A Project for Yixing

I am, after finally getting all of my ducks in a row, in the process of raising money for an incubator for the orphanage our Emma Mei Yi Shan is from. They are the ones who gave her the name Yi Shan, which means beautiful coral. We think it fits our girl pretty well!

While we were there in China to adopt her, we had asked the vice-director of the orphanage if there was anything that the orphanage specifically needed. The answer was that they need an incubator for when they have the little babies come to them. She knew that it was a big request, but it was really the only thing that they needed right now. I told her that our family could not provide the incubator on our own, but I promised that I would do my best to see if we could raise the money to get them one.

This project struck really close to my heart as Katelyn was a 28-week preemie, and the incubator is what kept her alive and warm until she was able to keep her own body heat.  It also struck me as there was a pretty small baby who had just come to the orphanage the day or the day before we visited.  I wonder if they could have benefited in some way.  

The cost is about $1,400. I believe if we all donate what little we can, that the money can be raised fairly quickly.  I have already posted to our orphanage Yahoo group about the incubator, and so far two other families have donated.  

I am working with Ming, the China coordinator at our agency to communicate with the orphanage and to have the incubator bought in China and delivered to them once the funds have been raised.  We will then receive pictures of the incubator once the orphanage has received it.  Ming has also made contact with the orphanage and confirmed for us that they still need it and the cost.  

My desire in doing this project is twofold:  to give back to help the children who are still there in the Yixing SWI, and to show our gratitude to them for their care of our daughter until we were able to bring her home. The children that we met while we were there are very special to us, and I know that I would find a home for every one of them if I could. They are still a huge part of our lives and our Emma Mei Yi Shan's life. 

If you would like to donate to this, there is a link which you may have already noticed in the side bar to donate via ChipIn which is a free service to assist in raising funds for things such as this.  It will send you to Paypal and the money will come directly to my account.  I will send the money to Ming as soon as we raise the entire amount.  The deadline is for May 30th, but I believe we can raise it much quicker than that!