text:
- Prof Mpiya
- Sandton, Johannesburg
- South Africa
This conversation is closed.
How can newspapers survive the web
More people are getting their news off the Internet, not newspapers. Will traditional newspaper survive the web. Profit margins and monetisation is very difficult on the web. what business models can newspapers use to survive the web. is the answer in paywalls, of open access and advertising. will the revenue be enough to sustain the print media as we know it.
Clyde Durnen
Sep 18 2013: Maybe newspapers shouldn't survive.I'm no tree-hugger but according to greeningofoil.com,It takes 3,900,000 trees to print a years worth of Sunday editions of the New York Times.Every day, Americans buy 62 million newspapers, 44 million of which are thrown out. Over the next decade, it is projected that Americans will throw 10 million tons of newspapers straight into landfills.With this kind of environmental impact,I'd be happy to get my information,coupons,advertisement,comics and crosswords from the digital world instead of harming the world that we and future generations need to survive.
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vishal d
Sep 18 2013: but digital media comes at the cost of pollution only.....Electricity gets generated from Coal creates environmental issues.... you are correct that we should stop using news paper but we should also generate electricity from wind energy, hydro power etc...
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Clyde Durnen
Sep 18 2013: Yes we desperately need energy alternatives,but we should consider how much energy the internet saves us.Online shopping means you can buy stuff from your home without driving somewhere, meaning more energy savings. Online maps let us find our destinations easier with less driving, too. Then there's the fact that email lets us send messages and documents without requiring a fossil-fuel vehicle to physically deliver that information. So the Internet's share of energy use should certainly be contrasted with the amount of energy it saves.
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Sep 19 2013: Clyde,i appreciate your contribution to the environment,but i think your idea might not suit everybody.Me,for example,i personally love ink on paper.and it's hard for me to reject.
when i go online ,i kinda feel like i don 't get the full diet,i feel like i just get the icecream and cookies.you click on things,but when you turn pages of papers,sometimes you see stories you didn't know you will be interested in and you spend some time reading that.this's a certain serendipity factor.That's why i like reading that.It gives texture and content and history and much much more the web can't provide.
But anyway,i have to confess,on the other hand,i totally identify with you,Clyde.what you said reminds me of always thinking in different perspectives.
Sean Sheehan
Sep 18 2013: Perhaps the time has come for print media to re-evaluate its role? We live in a 24-hour news cycle with quick-hit story cycles designed to provide basic facts in 30 seconds or less. When all I want to know is the who, what, when, where and why, I turn to the Twitter feeds, websites, blogs, and news networks that I deem most trustworthy. When would I turn to print media (newspapers, periodicals)? When I want investigative work. With costs rising, print news organizations can't afford to run up their operating costs to run copies of breaking news, if for no other reason than that by the time their edition hits the streets, their reporting could very well be out-dated thanks to the real-time updates that new media provides.
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Where print media such provides its true value and service is in the deep, investigative pieces that expose the true inner workings of issues - the analysis, investigation, and root causes. True, these pieces take more time to research and produce, I tend to find it easier spending the time to sit down with an article that's going to make me think harder about the world than I would sitting down with the latest print edition of yesterday's headlines.
Yijia Chen
Sep 15 2013: you know ,here is the thing,when you go online ,i kinda feel like i don 't get the full diet,i feel like i just get the icecream and cookies.you click on things,but when you turn pages of papers,sometimes you see stories you didn't know you will be interested in and you spend some time reading that.this's a certain serendipity factor.i have to confess i am a teenager and i totally identify with it.i think maybe it becomes a niche product ,for people who want more depth and more length and the big staffs here.we know,the experts cover the pentagon and science.it's hard to support that kind of staff.
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actually,newspapers are still very profitable.the fact is that this industry has only 15 to18 percent profit margins,which in most industry the stockholders would go crazy.they want 25 percent profit margins.so the newspapers have to figure out a way to transition into this new world.something is gonna give you,the people want at least the quality journalism the newspaper still provide .and what they really need to do to stand out is to gather facts,to give texture and content and history which the internet can't provide.Oct 13 2013: You cant wrap your nice china or your favorite beer drinking glasses in an ipad or pc screen when your moving to a new location . Thus for nothing else newspapers are great .
I like to hear the paper rattle when I read one . Im sure they will be phased out after a while , and that will be the end of a great charcoal barbecue grill starter , and a dog disciplinary tool ( when rolled up ) . Of course that will save a few trees ...
and thats a good thing .
Yoka Feng
Sep 22 2013: I enjoy reading news online for another reason. Just like other countries,especially in China,the quality of facts reporting in the newspapers are sometimes under suspicion. We have a poweful govenment and they usually control the medias to prettify some facts for their benefits. Besides,nowadays you can also find lots and lots of advertisements bombarding your eyes with several pages in the paper newspapers. On the internet, definitely there are many advertisemenst, but you can always find some interesting comments following the news reports or some truer news simultaneously. The good example is people use the internet to release some govenmental officials' corruptions or other illegal behaviours. Some people are brave enough to expose the truth because they only use a false name for registation without worrying about the consequence. In addition, people from different places can interact by discussing in the follow-up boxes. How can paper newspaper provide these exciting events in a timely manner?
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So I think newspaper agencies should think widely, don't put your eggs in one basket. You can take advantage of the advanced technology to let it serve you better. Why not do it and make it compatible to your paper newspapers? I think this suits any country if you want to change.
wayne uejio
Sep 16 2013: Newspapers need to supply something that other media, radio, tv, web, social media, etc can not. That would be in depth analysis. TV and the Internet beats newspapers on speed
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Nadav Tropp
Sep 16 2013: Both the internet and TV can easily supply in-depth analysis, if you know where to look. There are plenty of news websites that are actually ran by newspapers, holding much the same standards, making the transition, because they know their printed editions won't last forever.
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The internet updates faster, costs less to distribute, and is much more environmentally friendly. Its actually more readily available than printed news in most of the developed world these days. The newspaper is obsolete.
Which leaves the newspaper in the same position as the horse drawn wagon. Only a matter of time until it passes from the world as anything other than a historian's curiosity, or perhaps a trap for the occasional tourist. A lot of older people who don't know how to use the internet still buy them, as well as others who can't let go of the ways of the past, but there are fewer of those every day.
wayne uejio
Sep 17 2013: Unfortunately both TV and the web have made speed the center of the offering and has led to erroneous reporting and very incorrect assumptions - so even ads are making jokes about the information on the internet being bad.Sep 16 2013: The answer in rather simple - in my mind - at least in theory. The way is through QUALITY. It may no longer be mass journalism but it may do only good for the whole industry of printed press and the journalists themselves (meaning their reputation).
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Sep 22 2013: Hello.
I picked you comment to piggyback being after reading some of the more ignorant "Typical" ones I would just be very rude in reply. Lets look at it like this, same as books. You will never replace the smell and feel of a good book , or by chance happen upon something that (God Forbid) may make you smile! I find it not only shaming, but scarey that people are so easy and willing to give up rituals; I remember that part of the morning ritual, especially weekends involved getting up and getting the paper for gramps or dads across america, sitting at the table for breakfast(We gave that up to) waiting for the comics to read Snoopy or Garfield etc...The paper held more value than just news, try to replace that with your ipad. People make me sick at times with this quick dismissal attitude, no wonder the country is fu---!. I will opt for the feel, smell and quality time benefits over any of the nonsense opined here.
Sep 22 2013: Yes, you are darn right Dennis, but we can't blame others for not being in love with the printed press. I personally can't imagine a day without a "real" newspaper in my hands. I hope they will continue to print them for the years to come.
Sophia BAE
Sep 15 2013: This issue is applied to that of books. More e-books are developing but still some prefer the paper one. I am also that kind of person. Because the feeling of paper makes me comfortable than clicking sound in the Internet. My family has subscribed the paper newspaper for a long while. This helps us read in a more balanced way. There are possibilities to be biased when we read news through the Internet since people easily lean their prefer direction. As long as the people like me exist, that kind of problem does not matter so much I think:)!
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Zahrul Azha
Sep 16 2013: Yup. I'm totally agree with you. Reading via the screen for more than 30 minutes is nothing compared to genuine newspaper or books. As for the ads, both have their own market and I believe that the industry can coexist or more profitable as the ads market can be generated more in the web space.
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Sophia BAE
Sep 17 2013: Definitely! Coexist is what we must put our priority first. You are right:) Even though technologies will develp and improve much more than this one, I am still a person who love analog thing!
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vishal d
Sep 18 2013: on top of that, all TV ads distract you easily and you will not be able to enjoy the news in right manner.
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Sep 19 2013: That's another important point, Vishal d. Thank you:) I need time to concentrate deeply! Those things are so bothersome
bipin k
Sep 15 2013: Maybe after 100 years the newspaper will become rare. But for now it can try to stay competitive by doing what it does in a better manner with innovation and marketing.
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1. Indirect marketing like showing in a sci-fi futuristic movie that newspaper is being read in an effort to change consumer perception.
2. Make non-news section more interesting like the comic or the puzzle section and supplements.
3. Making newspaper more interactive with public opinions, polls, debates, etc. which can use internet (enabled with QR code) for consumer inputs and newspaper for outputs.
4. Reading newspapers can be promoted as an habit by schools.
5. Keep headlines interesting.
I think this strategy will allow for better consumer experience and newspaper might survive for a longer time.
Jasmine Tan
Sep 15 2013: Newspapers are still one of the more reliable source of information compared to the Internet where there is a great assembly line of information which requires careful discerning and sorting of the correct content, which are more often than not contributed by other net users instead of from trustworthy writers.
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Sep 15 2013: Except that in dedicated news sites, the information on display is at least of as good a quality as you'd previously found on printed news.
In fact, a lot of these sites are ran by those same newspapers, who know their printed edition's days are numbered.Sep 17 2013: Sorry but newspapers stopped being a good source of info a long time ago. They enabled rich people to capture politics in america. The political extremism in USA is the result of the entire US media being an arm of empire. Just a mouthpiece for the corporate world. See problems of media concentration here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8D67YiLcOMOct 14 2013: I don´t think newspaper can survive the internet. Actually I don´t think the TV can either, because of the need to cater to so many different requirements nowadays. There will be new needs for media on the upcoming years, new ways of advertisement as generations change and become much more interested of causes than they are today.
People are developing so much faster than iin the past that a new word will be created in front of us. Violence is taking people out of streets, virtual lives and virtual realities are replacing our real lives, and all these changes are creating a new sociological and anthropological make-up which will force us to switch and live on a semi-real world.
Of course this is not going to happen at the speed of light, countries have different rates of development but the change is inevitable and how are we going to deal with change is what will dictate the future.Oct 14 2013: the newspaper will survive as long as there are people without web access.
as long as you are money driven there is no news.
there are more facts on the web freely available.
advertising makes you a billboard or poster for your sponsor who can easily dictate the terms of print and you end up being an advertising paper not a newspaper.
integrity of news and news worthy stories of interest not sensationalism is what sellsOct 13 2013: I tell you what, newspapers need better content. I was recently reading the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. I can tell you, without a doubt, the content was absolutely mind numbing. I have no idea where they get some of these writers, but the material could not have been more boring.
Newspapers could still have a place in the big picture. I just don't think they try hard enough to include quality content. Maybe this isn't the case for other newspapers. I can definitely speak for the ones here in South Florida.Oct 13 2013: It can't and won't. Its just a matter of time. When that time comes paper news will be unnecessary.Oct 4 2013: The discussion concerning ecology is certainly well-placed. However, there is another dimension to the problem.
How will the death of traditional newspapers affect the quality of journalism?
The presence of social media allows us to have somewhat accurate, brief information immediately, on the spot, as it happened, from the people that are "there". And in the modern age where time is a luxury, that is everything an average reader needs: a tweet, a status. Everyone wants the breaking story shortened and, most importantly, for free.
A detailed analysis of a subject in a quality traditional paper is something people don't have time for. Therefore, they will not buy such newspapers. Hence, the newspaper will not be able to pay the authors of such analyses and all of this might lead to an extinction of serious journalism.
Which is a problem.Sep 30 2013: They could become more like magazines, meaning having appeal as a printed "newspaper" that has columns on bridge, or tech, or travel, or how to fix, or adventures to experience, or expert columns, and tags galore (TED tag?!). Would give consumer advice, have articles on sex, family, child rearing, health, business, locally created cartoons, poems, then health and all packaged nicely, maybe with cutting edge graffics. I feel that it is of necessity, sort of like Huffington report, to start having volunteer "columnists", and young journalists guided by veteran writers, editors. Team up with other magazines and newspapers both, partner with others and become known as a most wise, knowledgeble source of information, and activism on the home front, then having all the special interests, and world news, some of which your volunteer or long distant readers have created, eye witness so to speak. Take on risky topics and present readers with intelligent options, ways to take action. Get citizens and readers to SOLVE problems proposed by "City Hall" and its departments,--it is amazing the resources out there and people willing to help, come up with implementable ideas, xprize contests for low cities! Let the community help team up and solve problems, proposed city wide initiatives that will create more of a sense of community, connecting people. Contests galore! Month where we all read the same book! Musician events, art and comedy events, and even a TEDxCity of Portland Spirit. Think of the New York Times magazine turned into "tabloid-like" newspaper still using color, with creative local graphic artists and designers featured and give them credit, where design becomes an attractive part of the newspaper. Think Tribune combined with the "Portland Magazine" and "Willamette Week" and Huff. Report, and Guardian newspaper. Hire young and hire old. Explore Edinburgh, Berlin, London, Rio for their alives! This newspaper will light up our cities and our lives!Sep 27 2013: News Paper does not need Energy, neither in one glance you can go through Epapers. E Paper help those people who have Categorise interest to specific segments, Epaper do not provide sudoku to play on it, while paper does. The touch Phenomena is very special as you can preserved it and apart from all this, Paper in scrap give you some of the money back. SO I feel Web and Newspaper both of them have different segment to serve. So No need to worry Newspaper is not dieing and chill.Sep 27 2013: The era we live in is commonly described as The Information age. There is no doubts that newspaper will have to keep on playing an important role our modern societies. However in order for them to "survive" the risks and instability linked to printed press and the shrinking profits Newspapers will have to re-invent themselves.
The vast majority of traditional newspaper turned to advertorial and other commercial placements as a main income stream . Wether printed or digital, This is a very short term approach to the problem given that people in general are getting less and less sensitive to display advertising. We can then assume that not only the business model but also the business structure must be re-designed. While traditional newspapers are all merging and lowering their quality standards to keep their head above the water, independent and alternative newspapers are rising and taking these market shares. The best example I can think of is The Conversation, created by Andrew Jaspan. Already biggest independent newspaper in Australia after 2years, The Conversation is not quick fix but a long term solution. Every articles is a collaboration between an expert, usually an academic and a journalist. The focus is on high quality, open and collaborative knowledge: sounds like a more viable positioning for the future. Their is plenty of expert insights on the future of media on the website feel free to have a look: http://theconversation.com/topics/future-of-mediaSep 27 2013: Before newspapers disappear, a lot of time will go by. It will probably be hard time but there will be problems good newspapers can face. I don't believe that paywall is the best solution. On one hand restricting the opportunities to comunicate free news, it's not the right way to work something out; on the other hand don't forget journals, magazines and newspapers use the net to promote theirselves. In addition to that, in some countries, like Italy, many newspapers receive public fundings (huge sometimes ). There are journalists really brilliant who deserve to work and newspapers worth reading and I am conviced that they will survive.
Gord G
Sep 27 2013: Interesting question. I for one have been in the development area of the web since 1993. I've seen a lot of changes, experienced all the hype, and made my fair share of predictions. None of which has legitimized my opinion.
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That said...my opinion...one of the odd results of IT trends is the proliferation of special interest magazines (printed).
I think the strength of news is not accessibility, but rather accountability. What this means is, people will seek out trusted and verifiable sources. So in a sense, the online versions of existing publications are the biggest threat to their printed ancestors.
After accountability, people look for immediacy. If they can get both, the decision is simple.
So my feeling is...the grand pillars of accountability have nothing to worry about. Only the traditionally based individuals employed by those noble institutions need to take an inventory of their digital savvy.
[Perhaps people need to engage in personal branding to survive the conversion]Sep 25 2013: Because of the internet, people are now used to getting "talking points" of a story in a short amount of time. Rarely do they want the details.. just tell me the who, what, when, and where. The why is often glanced over. For example, stories on CNN now give you "story highlights" for people who don't want to read the lengthy article. The longest article people might read in a day is on TMZ. With this in mind, I feel as though newspapers have to keep it short. People don't want to sit and read a story on 2A that continues on 13A. The great thing about newspapers, typically, is that they are more interested in facts. Whereas on the internet, facts are secondary to just getting information out in order to be the first to break a story on twitter. For that reason alone, I hope they persevere. However, once the kids that are growing up on facebook and twitter become adults - they may never see the need for print media besides a Vogue mag. So if anything, newspapers are safe until Justin Bieber fans grow up.Sep 25 2013: We had newspapers then other media like radio and television etc. However, newspapers have always survived despite a shift in their margins with the continued fragmentation of media. The birth of the web does not necessarily mean the end of the newspaper.
The business remains to keep people informed. As such, print media is determined by the cost of printing.
I'd look at what is keeping the industry alive and what form it may evolve into... That will guide on what business models may work.Sep 22 2013: How can "town criers" survive the newspaper? What is a town crier? From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_crier):
"In Medieval England, town criers were the chief means of news communication with the townspeople, since many were illiterate in a period before the moveable type was invented. Royal proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, even selling loaves of sugar were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier throughout the centuries—at Christmas 1798, the Chester Canal Co. sold some sugar damaged in their packet boat and this was to be advertised by the bellman."
In other words, I don't think newspapers will or should survive the web in the long run. They may settle into a nostalgic market niche much like horse drawn carriages today, but I think that's about the best outcome I can think of.Sep 22 2013: I think newspapers should expand their reach to the areas which don't have access to the internet.
Nadav Tropp
Sep 22 2013: Thing is though, its cheaper to bring over the internet to those areas than it is to start shipping off printing presses or even the papers themselves.
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Its the same reason much of the developing world has cell phone coverage, but not land lines.
Sep 26 2013: I agree with you, cell phone is the future of the news not the internelSep 22 2013: We don't have to be in love with a product, I just feel that we are becoming to sterile, and that our kids are getting the wrong messages. I think that one of the big issues is the fact that our society is also becoming desensitized. If I had it my way for instance, I would take computers out of every school and return to books and the good ole black board. We truly are dumbing down america, People are attracted to snippets of information which is going to cause a myriad of problems; for instance people already or "Know It Alls" What do you think is happening as a result of four line knowledge." The Answer: Negligence: Misinformation: etc... I work with younger people as my assistants, and I make them do my research the old fashioned way, let me tell you if you want to see a pissed off teen or young adult, force them to use their grey matter. :) These youth are unable to solve basic reasoning problems, and anything requiring them to problem solve. What will the results of such lead... So you see there are many reasons for wanting to keep certain past time events and products alive. Thats All.
Den.Sep 22 2013: I have been saying this to people for quite some time. I have friends iwho like the paper. I buy all the papers when I go to the stands or market, from the wall street journal, Ny Times, Boston, Providence, because (I know I am a freak) I happen to like the smell of them, and honestly they are comforting in some odd and peculiar way.
As one of the countries esteemed and respected Abstract Impressionists; I would certainly give the reader some value like provide limited edition Art Prints that will accrue value over time like (Rockwells- Evening Edition Prints) Hell I have characters that would hook any consumer as they are appealing. I also would hold art contests. Ad a section for our youth to write about many topics. These are a couple and I am afraid if you want anymore you will have to put me under contract. But. I will always buy them even though I have been bad about reading them, My assistants are always trying to throw them out.I don't know why they ever stopped the newspaper drives that they had when i was a kid, they were great and I would volunteer at the truck; They would pull up these huge trucks and have people come down with all of their News Papers and magazines and load them into the trucks after bundling them. They were then given to local businesses for packaging and wrapping glassware and other fragile consumer goods. So this was like35 years ago you would think they would still do these paper drives. I think the papers should hold them and repulp the paper. Well Thats all for now. There are always options.Sep 20 2013: I read lots of newspapers -- on the web. Some that I check: Ha'aretz (Israel), The New York Times, Dawn (Pakistan), The Washington Post, La Vanguardia, (Spain) , El Pais (Spain), The Japan Times, and The Guardian. I supplement that with the web sites for CNN, Bloomberg, The Economist, Reuters, just to mention a few sources that are not newspapers. Why would I want to wait for a thick bundle of paper, mostly composed of advertisements or 'infotainment' BS to be delivered to my house and then have to get my fingers all black from reading it? Besides, if I wanted to read my local paper -- the Houston Chronicle -- I wouldn't have a clue what's going on in the world. On the odd occasion I'm in a Starbucks and I buy a copy of The New York Times, I feel cheated -- only a few articles interest me and after I read them I discard the paper to be hauled off to a landfill to rot. Seems a lot easier just to remember to bring my iPad and read a wider variety of articles right off the screen -- and then to fold my iPad and leave. No mess. Greater variety. (Incidentally I subscribe to the Times so it isn't that they're not making some money off of me. I'm tempted to subscribe to both Ha'aretz an to The Wall Street Journal. We'll see.....Sep 19 2013: Aside the love of trees I think newspapers are here to stay. This is not the first time that the evolution of the media to accomodate new platforms has been thought to be the death of the old platforms.
There is a section of the market that prefers to read newspapers for certain reasons.Sep 16 2013: How much "NEWS" newspapers deliver usually .
People need information / news , does it matter in which format they are getting it ?Sep 16 2013: why would we want the newspapers to survive? we don't have troubadours either.
Sep 26 2013: You do not miss troubadours?
Sep 26 2013: not really. nothing wrong with troubadours, but we have so many better stuff.Sep 15 2013: Good question. I was traveling through New Mexico and West Texas this summer and would pickup the ledgers for each town that happened to have one. Almost all had a front page with the Story of the week but the articles were rewritten. I liked the style of the re written stories as they were more neutral than our local paper. They were less politically motivated without sounding left most of the time or to the right some of the time. The paper didn't perceive themselves an unelected governing body of the town. They didn't elect to choose sides for the readers or as our liberal paper likes to do or do boring multi page exposes that cast some conspiratorial question about a problem so they can answer it. Some had more depth of story as it related to local legislation or a dignitary making a rural stop in. I quit reading our hometown newspaper simple because they couldn't deliver the paper as promised when a special event occurred. This caused me to migrate away but the local paper didn't care if I was a customer or not. But I have often thought why our paper didn't have inserts of facts in stories. Word balloons of information even if related to another story further along in the paper. It seems the staff is lazy with their layout. Newspapers would be more relevant if they hired web page designers to design their story layouts. It would be more interesting to read if they had some web sites they would pull articles like a calendar of some upcoming TED Talks or quotes from bloggers built into rewritten stories. Also they should stop cramming their own bias about the news stories and getting the pulse of the town they write about wrong. Their job is to report the news. Not give opinion. I would also like it it if they would put all the inserts in a plastic bag or paper bag. I absolutely hate cleaning up the mess and trying to catch the adds from falling out of the Sunday paper. I would rather not buy it than have to deal with the mess. And you can quote me on that!Sep 15 2013: So easy – newspapers have been "deconstructed" where web startups have taken the major revenue source, their advertising. This deconstruction left newspapers with the high cost of news while stripping them of their main income.
However newspapers can have the last laugh because they still have very large audiences who trust them. The strategy they need to following is to use their audiences to back website startups. Startup websites often have great business models but lack critical mass to propel themselves to number one in their segment. Newspapers and their websites have unutilized advertising space that could be used to get a startup website to a critical mass position.
The newspaper demands an equity stake and option to acquire for allowing the startup website to access its audience at no cash cost. The startup website has no choice because it cannot afford to buy the advertising and if it raised capital it would have to sell equity anyway.
Newspapers can transform themselves into web empires with their only risk being use of unutilized advertising space to their large trusting audience.Sep 15 2013: A newspaper can survive the web by going digital, and selling the press for scrap metal.
There's no way around it, the printed paper is going the way of the horse drawn carriage. Its loss shouldn't be mourned, seeing as its being replaced for the better.
The people working for one will simply have to find some other source of employment. No way around it.Sep 15 2013: by remaining as they are - physical, cumbersome and tactile.
mostly, I don't read them. they aren't much better than womens' magazines..


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The largest U.S. exchange-traded fund tracking municipal bonds touched the highest price since it began five years ago as investors speculated that tax rates will increase to help curb the federal deficit.
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subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Interpretive Handbook
6284 :
Smooth Muscle Antibodies, Serum
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Sera from patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis contain antibodies to smooth muscle antigens that are detectable by indirect immunofluorescence on substrates that contain smooth muscle. The antibodies are predominantly of the IgG isotype.
Other diseases in this differential diagnosis group include primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, and alcoholic chronic hepatitis.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Evaluating patients with chronic liver disease in whom the diagnosis of chronic active autoimmune hepatitis is suspected
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Antibody titers in the range of 80 to 320 occur commonly in patients with active chronic hepatitis; lower titers (usually <80) may occur in the other conditions mentioned earlier.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
No known false-positives or false-negatives
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
If positive, results are titered.
Reference values apply to all ages.
Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Czaja AJ, Homburger HA: Autoantibodies in liver disease. Gastroenterology 2001;120:239-249


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The texture of the cake was light and spongy and the cake tasted great with the mango frosting. It infact tasted even better the next day.
Cake flour- 1 1/2 cup (You can use plain flour )
Baking powder- 1/2tsp
Baking soda-1/4tsp
Unsalted butter- 1/2cup
Sugar-1 cup
Buttermilk-100ml( I used diluted curd)
Vanills essence- 1tsp
Mango pulp- 1/3cup(5to 6 tbsp)
Combine the butter and sugar and mix well till creamy.Now add the eggs and beat till the mixture is fluffy. Add the buttermilk and essence and mix.Its okay if mixture curdles at this point. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add this to the above wet mixture and mix to form a uniform batter. Now fold in the mango pulp.
Pour the batter in a well greased cake tin. Bake at 170c for 45 minutes or a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Recipe courtesy- Cupcake project
Mango puree-2/3 cup
Whipping cream- 1cup
Icing sugar- 1/3 cup
Beat the cream at medium speed for 5 minutes till it form soft peaks. Add the sugar. Mix well. Add the mango puree to the whipped cream. Refrigerate.
Pour and spread the frosting over the cake. Refrigerate till you cut the cake.


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Welcome to the Marion County Sheriff's Office Institutions Division503-581-1183
The Marion County Jail and Work Center are staffed with over 155 law enforcement professionals dedicated to the humane and ethical treatment of the more than 16,000 people we care for each year. Commander Kevin Schultz oversees the Institutions Division, maintaining our correctional operations at levels that meet or exceed the highest state and Federal standards.
Commander Kevin Schultz503-588-5111
Community safety and providing for the health and well being of those in our charge are our top priorities. We take great pride in the job that we do for you, the citizens of Marion County.
For the families and friends of those in our care, we know this can be a trying time that raises many questions. On this site, we have attempted to answer many frequently asked questions. Our goal is to provide excellent customer service.I need to...


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45 Years Ago: The Who Debut 'Tommy' in Concert
On April 22, 1969, the Who performed their new work, 'Tommy,' for the first time. The concert, which took place in Dolton, Devon, was a full month before the groundbreaking double-album was released.
Although the Who, to this point, had been best-loved for their hard-hitting singles, the roots of their evolution into conceptual works had been on display for the previous three years. The title cut to their 1966 album 'A Quick One' was a "mini-opera" that told the story of a marital infidelity. It came about when manager Kit Lambert suggested the idea to Pete Townshend when they needed about 10 minutes worth of material to fill out their next LP.
The next year, they released 'The Who Sell Out.' The album was a full-fledged musical statement of Pop Art disguised as a love letter to U.K. pirate radio, complete with fake commercials about deodorant. But it also contained 'I Can See for Miles,' which became their only U.S. Top 10 hit.
Pete Townshend's next step was to take the idea of a conceptual and unified album to another level, possibly just to keep up with some of the other London bands. In the spring of 1968, the Small Faces put out 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake,' the second side of which was a whimsical suite that told the story of 'Happiness Stan.' At the tail end of that year, the Kinks ('The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society') and the Pretty Things ('S.F. Sorrow') had come out with their own full-album song cycles.
Around the time of 'Flake"s release, Townshend told Chris Welch of the Melody Maker of his new project. "I'm working on an opera, and I'm thinking of calling it 'The Amazing Journey.' The theme is about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who has dreams and sees himself as ruler of the cosmos." Recording began in early-1969, with the first single, 'Pinball Wizard,' issued in March.
But the new album presented a challenge as to how to present it in their live show. By the time they rolled into Dolton that evening, the decision was made to present 'Tommy' as a whole, rather than just mixing some of the songs into a regular set. "We did the whole thing from start to finish, and that was when we knew we had something cohesive and playable," Townshend told Welch. "We sat there, incredulous at it had come together. We noted how suddenly Roger [Daltrey] had become something else, and we debated what would happen and how it would change everything. We knew we had something that was magic, and that magic wasn't as clear on the album as it would be in live performance."
Given the unfamiliarity of the material — to say nothing of the concept — Townshend gave the small crowd a brief synopsis of the story before performing 'Tommy' in its entirety, at maximum volume, to a somewhat confused audience. In Dave Marsh's book, 'Before I Get Old,' Welch recounted that "scores of people" were left "literally deaf," adding that his own ears were ringing for the next 24 hours straight, but happily so. "There were moments during 'Tommy' when I had to clutch the table for support, I felt my stomach contracting and my head spinning," then adding, "But we wanted more!"
By 1970, the Who would take 'Tommy' on the road to actual opera houses around the world, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.


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grazing giraffe was "a hit" "absolutely adorable". . . . .
I bought this as a gift for my godchild's daughter. Our family had had a fire when I was young and there was nothing to pass down in the family. I believe this will be a treasure both for my grand-niece and everyone who enjoys it with her and after her. The expression on the giraffe's face elicits excitement from little ones to adults...Beautifully made. The woman who made the sale in Cambridge, Ma recommended that I call the Chicago store near my niece. The saleswoman and manager were wonderfully helpful in making sure that my niece's gift could be shipped as well! People who support the fair trade artisans are supporting a wonderful group of people who staff the Ten Thousand Village stores and represent their products.
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Ten Thousand Villages in Ephrata
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Rockvale Outlets Lancaster, 35 S. Willowdale Dr., Ste. 126
Ephrata, PA 17501
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I have some mead in bottles, which have been stored in a reasonably cool, dark place for possibly as much as two years old. I had intended to leave it for about a year for bottle conditioning, but now I'm curious what's likely to have happened after a couple years. Is it still safe to drink, and if so, how tasty is it likely to be?
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Absolutely safe to drink, and absolutely tasty. Schramm mentions keeping some for 5 years or more. And I've heard of people making mead for their children's 21st birthday that would be as old as the kid. :)
I know of a VERY smooth bottle of mead that was 28 years old. Wish we had some more of that to drink.


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Eden was born in June 2007 and has been diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis with rotation and lordosis of the fourth degree. The position of some of her internal organs deviates slightly from the norm and some of her organs are a little smaller than typical because of her skeletal differences. However, her major organs appear to be healthy and working according to their function.
Eden's gross motor development is impaired due to her scoliosis, but she does walk and run independently. Her cognitive development is said to be age appropriate. She speaks in complete sentences, recites poetry and loves to sing songs.
Eden would benefit greatly from proper medical treatment and therapies under the loving wings of a dedicated forever family.
From a family who met Eden in May 2014: Eden was our daughter's best friend at the orphanage. Both girls loved to play together and share their things. While we had our daily visits with our daughter, we were told Eden missed her in the group. She welcomed her back with a hug every time and told her, "My dear girl, my best girl, I miss you."
Eden is a very sweet child who lights up a room. Her ability to walk unassisted impressed us tremendously. She also appears to be fully potty-trained and her self-help skills are age appropriate. Eden makes conversation and understands what is happening in her environment. This lovely girl would bring so much joy to a family and we believe her medical condition could be improved through treatments and therapies in the United States.
Update October 2014: Eden has been moved to an older child orphanage. Her caretakers are pleased with her and describe her as a very smart girl.
From a family who met Eden in May 2015:
Eden is a spirited girl who appears to be very happy most of the time. Physically, Eden is able to get around well, despite her disability. She can go up and down stairs, do all her own self-care (so I heard/did not observe). On the playground, I saw her run, climb up stairs, crawl through a tunnel and go down a slide.
She is very tiny, about the size of a 2-3 year old and about 25 lbs when I met her. But, the orphanage doctor says she hasn't had any heart issues, or respiratory problems and no hospitalizations. She is fully toilet trained (again, what I was told). Her fine motor skills seem mostly on target. She was able to string beads and learned how to open/close files on a computer.
Social and emotional skills are a bit of a challenge at times for Eden. She is very excited to see people and very affectionate. However, she can be strong-willed and sassy. In these areas, Eden seemed to me to be about 4 years old. Intellectually I heard she is bright but she is definitely several years behind same age peers, certainly in the U.S. She knew some colors and counting but is unable to read or write.
I am certain Eden would benefit by having a family, especially one where she could have a lot of focused attention. Aside from her medical needs, she would need assistance with academic skills and help learning how to be a "family girl."
There are several hospitals in the U.S. that have the ability to surgically straighten her spine (by inserting rods that can be adjusted) to some degree (we were told maybe to 50 degrees/her curve now is probably 90-100). We were told by an orthopedic surgeon that because her internal organs are small, she won't ever have full cardio-vascular capacity–this means she can tire out more easily than age peers, but it doesn't mean she can't enjoy playing and most activities other children like.
Additional reports, videos, and photos available upon request from the agency.
Eloise was born in October 2006 and has Down Syndrome as well as strabismus.
Eloise can walk independently and uses the bathroom with help. She drinks unassisted from an open cup, but needs a hand when eating. Eloise is non-verbal at this time, but makes herself heard with gestures and understands simple instructions. She attends a homeschool program at her orphanage.
Additional information, including video, available upon request directly from the agency.
Sweet Maisie was born in April of 2012 and has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Maisie is a sensitive child who likes looking at the world around her as well as listening to music and watching cartoons. She reaches for toys and tries to babble. Maisie can roll from stomach to back and vice versa. She cannot sit unassisted, but has some head control and tries to pull to a stand against stable support.
Maisie is responsive to her caregivers and appears to understand everything they say to her. She recognizes familiar adults and loves to be held.
Update April 2015: Specific reasons are unknown, but Maisie's condition seems to be deteriorating. She needs the love of a family as well as appropriate medical care and therapies quickly.
Olivia was born prematurely in November 2013 and has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, spina bifida, liquorrhea, paralysis of the lower limbs, and malformations of the feet. She received a shunt in early infancy.
Olivia is able to track with her eyes, has some head control, can roll over with help, but does not yet sit without support. The movement in Olivia's arms and hands is not restricted and she actively reaches for, holds and manipulates objects. Her caretakers describe her as an attentive girl who understands what they say to her and babbles a lot.
Head circumference in September 2014: 43.8 cm
Weight in September 2014: 6.2 kg
Height in September 2014: 63 cm
Additional information, photos and video available directly from the agency. Married couples only due to court appointed guardian.
From a family who met her in March 2015: What a gem! This little girl is such a doll with the biggest, most beautiful eyes. She is very alert and babbles. Olivia enjoys attention, even dropping her toy and whining so that someone would pay attention to her. Olivia appears to have good control of her arms and can sit up.
Alexis was born in August 2006 and has been diagnosed with pelvic positioning of the left kidney, congenital hypotrophy, and mild cognitive delays. Alexis can walk independently, is potty-trained, dresses and undresses without help, and feeds herself.
Though a bit shy with strangers, Alexis is sociable, communicative, and gladly participates in games and activities. She is described as obedient and easily follows directions from her caretakers. Alexis likes to recite poems and sing songs, as well as play with toys like dolls, purses, etc. Alexis's teachers note that she is able to learn and reasons well. In November 2013, she could count to ten and had just begun learning her letters.
Additional photos, video and reports available upon request from the agency.
Little Max was born in February 2014 and has been diagnosed with bilirubin encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and first degree hypotrophy. Max had ABO and rhesus incompatibility with his birth mother for which he received a blood transfusion after he was born.
Max does not yet have head control, but he can open his hands and move his fingers. He recognizes his caregivers and smiles at them when they speak to him. He enjoys physical affection.
Update November 2014: Max has improved his head control and can roll from back to tummy, but does not yet sit or crawl. He does not reach for things, but can hold objects handed to him. Max likes playing with his caretakers and enjoys receiving hugs. He is a happy boy who is starting to babble.
Boy, born 2006
Down syndrome
Jotham was born in April 2006 and has Down Syndrome. He is described as a well-behaved and good boy who is being homeschooled at his orphanage because he did not adjust well to a traditional classroom setting. Jotham can walk independently, is aware of his environment and knows the people around him. He follows instructions and has begun to communicate with words.
Additional information, including video, available upon request from the agency.
Adorable Nolan was born in April 2010 and has Down Syndrome. He also has a congenital heart defect.
Nolan is a sociable child who enjoys playing with toys. He can cruise along stable support and is quite a little climber. Even though Nolan does not yet speak, he understands instructions. He likes moving to music, eats well and sleeps soundly.
Update Oct 2014:
From a family who met Nolan in October 2014: Nolan is an active little boy and very interested in the happenings in his environment. When we visited his room with our son who used to live there, he instantly tried to interact with our son who had crawled into the playpen with the other kids plus Nolan was watching what we were doing as well. Nolan cannot yet walk, but sits, stands, crawls, and cruises. He eats and sleeps well. Nolan still uses diapers, but his caretakers know his typical bathroom times and put him on the potty for them. When I picked up Nolan, he made wonderful eye contact with me and I heard him babble different sound combinations. His caretakers told me he is a kind child who enjoys and seeks physical affection and attention from others.
Additional photos and personal information available upon request from the agency.
Lana was born in June 2002 and has Down Syndrome.
Lana is described as a very sweet, quiet girl with a beautiful smile. She is shy and does not speak, but she understands what is said to her and in her way answers questions. Lana can also carry out simple requests.
Lana is obedient with her caretakers. She participates in games as well as group and individual activities. Her self-help skills are good.
Lana loves to dance, likes everything pink, and is a very girly girl. She would thrive in a devoted family.
Update October 2014: Lana is a good girl who attends school where she participates in class and completes the tasks given to her. She is a very organized child and follows instructions.
Additional photos and personal information available upon request from the agency.
Robert was born very prematurely in May 2010. He has been diagnosed with intrauterine chronic acute hypoxia, severe asphyxia, and retinopathy of prematurity.
Robert is an active child who likes to play with noisy and musical toys. He can walk, but due to his impaired vision needs to hold on to a stable support or someone's hand. Robert is friendly and interactive, but can be stubborn and is protective of his favorite toys. He eats very well and likes being first when the meals are served.
Robert needs a patient and loving family that can provide the resources he requires to develop further.
Additional photos, reports, and videos are available upon request from the agency.
From a family who met Robert in May 2014: Even though Robert has impaired vision, it is clear that he sees something as he navigates himself through the room and seeks physical contact with others. Robert can walk with stable support and cruises along walls and furniture on his own. He was very affectionate with my husband and clearly enjoyed the attention. Robert was also able to play interactively with our son when receiving some guidance. The two boys had so much fun riding the seesaw together.
Gertie was born in September of 2002 and has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She receives regular physical therapy and is able to stand and walk with the help of a walker.
Gertie is described as an outgoing, sensitive and friendly girl. She eagerly takes part in group and individual activities and is very engaged in games. She likes to draw, memorizes songs and poems, and gladly completes her homework.
Update October 2014: Gertie is described as a smart, open and positive girl whose hard work continues to result in academic as well as physical progress for her. She's now in 5th grade.
Additional reports and photos are available upon request from the agency.
Adelaide was born in September 2005 and has been diagnosed with spina bifida, lower limb paresthesia, and a disorder of the hips. She is wheelchair-bound.
Adelaide is described as a sweet, joyful, and communicative girl. She is interested and participates in different activities and likes to help others. Adelaide regularly attends school and can read and write. She recites poetry and sings songs.
Update October 2014: Adelaide is being homeschooled at her orphanage at a third grade level. Her teachers are very happy with her academic progress and Adelaide likes showing off her math and language workbooks.
Additional reports and photos available upon request from the agency.
Boy, Born February 2003
Down syndrome
Jake was born in February 2003 with Down syndrome. He is a happy young man who loves animals and can talk about them for hours, especially about cats. Jake can understand English and loves music and to sing! Songs that have hand motions are his very favorite. He enjoys puzzles, books and Legos! Please give Jake a chance!
Updated April 2014: Jake is an active, happy boy who attends school, likes to play games, and enjoys singing and dancing. Jake has well-developed self-help skills. He eats and drinks as well as dresses and undresses independently. Jake knows how to wash his hands and face, brush his teeth, and make his bed without assistance. Jake is also potty-trained. Jake speaks in short sentences and has a large vocabulary. He was exposed to the English language for the first several years of his life and can understand it. He tells stories, counts, and recognizes 27 letters. Jake understands simple rules and follows them. He would thrive in a loving family.
From a family who met him in 2015: Jake is such a nice boy. He will greet you happily with a handshake. Jake understands and speaks English as well as his native tongue. The caregivers and other residents at his home speak English, so he has a very good understanding of it. Jake is a very capable and independent boy. He would thrive in a family of his own. MARRIED COUPLES ONLY.
Down syndrome, CHD (repaired)
This energy filled and vibrant little girl was born with Down syndrome in August of 2003 and is ready for an active family with lots of structure. She can understand and speak two languages, including English. She had surgery to repair a heart defect in 2003, but has required no additional treatment. Annalise is beaming with sunshine and loves cell phones and cameras, like all curious little girls! She loves to be the center of attention and is very smart!
Updated April 2014:
Annalise is an active, friendly girl who speaks clearly with an extensive vocabulary. She uses short sentences and understands two languages, one of them English. Annalise walks independently, including up and down stairs.
Annalise has great self-help skills. She eats and drinks as well as dresses and undresses without assistance. She can wash her hands and brush her teeth on her own.
Annalise attends school where she has learned to count, recognize 25 letters, cut with scissors and paint. She can re-tell a short story and participates in simple games. Annalise likes to listen to music and dances very well. She would thrive in a loving family.
From a family who met her in March 2015: Annalise is a beautiful young lady with long brown hair and the most adorable freckles. She is very sweet, but also quite independent. She came right up to me and sat on my lap. She speaks some English and is very verbal in her native tongue. The caregivers and other residents at her home speak English, so she has a good understanding of it. Annalise is adored by the other residents and caregivers in her home.
Boy, Born July 2004
Down syndrome, ADD
Sweet Harlan was born in July of 2004. He has been diagnosed with Down syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder. He does not use speech as means of communication and he has cognitive delays. He needs assistance with basic daily living skills.
Update October 2014: Harlan is nonverbal and his development continues to be significantly delayed, but he can now walk independently.
Additional photos, video and report available from the agency.
Boy, Born July 2000
Brandon was born in July of 2000. He has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. He is described as calm, smiley, active, and friendly. He likes toys, especially blocks. He likes to show what he has built with blocks and is very proud with himself. He does not pronounce words clearly, but most people are able to understand what he was saying. He is able to understand what is being said to him, as well as perform simple tasks. He recognizes some items and knows the colors. He is described as "a very sweet boy".
Photos, video and a report are available from the agency upon request.
Girl, Born May 2003
Sweet Addison was born in May of 2003. She has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. She is described as extremely active, joyful and friendly. She does not speak, but is able to let you know what she wants and when you ask her questions she answers by gestures and making sounds. She loves toys, especially blocks. She communicates with other children very well.
Update October 2014: Addison attends third grade and is described as a good girl. Even though she is still nonverbal, she appears to understand at least some of what is said to her and responds in her own ways.
Additional information available upon request from the agency.
Down syndrome
Sweet Eva was born in September of 2004. She is described as an active, joyful girl who likes toys and to play games. She is also very friendly and likes to communicate with people.
Update October 2014: Eva is described as an easy child who understands instructions and partially takes care of her own daily needs. She attends third grade.
Additional information is available from the agency, upon request.
Girl, Born November 2009
Down syndrome; her heart has an open oval window without hemodynamic disorders. There has been no need for monitoring or treatment by a cardiologist.
Laura receives physical and speech therapy. Laura's caregivers report that she is a sweet and joyful girl who likes playing with toys, listening and moving to music, and spending time with other children. She is active and affectionate and it's easy to make her laugh. Laura is currently non-verbal, but follows simple instructions and responds to her name. Laura lives in a great bilingual orphanage where she is exposed to the English language and receives wonderful care and attention.
Updates July 2, 2012 & September 30, 2012: Laura responds when she hears her name by looking or turning her head and smiles. She can give you a small item if asked. She is not eating by herself yet, but can put food in her mouth. She is not speaking or walking yet but is progressing little by little. She is described as playful and you can easily make her laugh. She likes to sit and take everything in around her.
Updates February & March 2013: Our agency staff representative visited Laura in February and March and our Executive Director visited Laura in February. They provided the following update: Laura is healthy and joyful as usual. She is very active and affectionate. She can entertain herself but likes attention very much. She does not walk yet, but is able to climb up the couch or on the chair or back to the floor. She does not say any words yet. She enjoys listening to music, rocks back and forth to the beat. She has a good appetite! Laura has a best friend in her orphanage and likes to play on her own or with him most of the time. Laura is in a bilingual orphanage, one of which is English, so she is used to hearing English and her native language. We have updated photos available upon request!
Update July 2014: Laura can now stand up without assistance and walk when held by the hands. She is a very quick crawler and using this skill to get everywhere. Laura feeds herself and understands instructions both in her native language and English.
From a family who met Laura in March 2015: Laura is so sweet. The first day we saw her, she was engaging in imaginative play and diligently caring for her baby doll and feeding herself and baby pretend food. Laura also likes music and dancing. The caregivers were playing a children's music video that she found quite engaging. She is affectionate and sat cuddled in my lap for a time. Laura has been curious about us as we've been visiting our daughter.
Update May 2015: Laura can walk independently now. She appears to understand most of what is said to her, even though she doesn't speak much. She loves attention and often seeks it out.
Happy Callum was born in February of 2010 and has been diagnosed with "defect of urinary and reproductive organs, external auditory canal atresia of the right ear".
His caretakers state that he is a very sweet, smiley boy. He knows his caretakers and seems to respond to them. He is a little behind developmentally but they think he will catch up with assistance.
From a family who visited in August 2015: "Callum is an adorable little pixie of a fellow. He is completely lovable and wants nothing more than hugs. He is very mild mannered and tends to go off alone and play with a toy rather than join the gang. He's a love bug in a tiny package and very strong even though he appears so slight. When we visited we would pick him up with one arm and hold him a great deal. He is incredibly friendly with a smile that can bring you to tears. I am shocked he has not gotten more attention. He deserves it."
Update from January 2013: After visiting with Callum in January, our agency representative had the following update. Although Callum has some issues with one ear, he is still able to hear. He can walk, but does not speak. He can hear and understand simple tasks. Callum is a very reserved, calm and friendly boy. He likes to play by himself rather than with the other children. He is also very affectionate and likes when people love him and say good things to him. He likes to have his privacy and when he is playing with toys he does not like when somebody interrupts him. He has a good appetite, but has his favorite foods; if he does not like something he will refuse to eat it, as any typical toddler does! Additional photos and videos available upon request from the agency.
Update May 2013: After visiting with Callum in May, our agency representative had the following update. Recently, Callum was taken for a medical examination. The result showed that he does not have one kidney and the other is small. But he is feeling not bad. He still is not speaking or trying to speak. He understands and makes his caretakers understand what he wants with gestures and expressions. It appears that he can hear something, but probably not enough to speak yet. He is playful and friendly as usual, but he loves attention, and if you do not pay attention to him, he may start to cry and become very fussy. He wants visitors to play with him, and if you play with other child he may go to the corner, sit there by himself and feel upset.
Boy, Born April 2009
Down syndrome, CHD
Sweet Christian was born in April of 2009 with Down syndrome and a heart condition. He is a happy and fun little guy. Christian is active, attentive, gives lots of smiles and loved very much by his caregivers. He enjoys watching television, listening to music, playing with toys and eating cookies! Additional photos and video are available from the agency.
Update from January 22, 2013: Christian is able to walk, is very active and likes to dance. He is able to say various words but he cannot speak in sentences. Christian is described as very kind, friendly, shy and sensitive. He also enjoys listening to music and knows many songs by heart. He is smart and knows how to play many different games. Christian knows different characters from various cartoons and sometimes asks for a certain cartoon to watch. He is able to eat by himself, except for soup, as he sometimes makes a little bit of a mess!
Update May 2013: After visiting with Christian in May, our agency representative had the following update. Christian can walk independently now. He speaks (although his words are a little unclear). He answers the questions, e:g: where is "Neal" (he knows all children) or how are you, completes simple requests. He has become very active and very joyful. The Orphanage Director says that he is very smart and very kind. Our in-country representative feels that the family who adopts Christian will be blessed. At present he is healthy and in a good mood.
Susie was born prematurely at 27 weeks gestation in June 2011. She has been diagnosed with multiple malformations of the brain, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, porencephaly, hydrocephaly, and hematomas. A catheter and shunt have been placed to allow fluids to drain from Susie's brain. Susie has epilepsy, is blind, has no head control, and has significant developmental delays, but she reacts when someone speaks to her and loves music.
Additional photos and reports are available upon request from the agency. Please note: Married couples are given preference due to child's court appointed guardian in this case.
Down syndrome
Nicholas was born in May of 2011. His physical development is on target. He is able to sit up, stand and is able to walk holding onto furniture. He is very active and likes to play with toys and other children. Nicholas is also very observant; when someone is playing with other kids of his group, he watches them very attentively as if wanting to take part in it. He has been seen playing with one of the other boys in his group, they giggle and talk in their own little language, as if they know exactly what the other is saying. In general, Nicholas is a serious child, but if you make him smile he smiles. He currently eats and sleeps well.
Update February 2014:
Nicholas is an active and very sweet boy. He likes to run around and gladly plays with toys and other children. He eats and sleeps well. Though non-verbal at this time, Nicholas is described as a very responsive child who understands everything that is said to him and follows instructions. His nannies adore him.
Nicholas is special friends with another little boy in his group; they giggle and communicate in their own private language, as if they know exactly what the other is saying.
Nicholas would thrive in a loving family.
Photos, videos and additional reports are available upon request from the agency.
Reese was born in April 2007 and has an infectious smile and piercing blue eyes. Reese has been diagnosed with strabismus, Spina bifida and hydrocephaly, receiving a shunt shortly after birth.
He is able to crawl with assistance, but cannot sit up without support. He receives physical and occupational therapy which has improved his head control. He enjoys books, blocks and singing songs. He is able to feed himself finger foods, such as bread and cookies. His caretakers say he is extremely smart and has an extensive vocabulary for his age. Currently he is completely immobile, but would really like to use a wheelchair like many of his friends. Any family interested in Reese will need to be prepared for obstacles that may come with his diagnoses.
From a family who met him in March 2015: Reese is such a joy! He just laughs and laughs and loves to be a part of the other children's laughter and joy. He even waved at me and blew me a kiss. Reese is verbal, I heard him speaking some English as well as in his native tongue. I was told that he will often start prayers and has them memorized. Reese would thrive in a family that could provide him with the therapies and love that he deserves. He really is a bright boy, but his physical limitations hold him back.
From a family who met him in 2014 and again in May 2015: Reese looked so much better this time! He remembered us and we hadn't been there in several months. He was more interactive and his assisted sitting position seemed improved. He does great on his stomach and can raise his upper body and head. Reese sings songs with everyone and knows the words. He speaks in his native language, but can copy English words. With therapy and more medical care and a family, I think he would progress at a fast rate. His physical disabilities are out of his control, but he chooses to be kind, funny, loves to laugh, loves to be held and touched.
Married couples are given preference due to child's court appointed guardian in this case.
Nigel was born prematurely at 29 weeks gestation in February of 2007, weighing 1500g. At the age of two months, Nigel was diagnosed with hypertensive syndrome and deformation of the head. A neurologist has also stated that his cerebellum is small and that is why he had some problems with coordination (in the past).
Nigel was brought to the orphanage when he was 5 months old and lived with his parents until that time. At the orphanage his issues with coordination improved and at present there are no concerns. He is able to walk, run and is very active. After being placed in the orphanage it was also found that he has a hearing impairment. He has not had a full hearing screen but it has been suggested that his impairment is rather severe. His caretakers are apprehensive of anesthesia needing to be used to check the issue further and will wait to see if there are other options. Nigel also has vision impairment, but he does not wear glasses at this time as he ends up breaking them. He is described as a happy boy, who is also very neat. He does not like when something is not in its place or the table is dirty or his clothes are dirty. He lets the caretakers know about it and ask them to clean it. He does not speak and does not say sounds, but is able to let his caretakers know what he wants by gestures. He loves going outside and is also very friendly.
Update October 2014: Despite wearing hearing aids, Nigel continues to be nonverbal. He is homeschooled at his orphanage where he feels more comfortable than in a public school setting. In unfamiliar or stressful situations, Nigel exhibits stubbornness and aggression. His social worker believes that he would make progress in a dedicated family.
Additional photos and video are available upon request from the agency.
Handsome Graham was born in April of 2007. He is developmentally delayed, does not speak and does not make sounds. He seems to understand some of what is said to him. He may also have cerebral palsy or another disorder affecting his motor skills.
Graham is described as kind, friendly, smiley, and joyful. He is very active and enjoys participating in games. Graham can complete a task when you repeat the instructions many times and show him what to do.
Update October 2014: Graham just started attending a school for hearing impaired children where testing is underway to get him a proper hearing aid. He continues to be nonverbal, but follows instructions and finds ways to communicate. Graham's self-help skills are evolving. He's now potty-trained and feeds himself.
Additional reports, photos and video available upon request from the agency.
Arwen was born at 32 weeks gestation in March 2013 and has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus for which a shunt was placed in July 2013 as well as cysts on his brain. He takes medication for epilepsy, but has not had a seizure since November 2014. Arwen also has esotropia and a cardiologist monitors his heart after he had sinus bradycardia.
Even though Arwen's development is delayed, he is an interactive boy who tracks with his eyes, babbles, follows simple instructions, and giggles. Arwen has head control, can sit without support for a little while, and uses his hands. Arwen can chew small bites of solids and guide finger foods to his mouth.
Married couples only.
Remy was born prematurely in August 2014 and has been diagnosed with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus for which a shunt was placed in infancy and hypertensive hydrocephalus syndrome. It is unclear how much Remy can see due to bilateral congenital diffuse cataracts.
Remy has head control and tracks with his eyes in all directions. He looks and smiles at familiar adults. At this time, he does not reach for toys. His caretakers say that Remy is doing quite well and that he laughs a lot.
Married couples only.
Girl, born December 2014
Spina bifida; a VP shunt has been placed.
Peggy is alert and tracks with her eyes. She has developed hand to hand and hand to mouth coordination and reaches for toys, but cannot yet hold them. Peggy appears to have head control, but needs support to sit. She regularly receives therapy.
Additional information, video and photos available directly from the agency. Married couples only due to court appointed guardian.