Seeking Rainbows: Danil

A Beautiful Rainbow: Danil



A beautiful ring



A beautiful child

Two beauties. Which one matters more?

The first is my engagement ring. I picked it out myself.  You see, when my husband planned to propose, he had this grand scheme in his head of how he would do so.

Instead, one night, he was overcome with emotion, and asked me right then and there. He wasn't prepared, he didn't have the ring. But that night, during that proposal, he said he saw me as a wife, and, more importantly, as the mother of his future children.

Three weeks later we went to the store together. When I saw this ring, I knew it was MY ring.

Fast forward. Seven years later. Three children later.

I see this boy's face. This beautiful child. And I know, he's MY child.  Others may not understand. I may not get the opportunity to raise this child in my house. I may not ever have the chance to meet him, to hug him, to tuck him in at night.  I did not give birth to him, and I don't live anywhere close to him. But I love him, in the same way that I love my three boys that do get my attention, my hugs, my goodnight kisses.

This boy, Danil, is very near the end of his short life. His birthday is quickly approaching. He lives in an orphanage in eastern Europe, and he has Down Syndrome. When he reaches his next birthday (in just a few weeks), he is scheduled to be transferred to an institution. Not because he is sickly. He's healthy.  Not because he is dangerous. He's a lively, typical four-year-old.

Nope. He's being transferred because the orphanage is full. And when you live as a disabled orphan (his disability strictly being Down Syndrome, something that many American children and adults live with, and thrive), you are deemed as an unfit for society.

So, he'll be sent to an institution. An institution that no child has ever been adopted from. Eventually, he will reach adulthood and be transferred to his final institution for life. There is no other alternative available; that is, unless you count the more likely scenario, which is death. Death comes to these children quickly. When you are four, and you don't have someone to tuck you in at night, to give you proper nutrition, to sing or talk to you, it is easy to lose the will to live. So most do, often within months or even weeks of transfer.

Suddenly, I look at my ring, my beautiful emerald cut diamonds, the pretty white gold, the classic yet modern appearance, and it doesn't matter to me. It means nothing.

The proposal? "I see you as a mother." That is what matters.  Not the ring that was placed on my finger shortly thereafter.

So I pray. I pray that you will care about Danil enough to do whatever it takes to save him.  I pray that you love my ring; that you say, "Yeah, shine that baby up, and that is one beautiful ring!"

I'm hoping the ring entices you to give. I'm hoping we can raise enough money for a full grant in Danil's name. I'm praying that his family comes forward in these next two weeks, that his family says, "Let me bring him home." That the money is there, ready and waiting, so that the ophanage will see that Danil is wanted so badly. That he doesn't need to be sent away. That he can stay, just a bit longer, and his family can come rescue him.

And that is the point of this very long-winded post.

From now through October 31st, I am asking that you open your heart and your wallets, and you donate to save Danil; I'm calling it Danil's Last Hope.  For every dollar you contribute, your name will be entered into a drawing. On or about November 1st, I will take every contest entry and choose a random winner from those names; the winner will receive my ring!  It just so happens that I have a very good friend who works with jewelry for a living; she is preparing the paperwork and shining it up to make it a nice, sparkly new ring for you. (Thank you, Stephanie, for donating your time and talent!)

 

All donations will go directly to a grant set up by Reece's Rainbow under Danil's name (click to view; he is in Orphanage 17.) While I hope you are motivated to contribute in order to save Danil's life, I am happy to part with my beloved ring to entice you to give all that you can.  By the way, the donation IS tax deductible.

My three year old son happily volunteered to model the ring for the picture!

I'm asking for EVERYONE to put forth a last ditch effort to save this little boy.  This is not "supporting a cause", this is to save a child's life.  To donate, please use the ChipIn button below. All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE. If you would prefer not to make your donation online, but would still like to contribute, please email me directly at fivethousandfootsteps@gmail.com   Please note in the subject that the donation is for Danil's Last Hope.  I will email you information on how to donate directly through Reece's Rainbow.

Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't
know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows
that we know, and hold us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12

Please spread the word, and donate today!  You may donate as often as you'd like between now and the end of October.  I will contact the winner of the ring through email on or around November 1st. Remember, EVERY DOLLAR IS WORTH ONE ENTRY TO THE GIVEAWAY!

NOTE: If anything should happen to Danil, and this money is no longer able to be granted in his name, all monies raised will be used instead to support the adoption of other children, through Reece's Rainbow facing similar situations.

ANOTHER NOTE: The ring giveaway is a private donation. Reece's Rainbow, ChipIn, PayPal, and Blogger are not responsible for the giveaway.  Any legal mumbo jumbo for receiving a valuable donation applies here, and is your responsibility to figure out on your own.