Photolisting Profile for Zion

Zion is a 5-year-old boy from Texas who is hoping to be adopted.

Zion is a fun loving little boy who is generally good-natured. Zion has a big smile and likes to flash it often. He can light up a room with his smile and claps when he sees you. He loves Barney and Veggie Tails and his favorite music appears to be jazz and he likes to do the "Zion" dance to the music. Zion sleeps well except when he needs breathing treatments. Zion participates in an educational program for special needs children at school. He performs well and is making great progress. His teacher describes him as a "bright child, who is a joy to have in class." Zion knows the alphabet, can identify colors, and is able to recognize numbers 1 through 10. He participates in speech, physical and occupational therapy twice a week. Zion likes to test the limits and he will display a typical temper tantrum, at times. Zion can eat by mouth but does not chew his food, thus his diet consists of blended foods, the consistency of pudding. Zion loves food, especially desert! He feeds himself and is in fact very independent. Zion's foster Mom says he is "really a sweet, sweet child". He loves other children; he gets so excited to watch them play and interacts to the best of his ability. He loves to play with toys. Zion is an explorer and likes to check out his surroundings. He loves to be outside. Hugging and cuddling only occur when Zion wants to be held as he is too busy for that "mushy" stuff. Zion was born very premature and he has Chronic Lung Disease. He has been weaned from his ventilator but receives breathing treatments throughout the day. Zion currently receives about 20 hours a day nursing, which has been decreased from 24 hours. This number is expected to decrease even more as he continues to improve. Visit Zion at the Heart Gallery of North Texas.

Zion needs a family who can continue to work with him and his doctors and therapists in order to assist him in improving his health and quality of life. His family will need to be familiar with chronic lung disease and how to access the medical assistance he will need. Zion has overcome many obstacles in his short life and is a fighter and a survivor. His family needs to continue encouraging him in his development. Zion will be a great addition to that special family willing to open their heart and home to him. Zion has a twin who remained with the birth family.