Casper from European Union

Casper was born in October 2018 via C-section due to indications of oxygen deprivation. He resided with his family of origin until he was one year of age and since then has been living in a large orphanage. Casper has been diagnosed with internal hydrocephalus for which he has a VP shunt, epilepsy treated with medication, spastic quadriparesis, and cortical blindness. His development is significantly delayed. Update October 2021: There have been no changes in Casper’s circumstances and his development has not progressed. Casper cannot move his own body and relies on adults for all of his care. He experiences discomfort and distress when his physical position is adjusted and his interactions with his environment are nearly non-existent. Casper does not exhibit social or emotional reactions in contact with others. July 2021: Casper spends most of his time lying in his crib. He appears to hear sounds in his environment but is currently nonverbal. His hands are clenched into fists, preventing Casper from developing fine motor skills. He is bottle-fed and wears diapers. Casper does not interact with other children and while all of his daily care is being provided by adults, he has not formed any attachments or relationships with them. Casper responds to tactile stimulation but does not smile in contacts with others. He works regularly with a physical therapist, a psychologist, and a pedagogue. A family interested in adopting Casper must be prepared to provide for his intensive life-long needs.