Baby Logan stole our hearts the moment we met him on February 5, 2013. This sweet child was born in China on September 2, 2012, with a severe craniofacial cleft, cleft palate, and amniotic band deformity. LEAP learned of this tiny orphan through a partner organization in China, and within a month, Dr. Hobar was working on securing a visa to bring him to the United States for complex surgery. At only five months of age, he made the long journey from Beijing to Dallas and within a few weeks underwent the first of three corrective surgeries in 2013. The first included inserting a feeding tube as he was unable to take food by mouth. The latter two were on March 26 and August 27, 2013. Logan has recovered from these surgeries and has been doing well since.
Host mom Pam Newell took him in and set about searching for a forever family to adopt him. She describes him as a happy baby who loves her dogs and squeals with delight whenever Pam’s Chihuahua licks him. He is cuddly and curious and just took his first steps this week!
On September 2, 2013, he celebrated his first birthday with family and friends at home. Pam said that he was so excited before the party that he exhausted himself and had to nap for part of the festivities. There was a wonderful turnout with approximately 70 people celebrating along with Logan.
Several families seemed to be good prospects for adopting Logan, but for one reason or another, they all fell through. Pam, who has been the extraordinarily loving host mom to Logan since he was a tiny baby, is now in the process of adopting him. “I think God just meant for him to stay with me. I’m not sure why that is, but I am loving it, and he is thriving,” says Pam. Logan’s pediatrician is very pleased with his growth and progress. With the feeding tube removed, he eats almost everything and has a mouth full of teeth! He is thriving indeed! At 16 months, Logan already sleeps in a toddler bed and awakens most mornings with a smile on his face. Pam recently decorated his new room and was joined by ten friends who showed up to help. “I am still overwhelmed each day with all of those around me that want to do something for Logan,” says Pam.
Logan will need at least two more major surgeries in the coming year to further reconstruct his eye socket, eyelid, and face. And his LEAP family will be there.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19