Drew and the Place God Forgot

The Place God Forgot.  That’s what the locals call an orphanage in Eastern Europe.  Its a place a little boy lives.  A little boy who wants to be a firefighter and help people, to save them–never hurt them.  In his interview those are his words.  He’s a little boy who’s never known the love of a family, but has friends…he had friends anyway, before he was moved to “The Place God Forgot”.  From an adoptive mother who spent some time at that orphanage, let me paint you a picture of what that place is like. Get out your Kleenex.

You enter the orphanage and you see beautiful children who all struggle with their mobility.  Some can walk with a walker, others require a wheelchair. The kids are seven and up, but they look a lot younger than that.  A boy comes in.  Blonde hair, blue eyes.  He struggles to walk, almost looks like he’s tripping with each step, but he gives you a warm smile. You smile. His smile lights up  his innocent face.  You hear crying from the bedrooms. It continues.  You know a nurse is back there and she’s taking care of it. Crying continues.   Finally, after 10 minutes (but what feels like an eternity) you go investigate.  The nurse  is indeed back in the bedrooms, but she’s not taking care of it.  A little girl with cerebral palsy has fallen onto the floor and can’t lift herself up.  You gently lift the child and put her back in her chair and leave the room.  The nurse is silent. You return to your seat.  You watch as the blonde haired boy speaks out of turn, a nurse punishes him with severe slap to the head, his eyes start to water, but he doesn’t dare cry.  Later your child will tell you the other forms of punishment…immobile children are left in very hot baths…occasionally they are left outside in the dark and the cold, alone.  You are saddened, but not surprised. You recall all the sweet faces and longing eyes you saw at the orphanage.  The ones who weren’t adopted.

This is Drew.  Before he was moved to his current orphanage, he lived in the orphanage where this video was taken.  He didn’t have a family, but he felt loved. This is his video from before his move. Before he moved to “The Place God Forgot”.

Woman: How old are you.    Drew: 5, no 7 Woman: do you go to school yet? Drew: not yet Woman: do you go to lessons? Drew: yes Woman: what do you do there? Drew: We do gym. We do the exercises they show us. We also sing. Woman: Do you know how to draw? Drew: Yes Woman: do you do crafts? Drew: Shakes his head yes. Woman: (Asks if that craft was done by him) Drew: Yes Woman: what is this craft made out of? Drew: its made from little rocks Woman: what else do you like to do during your lessons? Drew: we play with cars. Also many different types of crafts Woman: *she asks him to say a verse* Drew: *Begins to say a poem in Ukrainian* Woman: do you have any friends who you play with? Drew: I have little Nikita, Dennis, and Oleg Woman: What do you like to play? Drew: All of us are always playing, telling stories, show each other toys. I show them toys and they ask me “what kind of toy is that?” “what is the name of that toy?” My friends are always around me, they never leave. When my sister comes they run from me but then I run after them and I go find Oleg. I want to become a firefighter! I want to save people, I don’t want them to get burned I will always help them, I will never hurt them.

Drew currently is available for adoption and  Reece’s Rainbow is helping raise grant money on his behalf.

If you feel so inclined to help Drew be adopted, here’s his link.  http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=drew

Can you imagine the look on Drew’s face when his parents find him and come to take him home. One day he will get to be loved, he will get to be freed… Oh, if I could be there. If I could be in “The Place God Forgot” for that moment…it would be Heaven.

To learn more about helping orphaned children with disabilities, please visit Reecesrainbow.com

**This is a modified blog post, the original stated that Drew had a family coming for him, and sadly this family wasn’t able to due to paperwork issues.  He is still available for adoption and desperately needs a home.