Austin is currently 10 years old and is of Chinese descent. He has think black hair and is described as “the cutest little guy…and the sweetest face.” Austin was adopted from China at 2.5 years old and has been living in the United States since 2017. Austin’s first adoption was dissolved, and he was readopted by his second family just before his 7th birthday.

Austin is currently in 3rd grade, but his academic level is closer to kindergarten. He loves Magnetiles, kinetic sand, blocks, Legos and water! He was born with Tetraology of Fallot, which was repaired in China at the age of 1. He will require a valve replacement at some point in his teenager years. Austin has a heart condition that does not limit in at all! His medical history includes a brain bleed requiring a follow-up surgery and lengthy hospital stay and focal seizures, which is well-controlled by medication. Austin has also been diagnosed with intellectual delay and mild autism.

At 7 years old, Austin had limited speech and suffered from incontinence and chronic diarrhea. He struggles with excess stimming, oral sensory fixation, low motivation for learning and lack of attachment. Austin made progress in his new family environment for about 18 months – for example, he learned to count to 20, hold a pencil and crayon, and color in the lines. In recent months however, Austin has regressed and is no longer interested in doing things he has previously been capable of doing.

Austin’s family is seeking dissolution due to disparity between the very large size of their family and the one-on-one attention Austin most needs to thrive. Austin’s parents feel confident that he would be capable learning and progress in a family environment where he is either the only child or the significantly youngest child in the home.

For more information, please contact postadoption@lifelinechild.org.

Lifeline’s role in this case is to advocate on behalf of Austin. This would be considered a private, domestic adoption.