Single parent special needs adoption: Single Parents Adoption Group Discussion Topic

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Single parent special needs adoption

Posted by jtwinkle,http://www.jkpadopt.yolasite.com to Single Parents on Apr 25, 2012 at 1:42am | 2 Comments | Post a reply

Question: Has anyone in this group adopted a special needs baby with any of the following conditions?

1. Mild cognitive/mental disabilities
2. At risk for inheritable mental illness from 1 or both EP. Do you recommend without a health field background?
3.Significant heavy use of drugs and/or alcohol by EP
(cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, nicotene,caffeine, opium, heroin, qualudes, meth. Specifically, how long did it take your child to start to develope within normal ranges?
4. Correctable medical issues such as cleft palate, club foot, etc.

Did you make specific preparations ahead of time? If so, what were they? If not, what do you wish you had done ahead of time?

What age did you bring your baby home and does this make a difference? For example, from 6 days as opposed to 6 weeks?

Any other issues.

What are your challenges? What are your joys? Do you ever feel that you are in over your head?

Are these babies best left to stay at home adoptive mothers? LOL

Do you have any particular problems getting and paying for health care for your baby?

Are special needs children a viable adoption option for a single parent, especially in terms of time management?

Yes, I am guilty about not knowing more about special needs children-for that I apologize. For the past two or three weeks, though, I’ve been reading so many articles and posts about special needs adoption that I’m falling asleep at my computer.

Many thanks to those of you with experience who respond.

Replies

I’d like to answer you but it’s not clear to me (been a long day) as to what you are looking for? Is this a situation you’ve been presented? Is an EP meeting all of the mentioned characteristics? Where do you live? Are you near a major children’s hospital? Where is the baby being born?

Posted by singlewannaadopt on Apr 25, 2012 at 3:27am

Wow - lots of questions!
I adopted my daughter from Vietnam in 2006 as a single mom. She was extremely malnourished and had Hepatitis B. I had many people doubt my decision to adopt her but I did my research, checked with the adoption doctors at the children’s hospital in Houston for their input and went for it. It was the best thing I ever did .
It is important to know what you are getting into to make sure you can financially handle it as well as the extra time involved. Kate sees a specialist every 6 months, has blood work every 6 months and ultrasound each year. It can be costly but I have insurance that covers the disease (of course that is something to consider when looking at the special need) we also travel over three hours for her appointment-but have made it into a great mom and daughter day! Right now Kate is not suffering from her disease but with time - well we just don’t know - added costs can arise for treatment if/when we get to that point but we will deal with it when we get there.
Kate came home at the age of two after living her first years in a special needs orphanage. She did remarkably well emotionally and socially. She easily formed strong attachments immediately and began speaking and understanding English quickly. There were other special needs children in
Our group - cleft lip and palette and they did just as well and all of our kids quickly met up and/ or exceeded their peers in all areas.
Special needs is an amazing way to add to your family and I commend you for looking into it - it’s not for everyone and thats okay - be sure in your decision, do the research, be reasonable with what you can and can’t handle, get a support group and go with what is in your heart.
Hope this helps
A little.

Jenni - mom to Kate ThuNgaThi

Posted by Jennishoe on Apr 25, 2012 at 6:16am