In 2015, Priscilla Morse of Tennessee saw a shocking photo on Facebook. The picture showed a little orphan boy who lived in a Bulgarian orphanage. He was starving and covered in hair due to malnutrition.
Priscilla knew she had to help baby Ryan. Her husband David agreed.
The 7-year-old child was emaciated; his hair was thin and his skin was pale. He was dying.
Having already adopted daughter McKenzie (who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect), the Morse family was willing and able to give Ryan the life he so deserved.
It’s been one year since Priscilla rescued Ryan, and just wait until you see how different he looks today…
This heartbreaking photo is a shocking image of baby Ryan.
One year ago, Ryan was a starving, emaciated and helpless orphan from Bulgaria.
When Priscilla Morse saw Ryan’s photo, she felt an instant connection.
Priscilla, a loving wife and mother from Tennessee, heard about Ryan through Reece’s Rainbow, a grant organization that helps fund adoptions for kids with special needs.
Priscilla and her husband David were already proud parents to Dylan, Jack and McKenzie.
With the help of Reece’s Rainbow, the couple adopted McKenzie from Russia in 2012.
McKenzie has Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect.
Priscilla and David decided to adopt Ryan from Bulgaria and get him on the road to recovery.
They brought him back home to Tennessee, and the journey began.
Priscilla fought for a feeding tube for Ryan. His bones protruded from his body and his skin was as pale as a ghost.
He was also covered in body hair “as a last ditch effort made by his system keep warm and sustain life.”
Priscilla and David learned the extent of Ryan’s health issues. He has several diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, microcephaly, dwarfism, scoliosis, clubbed feet and re-feeding syndrome.
His next major medical procedure will be spinal surgery. He needs a rod placed to help straighten out his back.
Priscilla and David remained by Ryan’s side through each and every step of the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Ryan had a long way to go, but he was quickly showing some incredible progress.
Today, Ryan is smiling, laughing and moving on his own.
“Given everything he’s gone through, he is an incredibly happy guy!” Priscilla told LittleThings.
“It was about a year ago when I started my fight for a feeding tube for Ryan,” Priscilla said.
“He was dying. Now, he is moving into 24m/2T clothing and weighs 23 lbs. His hair is thick and shiny; his skin is no longer pale, but a lovely olive shade that is representative of his Roma heritage.
His lips are full and pink and he just looks like a thriving, healthy little boy.”
“I am thankful to God for restoring this child,” Priscilla wrote on Facebook.
“I am thankful to God for answering my prayer to break my heart for what breaks His because it led me to this boy who all but owns me.”
Priscilla and David hope Ryan’s story encourages adoptive parents not to overlook kids with special needs.
They’re worth it.
If you’d like to learn more about Ryan, please visit his Facebook page.
God bless the Morse family for their unconditional love. Please SHARE Ryan’s story with your friends on Facebook.
