Little Hero Spotlights
Get to Know A Few Of The Little Heroes We Have Helped Across the Globe
Jack
Jack was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism at age 2. He is a very sweet boy and never hits or bullies other kids. He has a big heart and is a happy little guy. He tends to make friends wherever he goes and is gaining better social skills every day.
"[Being a part of] Friday's Kids Respite has helped Jack to become more social," said his parents. "He loves to meet the new volunteers every week and can't wait to go. It is a challenge to have a child with special needs, but when the community offers programs such as this, we feel appreciated and hopeful."
The Little Heroes Foundation has helped children like Jack have a safe place to play and to be taken care of so that his parents do not have to worry and can enjoy a night to themselves.Longolongole
Longolongole
is five years old and lives in an orphan home in Naibor, Kenya. He was
abandoned by his parents as a toddler and left with distant, abusive
relatives. He came to the home malnourished and very distraught. There
are seven other children Longolongole's age that he lives with and he
considers them his family. Those children are constantly playing games
and chasing chickens in the yard.Longolongole's drawing, "Hero," is a picture of his caretaker and his new home (pictured here).
The Little Heroes Foundation helps children like Longolongole receive an education and a hope for his future despite his difficult past.
Rebecca
Rebecca
was international adoption number 19 from the Starfish Foster Home in
Xi'an, China. After her adoption, she moved with her new family to live
in the United States. She has adjusted very well to her new home in the
U.S. and loves her new siblings and parents.
Recently Rebecca started Kindergarten. She loves to learn and is very excited about learning to read. She loves having ties to her homeland of China and the Starfish Home. Because of this, Rebecca chose to wear her starfish shirt on the first day of school (pictured here).
The Little
Heroes Foundation supports children like Rebecca at the Starfish Foster
Home with diapers, food and hygiene supplies before they are adopted.
Jaidyn
Shortly
after birth, Jaidyn was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. Due
to swallowing difficulties and problems with aspiration she has had a
feeding tube since she was born. These complications have made it
hard for Jaidyn's parents to ever leave her with a regular babysitter.
The Little Heroes Foundation has helped Friday's Kids Respite making it possible for children like Jaidyn to have a safe place to play and receive needed care while their parents can enjoy a night to themselves.
Jaidyn's parents are grateful to know she has a place to go where she fits in and is accepted. "Her quiet, shy personality changes the instant we walk through the doors to drop her off," said her parents. "Out comes a confident little girl telling us in her own way that 'this is my place and I love coming here.'"
Kennedy
"I
have always dreamed of being a carpenter," says 18-year-old Kennedy
Kiiru. "I believe I can be a very good mason and maybe one day I would
become a contractor. I wish to be a reliable person in the future who
will be able to assist my family, whatever the cost."
Kennedy lives in Timau, Kenya at the HALO orphanage along with 27 other boys. When he was only five years old, his mother was diagnosed with cancer and became paralyzed. Kennedy was unable to attend school because he had to begin working to support his mother and siblings. Since being placed in the Timau Home, Kennedy has been a role model for the other boys. He is a natural caretaker and a humble example to others.
With the help of the Little Heroes Foundation, Kennedy received a scholarship and is now enrolled in carpentry school.
Jenna
"We
were at our wits end when our daughter developed serious behavioral and
emotional problems," said parents of teenage Jenna. She began attending
the West Ridge Academy where she learned strategies to cope with her
problems. After a few months of being at the Academy, Jenna began
singing and swimming again - both things she loves to do.
Jenna recently graduated from the academy, got certified as a lifeguard and loves school. She admits she still has hard days but now feels equipped to deal with her emotions.
The Little Heroes Foundation has helped to provide character development and addiction treatment programs to help struggling youth like Jenna in creating a brighter future for themselves.
Cameron
Cameron
is 9 years old. He was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration at the age
of 6. In the following two years, Cameron's vision went from 20/50 to
20/800 making him legally blind. Cameron is a hero in every way and does
not let anything get in his way. He loves to go ATV riding, fishing,
horseback riding, hiking, but one of his favorite things to do is
pretend he's Harry Potter.
Football and basketball are his favorite sports and Cameron attends the Little Heroes Basketball Camp every year. This year he enjoyed meeting BYU basketball player Brandon Davies (pictured).
John
With
his mom in jail and his dad disowning him, the teenage John had nowhere
to go. He struggled with feelling that there was any hope for his
future. John was sent to West Ridge Academy and was given the opportunity to attend school, participate in extracurricular activities and learn to cope with his new life. Because of the help he received, John graduated from high school, earned his Eagle Scout award, holds a consistent job and has positive plans for his future.
Little Heroes helps to give youth like John the necessary resources to succeed in life and have hope in the future, despite their past.
Artem
At
two years old, Artem was struggling with jaundice and in serious need
of a liver transplant in an old hopsital on the outskirts of Russia. To
make a long, miraculous story short, under the care of Dr. Igor
Cojocaru, Artem underwent a life-saving liver transplant in Moscow.
Little Heroes had the privilege to be part of the coordination and
funding for Artem's operation.
Artem is now a happy, healthy five year old living with his mother, Ludmilla, in Russia.
