Jonathan's story is different than most we are familiar with here in the US. His recorded history started when he was found at a bus station by a police officer on August 19, 2008. There was no note – not even one stating his name. The police officer and then the civil authorities hunted in vain for his family. Unable to find any information at all, he was sent to a nearby orphanage. Because every baby needs a name to be registered at the orphanage, the police officer assigned him the name Su Qing, after the town he was found in.

Because little boys aren't usually abandoned in China, extensive medical tests were performed to determine if there was something “wrong” with him. Sure enough, it was quickly discovered that he was completely deaf. The pieces began to fall into place. His age was estimated to be around 8 months, so he was assigned the birth date of March 19, 2008 – exactly eight months before he was found. He was quite healthy and chubby when he was found. His mother probably loved and bonded with him. However, when his parents discovered he was deaf, his father most likely put his foot down and insisted that they couldn't keep him. How it must have broken his mother's heart!

Child abandonment is illegal in China -- quite ironic considering that in most cities, a “one child per family” policy is enforced. (In rural areas, a second child may be allowed.)   Because boys are highly desired, both for their potential to take care of their parents in their old age, and because of social custom, orphanages are overrun with girls and handicapped boys who have been abandoned by their parents.

So Jonathan, fully deaf, has spent two full years in an orphanage.

We have been actively working on adopting from China for 4 1/2 years. Previously a simple and easy country to adopt from, China has become increasingly difficult in assigning children to prospective foreign families. There is a huge wave of American families that wish to adopt these precious unwanted children, but this wave is being met by a wall of bureaucracy that allows only a trickle at a time to actually come and adopt. The average wait for a “healthy” girl is now over 12 years. However, special-needs children take under a year. Last November our hearts were touched when we learned of Jonathan. We requested him quickly and are finally seeing that dream materialize.

The rest of Jonathan's story is going to be a much happier one -- one full of love and caring. His siblings are bubbling with excitement; to welcome Jonathon into our family was a unanimous decision on their part!

Welcome, Jonathan Michael Boling!