Karen’s love and passion for the children LWB helps can be felt in every conversation. She is a wife and mother who gave up 
a successful career in computer science to devote herself to her family. Karen Explains, “I went to school and majored in computer science, because I was good at it, but it wasn’t exceptionally meaningful to me. It was a job,” Karen says. She continues, “After our second child was born, I quit work to stay at home to be a mom it was the most wonderful thing that I could have ever done. I loved the time that I had with my children.”
Her decision to join LWB was in part influenced by a neighbor early in her life. “One of the events that touched me the most growing up was the family who lived across the street who adopted a child from Korea. Watching her adoption touched me deeply,” she added. She continued about her decision to adopt. “When the younger of first started kindergarten, I knew that I wasn’t ready to be done and the visions of adoption came back into my head. At first my husband said “no”. As I showed him photo after photo of waiting children, he relented.” She continued, “I researched many different countries, but for a number of reasons, we were drawn to China. We started our paperwork and a year later, we were in China receiving our beautiful 2 ½ year old daughter. It was the most incredible experience being in a conference room with 11 other families all receiving our children at the same time.” The Love for her husband radiates from her next statement. “While we were in China, my husband turned to me and said that this was the best thing that we had ever done and he would do it again.”
Karen took up her husband up on his offer to adopt once more and less than two years later they traveled back to China to adopt again. Unlike with their first daughter the orphanage where their second daughter had been raised was much closer and they were able visit. They were overwhelmed by all the lovely toddlers reaching up and wanting to be held and comforted. The image of all those children in need of a home stayed with Karen, “I often thought of those children left behind but knew that our family was done. How could I help?” she thought to herself.
Karen and her husband did not adopt again because she believed that there was more she could do in other ways as well. As she watched the Yahoo! list of parents adopting children from China she noticed a woman who had adopted a child a year earlier. Karen followed her blog and watch as she traveled back to China to visit her daughter’s orphanage. “It was hard not to see the parallels between hers and the experiences of Amy Eldridge.” Karen said, “Later that year, I saw that she had formed a nonprofit and soon learned her story. While visiting her daughter’s orphanage, she had seen a very blue baby dying of heart disease. When she asked when the baby would have his surgery, she was told that there was no money and he was going to die. Amy prayed and began to ask family, friends and adoption community for fund to save this baby. She was overwhelmed by the volume of donations and soon had enough to heal three children. Amy Formed Love Without Boundaries (LWB) an all volunteer charity that put children first. In 2009 CharityNavigator.org gave LWB its highest rating of 4 Stars.
Karen made contact with the then medical director of LWB as he had a daughter from the same orphanage from where her first adopted daughter was born. He and Amy were arranging a clef healing trip to China but he had to cancel as he was about to adopt another child. Although Karen had the opportunity to travel to China with LWB, she decided not to go on this occasion. Karen explained, “Not going on this trip was the biggest regret I had ever made. I vowed afterwards to live without regrets and that I would try hard to go on the next trip.”
Soon another trip was being planned and Karen immediately became involved. “We planned a trip that was two weeks long, had 4 surgeons, two dentists, and we set up an operating room with recovery in an orphanage. I actually look back at that trip and think we were just crazy but it was the most amazing trip,” Karen beamed. She adds, “We had 75 volunteers, both with and without medical experience. We ran three shifts and by the end of the two weeks, 125 children were healed and we had done numerous dental exams. It was truly a remarkable time and there are many funny stories but it was so wonderful.”
In China Amy told Karen she was looking for a new medical director for Love Without Boundaries. Karen recounted their conversation, “Amy was busy with so many different projects and running most of the programs, but medical was the largest. I kept asking her, How could I? I was just a mom?”, but I kept hearing a voice in my head tell me, “Why can’t you?” In the back seat of a taxi, in Luoyang, Henan, I said yes.”
Karen began studying the information about all the special need children in their care. She surrounded herself with a team of doctors both in the USA and China. “I continued to form a support network of doctors both in and out of China that Amy had started, the experts that were needed to make sure that the children we helped received the very best care.”She adds, “With the help of wonderful people, we found the very best hospitals to use in China.” I always had the thought in the back of my head, “Would I send my own child to have surgery at this hospital?”
Karen also facilitated the creation of LWB’s special needs manual which has currently been translated into Chinese and Spanish. This valuable manual helps orphanage workers and the families that are considering a special needs child for adoption. This past spring during the reorganization of LWB Karen was promoted to associate assistant director. Karen now aids Amy Eldridge in seeking new ways to raise additional funds for LWB. “Amy and I have been working hard, submitting grants, researching social media, and looking at other funding opportunities. Karen says, “This new restructuring has allowed us this time and in the long run, hopefully more children’s lives can be saved.”
With the gracious assistance and support of the Chinese government, Love Without Boundaries has five programs that provide vital services to children in China. The Medical program allows LWB to help over 400 children each year by bringing them to the U.S. and Spain for surgery. It also sends surgical teams to China and donations are always needed to send more physicians. . LWB’s Foster Care has almost 300 children in more than 13 orphanages and foster families throughout China. They believe that the loving care of a foster care family allows orphaned children an opportunity to blossom and grow. Healing Homes include the Heartbridge Pediatric Healing Unit in Beijing that cares for children both pre and post surgery. LWB has two cleft healing homes one in Anhui and the other in Henan. These healing home provide vital care for the vulnerable orphans. The LWB Education program currently has 5 “Believe in Me Schools” located with the orphanages children unable to attend public school. Higher Education is providing funding for over 100 students to attend high school or college so they can be successful adults. The fifth program is orphanage assistance and it provides supplemental nutrition, clothing, coats, shoes, cloth diapers, cribs and beds, quilts, air conditioning and heating units, and incubators to over 54 orphanages.
During the 4 years while Karen ran the LWB Medical program she touched the lives of over 1000 children. She finally adds, “When I sat down and saw that number, I was humbled.” “I love being part of a worldwide group of volunteers that includes more than 150 people in 9 countries and 38 states, all working together to affect the lives of more than 1500 children a year.” She and the team of amazing volunteers who work selflessly for Love Without Boundaries are the angels that often pass us unrecognized each day.
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