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Wednesday's Child: 17-Month-Old Jacob

BOSTON (CBS) -- Jacob is a 17-month-old Caucasian baby boy with big blue eyes and a huge bright smile. He loves to listen to his musical toys and the other sounds in his medical foster home.

Jacob was born at 33 weeks and has been diagnosed with a rare disorder called Severe Periventricular Leuckomalacia, which creates "holes in the brain." He has high muscle tone and often cannot control his reflexes. His symptoms look similar to Cerebral Palsy.

It is likely that Jacob will be unable to walk and will need a wheelchair in the future. He also has gastric reflux disease (GERD) and has some difficulty eating. He can take a bottle and eat soft foods. His vision has also been affected, and he needs to alternate wearing an eye patch over both eyes.

Despite his challenges, Jacob is a sweet and happy little boy who is able to bond with his caregivers and is adored by all who work and visit with him. He loves one-on-one attention and engaging with his caretaker. He enjoys people talking to him and holding him. When tickled, he loves to laugh and giggle. His occupational and physical therapists are very optimistic that Jacob will learn to talk as he gets older and it becomes age appropriate.

Jacob would do well in a family of any constellation, with or without other children, but it would be beneficial for there to be a parent who stays at home or has flexible hours to be able to accommodate Jacob's various medical and support services appointments. His new home must be handicapped accessible or could be made accessible to meet Jacob's future needs as he gets older. A family who has had experience parenting a medically involved child and can advocate on behalf of Jacob's needs, while making him a loved and well cared member of their family, is a must. Jacob is legally freed for adoption.

To learn more about Jacob, and about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.MAREinc.org. The sooner you call, the sooner a waiting child will have "a permanent place to call HOME."

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