As a child with albinism and ongoing needs after a liver transplant, 3-year-old Shui needed more care than her orphanage could provide. She found the nurturing care she needed at Peace House, Holt’s donor-supported medical foster home in China.
Shui arrived at Peace House when she was just 3 years old. Her silvery-white hair rested delicately under her sunhat, and behind her thick-brimmed sunglasses were soft eyes. Shui has albinism, a condition that presents both medical and social challenges in her home country of China.
She had just undergone a liver transplant — a major operation requiring proper after-care to ensure full recovery. Before the procedure, she had been living in an orphanage, but when her liver began failing, she needed urgent care. Many children who return to orphanages after critical medical procedures struggle to fully recover due to a lack of specialized care, often developing infections, open wounds and severe scarring.
Because of donor support for Peace House, Shui was transferred to a safe, warm sanctuary where she could heal.
Holt’s Medical Foster Home in China
Peace House is a special medical foster home in Northeast China. Holt began overseeing Peace House in 2011, but a lot has changed since those early days. The medical foster home was once located in the heart of Beijing, inside a high-rise apartment. The home welcomed nine children at a time, serving 30-40 each year. But recently, Peace House has transitioned to sharing a campus with an orphanage north of the city. With this change, Peace House has opened its doors to more children, now providing a home for up to 14 at a time.
The children now have the opportunity to spend time outdoors, something they couldn’t do in Peace House’s previous 31-story building in the city. Since Peace House shares a campus with the orphanage, children in the medical foster home can join in the fun activities organized by the orphanage, including holiday dances and celebrations. Caregivers also have more capacity to focus on providing specialized medical care, as the orphanage now handles food services and other basic needs. Before, caregivers were responsible for everything — cooking, laundry and more. These changes have allowed Peace House to impact more children in need of medical care, an opportunity made possible through the generosity of donors.
Overcoming Developmental Delays
When Shui arrived at Peace House, her self-care and motor skills were behind those typical for her age. She was unable to hold a spoon by herself or put on her own socks and shoes. Shui depended on caregivers for almost all her needs.
Early childhood care is critical to ensuring a child reaches developmental milestones. Without proper medical care, physical attention and nutrition, the effects of underdevelopment can be permanent. Institutionalization substantially increases the risk of delays. Children can experience developmental delays of a month for every three months they’re in an orphanage. But in nurturing foster homes like the ones Holt donors support in China and other countries, children receive the attentive care they need to reach critical milestones. In China, Holt donors support a number of group homes, including specialized homes for children with special needs — such as HIV. And of course, Peace House.
After just two weeks of one-on-one care at Peace House, Shui developed the ability to feed and dress herself. And as time has passed, Shui has become more independent in caring for herself, even regarding her medical needs.
Living With Albinism in China
Shui’s white skin and hair set her apart from those around her, creating a stark contrast in appearance. She is often seen wearing sunglasses — and sometimes a sunhat — to protect her skin and eyes from the harsh effects of sunlight. Albinism, which causes a lack of melanin in the skin, significantly raises the risk of skin cancer. The absence of melanin also affects how she processes light, contributing to low vision and nystagmus, an involuntary movement of the eyes. As someone who is legally blind, Shui will likely need vision support throughout her life and may be unable to perform certain tasks, such as driving.
While Shui faces certain limitations due to her condition, visual support and accessibility adaptations will help her confidently navigate daily life. In China, those with albinism have historically faced social ostracization and discrimination. As albinism is often seen as a symbol of bad luck, babies born with this condition are sometimes abandoned. As they grow, these children are typically excluded from traditional educational institutions and have limited career opportunities. This is especially challenging in a society that highly values educational and occupational success.
There are efforts to change the stigma of albinism in China. Organizations like Chinese Organization for Albinism are working to raise awareness and advocate for those with the condition. Their initiatives focus on providing medical aid, mental health support and crucial information to individuals with albinism and their families. The organization hopes to educate Chinese society about the medical aspects of albinism, which affects an estimated 100,000 people in the country. Care for the marginalized is also at the heart of Holt International’s mission — and Shui is just one of many who deserve love and care.
Shui’s Surgery and Recovery
Although albinism shapes Shui’s daily life, it was her urgent liver needs that brought her to Peace House. After undergoing a liver transplant, Shui needed ongoing care that her orphanage simply couldn’t provide. Thankfully, Peace House has made a world of difference to her future.
Without treatment, infected livers are unable to regenerate tissue and eventually fail. While in care at her orphanage, Shui was able to find a match and receive a healthy liver. The journey doesn’t end there, though, which is why Peace House is instrumental in helping children recover from medical procedures and providing support for children living with lifelong medical conditions.
In the first year following her surgery, Shui underwent frequent tests to monitor for signs of possible liver rejection. She began her twice-daily immunosuppressant medication regimen to help her body accept her new liver — which is a lot for a 3-year-old to undergo. Dedicated caregivers at Peace House helped Shui recover by administering her medications, performing needed tests and providing for her meals and basic needs.
In the time since her surgery, Shui has continually been impacted by her liver transplant. She continues to take immunosuppressants daily and has monthly check-ups to monitor the function of her liver. Along with the challenges of her liver, her albinism will be a lifelong journey, with her vision continuing to pose obstacles in her daily activities. She currently needs glasses but due to her nystagmus, she cannot be fitted for glasses until she is older. This leaves her in need of assistance while navigating daily tasks. Shui will continue to live at Peace House for another year, where she will receive care and learn to manage her medical needs as independently as possible. After completing her stay with Peace House, Shui will return to the orphanage, where she will attend school and continue to receive medical care from orphanage caregivers.
Shui’s Future Growing Up in an Orphanage in China
Through the generosity of Holt donors, Peace House has supported Shui through her early childhood development and a major medical procedure. She is continuously learning to manage her needs as a liver transplant survivor and a girl with albinism. Her caregivers aim to help her achieve independence as she progresses. As for her long-term future, Shui must continue to overcome adversity.
Last August, after more than 30 years, China decided to end its international adoption program. This policy change has altered the future of many children, particularly those with medical and special needs. Holt International hopes for international adoption to one day resume in China, as the need for international adoption persists. In the meantime, some children living in orphanages may be adopted domestically in China. But in reality, it is most often the youngest, healthiest children who are adopted by families within China. As a child considered to have special needs, Shui is unlikely to be adopted domestically in China.
Because of this reality, the care Peace House has provided for Shui makes all the difference for her future. Through Peace House, she has received nurturing, ongoing care that she likely would never have otherwise received. She has made strides in her development, overcoming adversity and growing in her ability to function independently. While Shui may spend the rest of her childhood in an institution, her healthy development with Peace House caregivers will impact the rest of her life. At 5 years old, Shui is a curious and caring little girl who loves to help and share her toys with others. Peace House has given Shui a voice, which she uses to sing — even incorporating Peking opera into her repertoire from time to time.
As Shui returns to an orphanage with resilience, more children living in orphanages with medical needs will experience the haven of Peace House. Because of the generosity of donors sharing their hearts, more children will heal and overcome seemingly unsurmountable odds to live healthy lives.
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