I've "known" Mary Kathryn Christiansen almost since I first started blogging. But she recently shared something with me that I hadn't known, and that I want to share with you.
M.K. learned of a sad situation in which orphaned children with birth defects have been kept in terrible circumstances in some Eastern European orphanages. (I'll let her tell you about it). She also learned about a family that adopted one of these children and about organizations that are trying to help.
Coincidentally, about 10 years ago, M.K. wrote a children's story that had aspects with an eerie similarity. She has decided now to use all proceeds from the sale of her book to charities that are helping with the adoption and care of the abused orphans.
Please read on to learn more about it, about M.K.'s book, and how you can help.
M.K., this is like "A Tale of Two Stories," in that
the story line of your book interconnects with a sad-but-true story that you
came upon in the real world. First, tell us a little about your book.
Three Against the Dark is a children’s chapter book about 3 siblings who have just moved to Georgia. In exploring their new house, they discover ways to
travel to two other houses that are portals to other worlds. One world is beautiful, the other evil. They find children in the
evil world who need rescuing, kidnapped children who are hungry, abused,
neglected. The book tells their attempt to help these children escape to
safety, without being caught themselves.
Now tell us about the real life tragedy that you uncovered,
and how it connects with your story.
I wrote Three Against the Dark about ten years
ago. But in 2012 I started reading online about orphans in an institution in an
Eastern European country, who suffer with birth defects like Down Syndrome or
Cerebral Palsy.
The sickest of these children are left in their cribs all day
and all night, on what is called the “baby floor.” Never loved, never taught to
speak or walk. They’re so malnourished that their growth hormone shuts down,
and they are tiny. Some are teenagers but weigh less than 20 pounds. Their
bones are brittle and delicate. The hopeless condition of these children, and
how small they remain for many years, reminded me instantly of the children in my
book, who also are trapped and helpless, abused, and never age in order to
escape their situation.
I read about the Mussers, a U.S. family who adopted a little
girl from this orphanage, and the phenomenal improvement she’s made in just a
year. They tell about their adoption story at The Blessing of Verity,
their blog. Through their blog, I became acquainted with the story of the real
orphans.
You plan to donate all proceeds from sales of your book to
these children - what is the charity you'll be donating to?
Yes. I decided this when I read that these children were
possibly kept this small – starved deliberately – so they would remain tiny,
not be removed from the orphanage, and the institution would continue to
collect its government funds. I was appalled. Families in the United States are
trying to adopt these children, giving them loving, nurturing homes. But
international adoption is expensive. I’ve decided that all profits from the
sale of Three Against the Dark will go to help families adopt
the children from the baby floor at the Pleven Orphanage, until all those
children have homes.
The Mussers regularly hold fund-raisers and online auctions to
raise money for adopting families, and can direct me to the family most in need
of funds for the neediest child. Some of the older children are in danger of
“aging-out” and no longer being available for adoption, so their situation is
dire. Some of these families adopt through About a Child, which
handles international adoptions, or Reece’s Rainbow, which
specializes in Down Syndrome adoptions. I would donate my funds directly to the
family, giving to each family until the final child has come home.
Where can people find out more about the Pleven Orphanage and this sad situation?
Where can people buy your book and read more about you?
Thank
you, Melissa! I hope many people will enjoy my book and help the children at
the Pleven Orphanage.
I hope so too, M.K!
