SPECIAL MAMA

When Ben arrived at the orphanage at 3 weeks old, he went to the newborn baby room.  There, one of his caregivers would become his "special mama".  

This woman didn't just take care of Ben, she CARED ABOUT him.  

When Ben needed his open heart surgery when he was 2 years old, she arranged for a priest to go the hospital and give Ben a blessing in order to protect and keep him safe during surgery.

Over the 6 years of Ben at the orphanage, she continually prayed for a family to come forward for Ben.

Even as Ben moved to other groups and other caregivers, she kept a special eye on this little boy.  Ben would often have the freedom to leave his group's room and go and visit his special mama in the baby room.  There she would give him special food and snacks.

The fact that Ben was able to experience this constant and continual love and care from his special mama was such a blessing for him.  It allowed him to feel like he belonged to someone and planted the seed in his heart what the love of a family would feel like.  

Ben being able to attach to his special mama over the past 6 years definitely helped him attach to us.  What we have learned through our foster care experiences is that a baby needs to attach to someone even during those first few weeks of life.  As long as there is bonding with someone, the baby will have an easier time bonding to his new adoptive parents.  So this is exactly what special mama helped Ben do.

Special mama also gave Ben the gift of a Lithuania baptism shawl that she wanted him to take to America with him.  

We are so grateful for the Lord bringing this wonderful woman into Ben's life.  Her love and care for our little boy has helped make him the wonderful child that he is today: bright, funny, loving, and sweet.  

Thank you special mama!

Special mama is the woman to the side of Ben, talking to him and trying to get him to say hi to us.