Po Yan, the day Janette first met her.

Po Yan 3 months later

Now Amanda Patricia Po Yan! 3 years later in 1997

Amanda Po Yan, 4 years later in 1999

Amanda Po Yan, 7 years later in 2001

Amanda Po Yan, 2005

Amanda Po Yan, 2006

Amanda Po Yan, again in 2006

Amanda Po Yan, Christmas 2007

A Story of Hope

Po Yan was born to a young Chinese girl in a crowded part of Asia. Her unwed mother and father quickly abandoned the infant to the care of the maternal grandmother, who cared for Po Yan until she was almost four years. Finally, unable to cope with a child with disabilities, she relinquished her to the care of a large children's home.

Tragic as Po Yan's story is, it is not unusual in many parts of the world, and is in fact common. Children with disabilities are often unable to be cared for by their birth families due to lack of social and financial support, superstition, ignorance and prejudice.

However, there is a special place in the world for this child, who has become a symbol of hope in the midst of overwhelming statistics!

Janette first saw Po Yan in mid 1994 when asked to assess her for overseas adoption. Po Yan had a bad fever, and presented with dull sad eyes, a shaven head and thin and weak limbs.

Janette felt a compassion for this child and felt that she would do well in a foster placement. But who would take a 4 year old who had little verbal communication, was unable to crawl or walk, was bottle fed and was assessed at being 9 months development?

After five months of intense family assessment, the Pepalls were approved as a foster family, and brought her home! Po Yan sat in the lounge room of the family home with half closed eyes- the world was a strange, cruel and hostile place that needed to be shut out.

During the first weeks, Po Yan threw day time temper tantrums and woke many times during the night. Wrapping Po Yan in 'swaddling clothes' (she had been used to being restrained at night due to staff shortages at the children's home) and feeding her as frequently as she seemed hungry (she had never experienced second helpings) solved those problems.

However, achieving trust was another issue, and took many months of loving care, a strict schedule, and total acceptance of her differences.

With love and attention this little girl slowly became emotionally responsive and secure. Within 4 weeks she started to crawl, her beautiful smile developed and captivated many with whom she came in contact.

Po Yan's birth country is crowded, a world of stairs, transport systems that do not cater for people with disabilities or the elderly, and little room for a five year old in a stroller!

The Pepalls' carried her up and down stairs, took her hiking in the hills, on ferries, trains and buses, to shopping centers and restaurants. Through this enriched environment, Po Yan grew taller and began to progress developmentally. By aged five, she had progressed to reach her eighteen month mile stones. She began to 'toddle', to reach out and explore her environment. She learnt to say 'mum, dad and no', and was enrolled into a local kindergarten. Receiving physiotherapy and going swimming regularly strengthened those weak limbs.

Meanwhile, an adoption agency in the USA was working to find this special little girl her forever home. Although having many prospective parents on the books, the agency felt that there wasn't a suitable match for Po Yan due to her many needs.

However, Pat and Dennis and their birth children wanted to adopt a Chinese female between 2-6 years with disabilities, and to give a permanent home to a child that may be waiting for a long time.

The American family was told about Po Yan, 'a little girl with disabilities and with an intense need to be loved unconditionally'. After reviewing the information, Pat and Dennis said, 'Yes', they wanted Po Yan to be their seventh child, the others already adults. They fell in love with this beautiful little girl who now interacted with others, had long black curly hair, sparkling eyes and a cheerful personality.

It took 6 months for the paper work to be done, and then Pat flew to collect her new daughter, who became Amanda Particia Po Yan. In the years that followed Amanda's adoption, the family returned to Asia to adopt another two children, both with Down Syndrome.

A Story of Hope! The true story of a little girl who may have lived the rest of her life in care but instead became the symbol of a world wide organisation. Her story is told in many countries of the world, to many people, and it illustrates what love, attention and time can do in the life of a child.