Alliance For Children Foundation

Alliance For Children Foundation “One Plus One” orphan, Fu Shengjun (with Alliance For Children staff member and friend Lin Jing), meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Jan. 20th, 2008

An Update on Xiao Fu
In our last article we told you the amazing story of Fu Shengjun (or Xiao Fu -- ‘little Fu’ --as he’s called), who spent 27 years in an orphanage in China before providence brought American Emmy Lewis into his life (and him into hers). The two formed a strong mother-son bond and eventually Xiao Fu was able to realize a dream in visiting Emmy in the United States and even meeting President Bush in 2006! After his visit, Xiao Fu returned to China, where sadly, the cancer he had been fighting worsened. Emmy was able to visit him in China to offer her support in May/June of 2007, but they were both hopeful he'd be able to get another visa to visit her in the States once more. We are very happy to report that Xiao Fu did in fact receive another visa to visit the United States in December 2007, and is now spending time with Emmy at her home in Washington D.C. The two of them would like to share the following story of how Xiao Fu was able to meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in January, 2008, an experience that he will remember always!

Meeting Condoleezza Rice
Emmy is a member of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C., the same church that Condoleezza Rice attends. Although not a member, Xiao Fu has attended services with Emmy at her church on a regular basis during his visits to the States. As a result, he is well known in the church community and is considered a part of the "family." In fact, the church elders and trustees held a ceremony in the chapel to celebrate the life story of this remarkable orphan after he was baptized at a nearby Chinese Christian church in 2006. So it was that Associate Pastor Eunice "Junior" McGarrahan learned that both Xiao Fu and Dr. Rice would be in attendance on Jan. 20th, 2008, and managed to arrange a private meeting for the two of them in the church parlor after services.

Xiao Fu's visit with Condoleezza Rice was a wonderful experience. His good friend Lin Jing (a staff member at the Alliance for Children Foundation, which helped Emmy and Xiao become more formally connected after they first met at his orphanage in 2001) happened to be visiting and attending services with Xiao Fu and Emmy that weekend. The two of them (along with Emmy) chatted with the secret service agents and spoke with Dr. Rice for a good ten minutes and were even able to have several photos taken with her. Xiao Fu was able to thank Dr. Rice in person for the kindness of the U.S. Embassy staff in Beijing in granting him a visa for his return visit to the USA, just in time to spend Christmas with Emmy.

Xiao Fu was quite moved that Dr. Rice took the time out of her busy schedule to meet with him personally. He found her to be warm and kind and he remarked that she was very beautiful and taller than she appears in photos! Although he is paralyzed in one arm, Xiao Fu is an accomplished painter and he had brought several of his paintings along, hoping to give one to Dr. Rice. He asked her to choose one, but after saying how lovely they all were, she was having a hard time deciding, so he selected a painting of flowers that he had signed using formal Chinese calligraphy and was absolutely thrilled that she accepted this special gift from him.

Xiao Fu with Lin Jing and Associate Pastor McGarrahan; Condoleezza Rice accepting Xiao Fu's painting

Love and Support for Xiao Fu
Xiao Fu has faced many difficult challenges in his life, but he has received many blessings as well. Xiao Fu and Emmy are grateful to be able to spend this precious time together as he undergoes palliative treatment for his cancer at her home. Xiao Fu is under the excellent care of three doctors who have most generously donated their services in treating him: Dr. Smitha Gollamudi, his radiation oncologist, Dr. Frederick P. Smith, oncologist, and Sister/Dr. Deirdre Byrne, a surgeon, his coordinating physician and a close dear friend. Sister Byrne is a member of the Catholic order Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, and Emmy and Xiao Fu have spent several memorable afternoons with her and her four other sisters at their convent in Northeast Washington enjoying their excellent Irish/Italian/Welsh cooking and sharing lots of laughter together. Xiao Fu and Emmy are also extremely grateful to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C., which has provided radiation and chemotherapy treatments free of charge in 2006 and once again in 2008.

Xiao Fu and one of his faithful friends, former nurse and church elder Glenna Hendricks, greet National Presbyterian Church worshippers together; Xiao Fu with Dr. Smitha Gollamudi at his goodbye party before returning to China, October 2006

Xiao Fu with Sister/Dr. Deirdre Byrne (seated at right) and her sisters; Xiao Fu with his oncologist Dr. Frederick P. Smith

Helping Others
Having been helped so generously by so many, Xiao Fu too has a strong desire to help those less fortunate than himself, in the ways that he is able. Emmy says, "One of the special things about Xiao Fu is his love of beauty. He recognizes it, appreciates it, and expresses it in his paintings." After returning from the USA back to China in October 2006, Xiao Fu found a way to use his artistic talents to help other orphans. He started classes at the orphanage where he was raised, Hefei Children’s Welfare Institute, teaching traditional Chinese painting to three disabled orphans, and English to many others. He is especially proud of one of his students, a lovely young woman who is deaf, shown below, who works very hard in his class.

We don't know what life has in store for Xiao Fu, but we do know that he is a fighter. Right now Emmy and Xiao Fu are enjoying each other's company and taking things one day at a time. Emmy is doing everything she can to make Xiao Fu as comfortable as possible. Xiao Fu loves to eat congee (a watery rice dish), especially when he is not feeling well, so Emmy has been collecting congee recipes and experimenting with preparing just the right one. Xiao Fu will never forget his meetings with President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, nor the many sights he was able to see with Emmy in the United States, halfway around the world from the orphanage where he grew up in China. They are both extremely grateful for the support and love they have received from so many, and ask you for your continued thoughts and prayers for Xiao Fu!

Xiao Fu watching the seagulls at a friend's beachhouse in Delaware; Xiao Fu and Emmy's close friend, Jean Funk, at Statue of Liberty; Xiao Fu with friend Carol and her daughters Perry (Emmy's goddaughter) and Reade (Reade, pictured at right, was adopted from the same orphanage where Xiao Fu grew up; Emmy was accompanying Carol on the adoption trip and that's how she first met Xiao Fu.)

Xiao Fu on his specially equipped motor scooter, with Emmy; Emmy and Xiao Fu at NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art

Emmy serves as a board member on the Alliance for Children Foundation, an international relief organization dedicated to improving the physical and emotional well being of abandoned children living in orphanages in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The Foundation's projects in medical care, basic needs, and education seek to heal, strengthen and empower the world's most vulnerable children, especially those who are less likely to be adopted due to age or special needs. Our programs provide these children with an otherwise impossible opportunity for a better future. To learn more about the Alliance For Children Foundation and its efforts to help orphans like Xiao Fu around the world, please browse through our web site, www.afcfoundation.org