The following is from a mother travelling August 1996.  She was told that her daughter was from the orphanage in Jingdezhen but I think it is likely that her daughter is really from the orphanage in Leping (see explanation on Leping page).   Her daughter had the surname Le.

We did not get to visit the orphanage. The babies were brought to us at the Jiangxi Hotel about 2 hours (or less) after our arrival. We were told it took them 10 hours by bus because the roads were washed out between Nanchang and Jingdezhen. The children were tired and hungry when we got them. We were told they had been on a milk-based formula and we should buy some in the hotel store -- which we all did. Because of upper respiratory problems and suspected lactose intolerance and lack of vitamins and minerals in the Chinese formula, we all switched over to the soy-based American formula we had brought with us fairly quickly.

The young ladies who brought the babies to us were not the regular aunties taking care of our children -- according to our guide. We really don't know how these women were connected to the orphanage, if at all. We never got to meet the aunties or the orphanage director, Mr. Chen Deming. Although he was in Nanchang at the time we visited Civil Affairs and Notary offices, he did not want to meet us.

Two of the 7 month old babies arrived taking medication for upper respiratory infections. The adoptive parents soon gave up on the Chinese medicines (as it wasn't working) and switched to the general antiboitics they had brought with them. One of the babies responded to them very quickly; the other didn't. Upon return home, it was determined this child had a fungus infection in her nose and throat and is now doing great after the proper antiboitic was given. The child that responded so quickly to the medicine in China was found to be anemic once she got home. She too is now doing great although iron supplements were required.

Rachel had a slight upper respiratory infection but did great with the antiboitic we brought and had no problems traveling home on the planes.

She doesn't seem to be developmentally delayed at all. In fact, at 9 1/2 months she is walking a few steps. She is hitting all the development milestones for a 9 month old (and some for a 10 month old).

She bonded to me more quickly than her father. She would not make eye contact for very long at first. Now she seems to be enjoying everyone and everything! She was very curious about everything right away. She started experiencing what we believe to be sensory overload in Guangzhou (trouble sleeping, not wanting to be put down, general fussiness). Who knows, it may have been a period of grief. Anyway, she is just marvelous and has adjusted wonderfully.

The 19 month old from our group, was still taking a bottle and couldn't walk. In the week we were in Nanchang, she started walking, drinking from a cup and eating everything in sight. She had a skin problem (looked like ringworm) on her back but other than that she was fine.

All 4 children were thin and undernourished. The 3 youngest (7 months) all had what looked like boils on their heads. We were told these were insect bites that the babies had scratched. Whatever it was, it cleared up with Neosporin but where these were there is no hair growing in. All had their heads shaved. They arrived in split pants with no diapers on and they were clean. We were provided their immunization records, so they had all received medical attention.

If you run across anyone who has pictures of this orphanage, please let me know. We would love to have a picture for Rachel to see later on.

Please e-mail me at webmaster@gurrad.com if you have any additional information or if your child is from here and you would like to post a picture here or other contact information.