This week's horrific earthquake in China is bringing heartbreaking stories of all kinds, but some that especially hit parents right in the gut – the collapsing schools, for example, that killed hundreds of kids who were their families' only child thanks to the country's one child policy.
And for people trying to become parents, or add to their families, through an international adoption from China the news must be especially upsetting. There are a number of orphanages in the earthquake zone near Chengdu in Sichuan province, although thankfully there have been no reports of injuries to children at any of the welfare institutions.
I was pointed to China Adopt Talk by a friend who's currently in the process of adopting a special-needs boy from an orphanage in another part of China. They have frequent updates on the status of all the orphanages  in the affected zone. It seems to be a pretty good source of information on the whole process of adopting from China.
The Half the Sky Foundation provides preschools and help finding foster homes to children in Chinese orphanages. According to China Adopt Talk, they are on the ground helping out  with relief efforts and are posting daily earthquake updates on their site.
I know that adoptive parents are not considered real in some quarters, but these parents to be waiting to meet their children halfway around the world feel this disaster very keenly. Let's all keep a good thought in whatever way you choose to do that, and try to help if you can.

Photo: Half the Sky