Rylie's Finding Spot

Yesterday, we received a certificate which states the following:

"This is to certify that, through investigation, Hong Jia Hui (female, born on December 15, 2008) was found to be abandoned at the entrance of the Medical College of Nanchang University in Nanchang City by Liu Jianzhong, a resident of Nanchang City on February 9, 2009. Hong Jia Hui was sent to the Social Welfare Institute of Nanchang City by Zhang Jianwei of Dongjiayao Police Station of Nanchang City on February 9, 2009 and was settled into the Institute. After two months' investigation and researches, there was nowhere to find Hong Jia Hui's biological parents. Hong Jia Hui is an abandoned baby, definitely."

Not any more. Not. Any. More.

And never again.

19 months ago, a woman walked down these streets carrying her daughter. After caring for her baby for nearly 2 months, she had come to a sad, heart-wrenching decision. We have no idea how far she traveled to do the task in front of her, nor if she was alone or supported by someone else. I sense she loved this baby, perhaps more than I understand. Because, as much as I love my kids, I don't know if I could do what this woman did. I don't know that I could actually bring myself to leave them, in hopes of them having a better life, medical care, and a future. I want these things for all of my kids, but I don't know if I could do what she did for them to get it.

You see, at some point, she realized, whether it be through finances, family and cultural pressure, or her situation, that she could no longer care for her baby. So, she did what she had to do. She came to this place; a place where people would surely be. A place where her child could get medical care. A place to start a new part of her daughter's journey.

She came with her child....

....set her down....

....and walked away.

Forever.

Never to know what would happen. Never to be sure of the outcome. Never to know if her hopes for her child would come to fruition. One chapter closed, another one beginning.

I don't know, nor will I probably ever know the circumstances surrounding that day. Where she was from, why she made her decision, how she feels now, if it was sunny or raining, how long Rylie sat there before she was found, etc.

What I do know is this: This woman loved her child. She cared for her as long as she could. She wanted her to be found quickly.

This woman, wherever she is, will forever have a special place of thanks and honor in my heart and in the life of our family. We will eternally be grateful for her, for her courage, and for her gift to us. She gave us our daughter...she gave us her daughter. I don't know how she did it. But I am glad she did.