from that one plant that was TRASH, I have over 20 of these inside and outside of my house.
Sealey is resilient, and Sealey could THRIVE! Who will say, WAIT! Can I have that one?! for SEALEY ?"
The same person also posted the following pictures.
"My cat, Purrscilla, took quite an interest in Sealey the other day. ... I wish Sealey had a home with pets who could love him unconditionally. : ) "
"I kept wanting to take Sealey somewhere and take photos for #Sealey2017 but I haven't been anywhere except work and home. I decided to take him out to the backyard! These pumpkins grew by accident because I left a pumpkin outside and it rotted last fall. : ) Now 90% of our tiny yard is pumpkin patch. I think Sealey could really thrive with some sun, stimulation, medical attention, therapy, nutrition, and LOVE"
"I put Sealey in the butterfly bush with the butterflies"
"I wish I could take Sealey outside in the sun and let him see the birds and butterflies and bees and flowers. I pray that one day he has a home and family where he can go outside every day and see beautiful things and feel the sun and breathe the fresh air. : )"
Others did the same thing, taking photos of Sealey with their children, at home or on trips.
Sealey needs an adoptive family who will take him on family days to the bay! Please share his need for a family.
See the picture of the little boy on the seesaw with my kids? That's Sealey. He is my birthday buddy and will be 13 years old this year. He has spent his whole life in that crib. I know some of you probably would rather not think about that...why? Because it's uncomfortable. But you know what? Sealey is uncomfortable. He deserves a family. Please share this post. Sealey is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. He needs someone to see him so he doesn't die alone.
Sealey is on my mind often. He is exactly 15 years younger than me. I will be 28 this year. He will be 13. All I can think about is that in this picture, my 3 month old has seen more love and care in her life than Sealey has had in his whole life. Yet he is a fighter. he has to be or he wouldn't survive where he is at. People that have adopted severely neglected children from his country believe he must respond and be able to eat as no special equipment appears to be used for him. I think he could possibly make great progress in a family. Who will give him a chance?
Do you see the picture of the orphan? He's never had a family dinner! If anyone wants to know more about how to adopt a special needs orphan message me.
Sealey chilling on the couch with Hannah! See Sealey! Where is his mama??
Little Vlad is chilling in the AC on the couch watching TV with his brothers and sisters today. See that photo next to him? That's Sealey!
Sealey is still waiting in a crib like little Vlad used to. He is in a different institution, but it's the same life. There is no air conditioning in summer. There's no TV. There's not even a chance to leave that crib. A summer afternoon that has half of my kids complaining of boredom is more excitement than Sealey ever gets.
BUT Sealey is available for adoption! He could have an awesome life with brothers and sisters who whine (or don't whine, if your kids are better behaved than mine 
;) ) and a mama and papa who love him! You can click the link below to view his profile on RR. He is eligible for up to a $10,000 grant depending on available funding for the Other Angel Older Child Grant. If you have questions about adopting a child like Sealey or like my former bedridden kids, I am happy to chat!
In this picture, Sealey is Ukraine bound, with an adoptive family in the process of adopting their newest daughter !!
This lady doesn't get out much, so she took photos of Sealey around her home.
Do you see him ? He got to ride all over on a school bus !!
The next group of pictures are particularly poignant for me. For ten summers I worked at a summer camp for disabled children - many of them with cerebral palsy, just like Sealey. We spent our days at camp doing all the normal camp activities - swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, singing, playing and hanging out by the pool or at the camp fire. This past weekend I went back to visit the camp for a staff reunion - 22 years after I last worked there. I took Sealey's picture with me, and tried to imagine him being there, as a camper, instead of him spending his days in a crib. It could happen - if he is adopted, he could have the same camp experiences as any other child.
Lastly, here are the photos I took on our road trip this past July, when my son and I attended the Reece's Rainbow family reunion - we spent a week surrounded by children adopted from orphanages and institutions - children who once lived like Sealey, children who are now part of a loving family.
In the photos above, Sealey can be seen as part of a family - whether he's playing in the backyard, relaxing inside, enjoying a meal, going to the beach, traveling on vacation or going to camp. If Sealey had been born in a different country, he would be able to enjoy all the daily activities that we take for granted. As it is, he spends his days laying in a crib, abused and neglected. He NEEDS a family - without one, he just will not survive.
My wish for Sealey is for someone to see him and rescue him before it is too late. He doesn't need a perfect family, he needs a family that will love him, cherish him, care for him and help him thrive. Are YOU his family ? Please click on his name below to read more about Sealey !!
If YOU would like to join in the fun - and possibly win $100 by Sealey's birthday in October - read my post at THIS LINK - I'd love to send his photo to you !!
