Orphanage and Finding Spot Visit~

Today was an early day, with lots of driving. We had ~ 3.5 hour drive each way from Fuzhou to Xiamen, where she is from. Sophie was a gem the entire day!  She slept most of the drive and she was so good during the visits and lunch.  First, we had the opportunity to visit the orphanage and the special care room, where she stayed.  This room was so nice.  It can hold about 12 kids max, that require special attention. When she was brought into the orphanage, it was determined she had congenital heart disease and bronchopneumonia.  Once she went to the hospital for her heart surgery, she came back to this room for only 2 weeks.  The nanny said that she recovered from surgery so well and that she was very, very healthy after.  Once the 2 weeks past, she was placed in foster care. Here is her orphanage in Xiamen~

This picture, below, is what they call a " baby island. "  This is where parents can leave their children, in a safe environment, for the orphanage.  This room has heat and air, a bed and an incubator.  Once the parent leaves the child, closes the door, an indicator alerts the orphanage staff within 5 minutes that a child is in the room.  The parent can still leave the child without being caught, as there are no cameras.  This helps to decrease the number of kids left in busy places, hoping to be found.  The orphanage staff said they have taken in 179 kids from the baby island since it opened in January 2014.

Our family in the special care room.

After visiting the orphanage, we had a really nice lunch with the orphanage staff, and then we were off to Sophie's finding spot. This was tough.  I cried. Just 16 months ago, Sophie's birth mom was at this very location.  I kept thinking about this and how hard it must have been for her to leave her beautiful 3 month old baby there. I.can't.imagine. I was also thinking about the day and time she was found- December 28th at 11pm.  She must have been cold. I wonder how long it was before someone found her... Her finding spot was at the Cai Tang bus stop.  This stop was crowded with people, and on a busy street.  It was reassuring to know that her birth mom wanted her to be found, and to be found quickly.

We are so lucky to have her! Although this visit was tough, it was needed. To fill in gaps of her history, and to answer any questions she may have later in life. I am thankful for today's visit.