8-year-old Preston was born with several developmental disabilities and ended up in a Ukrainian orphanage at the age of 4.
You may have heard the inspiring story as local Christian believers rallied for Preston’s life back in 2016. On the verge of death, the government transferred him from his orphanage to a mental institution where he was expected to die.
But the local Church refused to allow him to die. They fought for his life and eventually he was released to recover with a foster family.
But now his life is being threatened yet again.
Due to “Ukrainian law, Preston cannot remain in his current living situation”.
“Preston has 6 months to be adopted or he will be returned to the Institution.”
After all Preston has been through, we can’t allow him to be sent back to the institution that almost killed him.
According to the site raising funds for his adoption, Preston has “dyskinetic cerebral palsy, other organic personality and behavioral disorders due to brain disease, damage, and dysfunction, congenital deformity of feet, nystagmus and other irregular eye movements, optic atrophy, and epileptic syndrome.”
He spent the first four years of life with his biological family, but they could not continue to take care of him and he ended up in the “Baby House Orphanage.”
There, it is suspected that severe mistreatment brought him to the edge of death at which point the government transferred Preston to a mental institution where he was left in the “isolation hall” to die.
But local Christian believers heard of his dire situation and rallied to his cause.
“It was a fight. It was a battle I’ll never forget. I remember standing on the sidewalk outside the Isolation Hall. All around us was dark, save the moon above us, the four of us were discussing/arguing about what to do next. We were panicked and knew time was not on our side.”
“In the end, we had to pull connections at the very top of the Ukrainian government to get our boy to the hospital. But, God made the way and to the hospital he went.”
His story quickly went viral and the country rallied for him and “the thousands just like him: forgotten, neglected, deemed unworthy, deemed a waste of time and resources.”
Eventually, he was released from the hospital and went to live with a local Christian foster family where he has been since.
Sadly, he cannot stay there.
Right now the only option for him is to find his forever family somewhere outside of Ukraine.
He has 6 months before he will have to go back to the institution that almost killed him.
A global search is now underway to find Preston his forever family and Christians are being encouraged to share Preston’s story far and wide.
Wide Awake Family, the blog launching this effort, had this to say:
“Here are ways you can help:
1. Share this post far and wide.
2. Donate to Preston’s adoption grant. The donations are tax deductible and help remove the financial burden of the adoption process for the family that chooses him. Donate here.
3. PRAY! God knows and sees our boy. May His will be done.
4. Consider if you could be Preston’s family. Why not you? Do not assume this is someone else’s YES. Maybe this is your YES. Please consider.”
Here at Christian Life Daily, we support these calls to action!
Will you join us and our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world today?
https://wideawakefamily.com/2019/01/07/urgent-family-needed/
https://reecesrainbow.org/126462/preston
