Urkaine Bound....

We’re headed for Ukraine! As of last week it became official, I will be joining a team of therapists, and others who are excited about an opportunity to help children who need it the most. A team of therapists from Children’s Therapy TEAM, including 2 physical therapists, 2 occupational therapists, and 2 speech language pathologists, a trip coordinator and an equipment supplier with knowledge of building customized equipment for special needs children, will be leaving for Ukraine on April 10th and returning April 18th. Our mission is to share our knowledge as well as provide supplies for the orphanage caregivers, doctors, hospital staff and parents to help improve the lives and future of special needs children in Ukraine. We will be visiting two orphanages as well as a hospital with a NICU unit, to work with the kiddos and staff. We will also be setting up a clinic at the hospital that will assist parents who have opted to keep their special needs children. We will be providing assessments, developing treatment plans and supplying equipment to those in need.

Typically, children with any kind of disability born in Ukraine are given up at birth to be raised in orphanages. The lack of education and understanding of the needs of special needs children leads to a system and mindset that prevents children from growing and developing, even when they have great potential. Special needs children are separated within the orphanage from other children without disabilities, and are commonly overlooked during adoption proceedings. If a special needs child remains in the orphanage to the age of four, they are moved into an institution. The prognosis for a child moved to the institution is very dire and it is not uncommon for a child to be placed into a crib or bed and have no interaction with other people. The mortality rates of the institutions are very high and the life expectancy of these special needs children is significantly reduced once they are moved to the institution. Our goal is to keep as many children as possible out of these institutions by providing the caregivers and doctors at the orphanages with the training, knowledge, and supplies that are needed to improve the quality of life for these special needs children.

These are a few pictures from the TEAM mission trips over the past few years. To read more about last years trip to Ukraine, please go to Carmen's, Kate's, or Karen's blog. With each trip, the TEAM has seen a transformation in the orphanages as new techniques are implemented and the children’s skills develop. The plan is to continue making these annual trips and help where we can, as well as raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine.

I am so excited to be a part of this TEAM and can’t wait to see what GOD has planned for us. Please pray for our group as we prepare for this trip. I will continue to update with details of the trip along the way, so be sure to check back. Thanks. If you are interested in supporting our mission trip, here's a list of supplies that are needed as well as how to make monetary donations.

• Exercise balls all shapes and sizes
• Small inflatable balls for catching
• String beads
• Pop beads
• Small blocks
• Massage lotions (gentle & fragrance free
• Teethers
• Hardback books with simple pictures and minimal words
• Crib mirrors- unbreakable & washable
• CD's - instrumental, no English language
• Small (used/new) orthotics -feet or hands
• Hand-held massagers
• Preemie sized pacifiers

In addition to the items listed for donation, we will be purchasing specialized items and buying supplies for building specialized equipment to be used in the orphanage and hospital.

Monetary donations are 100% tax deductible.

If you are interested in making a monetary donation: Please make checks out to "New Heights Church" with "Ukraine Trip" in the memo

Donation items or checks may be mailed to or delivered to :

Children's Therapy TEAM

2474 E. Joyce Blvd, STE#2

Fayetteville, AR 72703

479-521-8326

**If you are interested in donating supplies, we have a detailed Wish List Registry at Wal-Mart. To locate the registry on Wal-Mart's website please search by:

First Name: Ukraine

Last Name: Team

Month: April

State: Arkansas