Meet Vanya

  Vanya is a happy, lively 10 year-old Russian boy, who would love to become a permanent part of a family in the Greater Bay Area or Sacramento.  Orphaned at birth due to his special needs, he came to the U.S. in 2003 to receive reconstructive surgery on his face at Shriner's Hospital. Vanya is currently living with a foster family in the Lucas Valley area of San Rafael.  An adoptive family needs to be identified within the next 3-6 months or preparations will need to be made to send Vanya back to the Russian Orphanage where he lived prior to coming to the U.S.

  Vanya learned English quickly and now considers himself an American.  His room is decorated with American flags and his favorite restaurant is McDonald’s (although he orders a salad instead of a kid’s meal.)  However, he is quick to point out that Russia is the largest country in the world and expects those who speak Russian to him speak it flawlessly! 
  Vanya does well in a family setting - obeying rules, doing chores, showing kindness to other children.  He is affectionate and engaging.  He takes care of himself and his room, is neat and organized.  His favorite toy is his new erector set. He is very curious and asks lots of questions about the way things work.  Vanya is a joy to spend time with and loves to help in all aspects of family life.  He is the hardest working boy those who know him have ever met.
  Vanya loves music--singing and playing instruments.  He is enraptured by musical performances.   He loves books about helicopters, planes, firemen, Donald Duck, Goofy and policemen.  He also enjoys quiet activities like playing "house”, going to the library and building things with Legos, K'Nex, blocks and his erector set.
   Vanya loves all kinds of sports and is on a swim team.  He is a natural athlete, who learned how to swim in 3 weeks. He now competes in freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke. He even learned how to ride a bike and shoot baskets in one afternoon!  He can hit a baseball and loves learning new sports.  He attended a weeklong soccer camp this past summer and enjoyed playing with the kids his own age.
  Vanya’s intelligence shines through in his curiosity and questions about the natural world and mechanics.  Due to his multiple surgeries, he just started formal schooling.  It is unknown if Vanya has learning disabilities.   He has been tested and evaluated by the Dixie School District in San Rafael and is not thought to be retarded, but developmentally delayed, due to lack of instruction.  He is enrolled in second grade in a special day class and has an I.E.P. (individual education plan.) Vanya is currently receiving speech therapy and undergoing further evaluations of his hearing and vision, so that the best learning environment can be provided.
  According to the doctors at Shriner’s Hospital, Vanya is in good overall health and his facial deformities (eye, ear, teeth) require only cosmetic surgery and orthodontia.  He is visually blind in one eye, has a speech impediment due to a cleft palate and is hearing impaired (due to lack of one ear.)    Vanya has adapted extremely well and does not consider himself limited or lacking in any way.
  Vanya responds very well to positive parenting: clear rules and consequences with rewards for good behavior.  He is very eager to please and loves praise. He is progressing very well at home and at school.  Those who know him have learned not to limit expectations of him because he keeps exceeding them.