My husband Luke and I have desired to adopt multiple children for a long time. In December of last year, we brought our little girl Lexy home from Bulgaria. Lexy was born blind; I (Ashley) am also blind from birth. We have a heart for special needs children, particularly those who are blind. We feel that with my blindness, we are especially equipped to teach through and empathize with blindness related issues and struggles. A few months ago, some good friends of ours sent us the profile of a little boy named Ivan, also from Bulgaria. Ivan is only 7 years old, but has experienced quite a lot in his short life. He was born blind and has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He can walk, but requires assistance or a walker. He has lived in multiple orphanages. When we learned about him, we knew if we could do something, we needed to pursue him. We couldn't just leave him where he was. We are committed to Ivan; we know that given his age and challenges, it will be a big transition for all 4 of us. It will take time and patience, but we know it will be worth it. We are doing all we can to raise the needed support from personal fund raising, donating plasma, applying for grants and setting up restaurant nights. We hope that you will consider being a part of our efforts. We know there are many profiles and there are so many deserving families out there. Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and consider us!
