I have recently received some information from various friends in adoption groups whose children have had kidney problems. It appears that if you are an adoptive parent who came home with your child as far back as 2005 and they have had any bladder/kidney problems then or even in the future it could be related to the tainted milk that has now been discovered in China.
Please go to the
World Health Organization to get more information, and;
Here is an
article referenced by Love Without Boundaries from the Center for Adoption Medicine. Discuss with your pediatrician to see if any tests should be done if you notice symptoms even if you have been home for a few years!
Letter from WACAP
From WACAP adoption agency:
Subject: Important Recommendation from American Academy of Pediatrics for China Adoptive Families
Dear Families,
In recent months you've most likely heard about the infant formula tainted with Melamine in China. According to reports from China,this tainted formula has resulted in some babies developing kidney stones,and in a few extreme cases, experiencing kidney failure. I know we are all saddened by this situation, and by the suffering of Chinese children and their families.We are writing today to advise you that WACAP recently has heard from three families whose children were diagnosed with kidney stones. Two of these children joined their families as early as 2005. WACAP immediately contacted Dr. Dana Johnson, an adoptive medicine specialist at the University of Minnesota's International Adoption Medical Clinic, to seek a recommendation for families who've adopted from China. Dr Johnson consulted with the section on Adoption and Foster Care of the American Academy of Pediatrics and advised us of the following: "...the consensus is to do urinalysis and BUN/Creat on all children adopted from China from 2005 onward and if abnormal,get a renal ultrasound."We know this information comes as a surprise and may be upsetting.We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and advise you of any further recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. As we continue to place many children from China, especially children with special needs, we will continue to be in contact with the CCAA as well regarding this issue.We are sending this e-mail to all families who have adopted from China since January 2005 for whom we have an e-mail address. If you know of other families that may benefit from this information, please feel free to forward this on.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth Rose and the WACAP team
At the church preschool that I run we have been taking care of 5 Monarch caterpillars for several weeks. Last week they all made their chrysalis and I was so hoping that they would hatch before Thanksgiving break but they didn't. I brought them home with me yesterday and this morning right in front of my eyes this beautiful creature emerged. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! Only God could design such a magnificent process. She (yes she is a female) will migrate to California since she is a late hatching Monarch. I hope she survives the long trip ahead of her!
