31 for 21: Reece's Rainbow's Yulia

Reece's Rainbow provides awareness about the plight of orphans with special needs in so many countries. Over the last few years since RR has been in existence, 130 children have come home to their forever families. And there are MANY more children whose families are in the process of bringing them home.

Yet, it remains a shame that the governments have set up so many obstacles and requirements for families who would like to adopt. There are countless orphans in orphanages and institutions in the world, but the governments are more concerned about seeing if the family is "qualified to parent" these children, than just bringing them home.

Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand why these requirements are there. Because there are jerks who would not be bringing home these children for the best interest of the child. But, it is sad, that because of those kinds of people, there have to be all these rules, which make it so much harder for those who actually are adopting for the love of the child and in the best interest of the child.

So, because of these rules and requirements, international adoption in particular is crazily expensive. Many families who are adopting have to do a lot of fundraising to be able to pay the expenses.

Over the years of watching various blogs in the RR adoption world and group, I've seen several amazing fundraisers.

Last November, an 11 year old girl named Lydia, asked her mom if she could raise $20K by Thanksgiving (8 days), if they would bring home a little girl from the Ukraine named Darya. Her mom said yes. And so, by Thanksgiving, Lydia had raised $28,500. She did a lot in those 8 days to raise the money and she did it! It was simply amazing.

Lydia's family ended up not being able to bring Darya home for various reasons, but because Lydia was able to raise $28K, Darya's family is currently in her country completing the adoption process.

This past week another family decided to raise awareness about a little 2 year old girl, Yulia, in Eastern Europe.

Yulia has a very rare syndrome called Cockayne Syndrome, which causes premature aging, impaired development and so on. Typically these children die at a young age. Yulia is in an orphanage where she is left in a crib most of the time, rarely taken out to see the light of day. And so, this family, decided to advocate for Yulia to get a sizeable grant available for her adoption. They gave away an Apple iPad and within 5 days had raised $20,000 for Yulia's adoption grant.

Now, all Yulia is waiting for, is a family, as her adoption is almost fully funded.