NAHLA from European Union

Nahla was born prematurely in March 2017 and lived with her family of origin until June 2020. Since then, she has resided in foster care. Nahla’s development is significantly delayed, and she is described as physically restless and cognitively lethargic. Update September 2022: Our in-country representative visited Nahla and found her to be a happy and affectionate child who likes to sit on her foster mother’s lap and have her hair stroked. Nahla continues to be nonverbal and does not attempt to communicate with gestures. She does not respond when called by name nor carry out simple instructions. Nahla’s movements are unpredictable, and she requires constant supervision for her own safety. Nahla attends kindergarten and has opportunity to spend time with other children in the extended foster family, but she does not play or interact with her peers. Nahla enjoys light up and musical toys, being outdoors, and eating fruit, particularly peaches. While Nahla’s foster family meets her basic needs well, they do not provide a stimulating environment that would aid Nahla in expanding her skills. June 2022: Nahla can walk independently but is unstable and not well oriented in her movements. Similarly, her fine motor skills are not well coordinated and lack complexity. Nahla is not yet potty-trained and requires a certain level of assistance with all tasks of daily living. She also needs close supervision to ensure her safety. Nahla is nonverbal and does not make much eye contact. While she has learned to respond to her name, she does not carry out simple instructions. She exhibits self-injurious behaviors, such as hitting, biting, and screaming. Nahla lacks age-appropriate attention and concentration and struggles to memorize and reproduce information. She does not play with toys. Nahla receives three hours of intervention per week, working with a speech therapist, physical therapist, and psychologist. She appears to have formed a bond with her current foster mother, including brief interactions, such as hugs and eye contact. Nahla enjoys listening to music. A family interested in adopting Nahla must be prepared for the additional diagnoses she is likely to receive post-adoption and should consult with specialists regarding neurodevelopmental conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Coordination Disorder.