The creation of Knowing Hope began with our founder, Cindy Morrison. Cindy is a registered occupational therapist, who has been working in the field of pediatrics and early intervention for the past 27 years. Special areas of interest include children with life threatening illness and children impacted by trauma. Cindy’s involvement with the people of Guangxi, China began in 2002 with the adoption of her first daughter. In 2005, with the adoption of her second daughter, she began regular teaching for orphanage workers and foster mothers who were caring for orphans with special needs in Guangxi, focusing not only on physical care, but emotional care as well. In 2011 and 2013, she adopted two daughters with transfusion dependent thalassemia, and became more aware of the impact that health inequity has on the local community in China.
During a work trip to China in 2014, Cindy met a dying baby in an orphanage who inspired Knowing Hope. She was 9 months old, and reportedly had only a few months to live. As an orphan diagnosed with biliary atresia, there was no possibility for a liver transplant. As miracles abounded, she quickly earned the nickname Hope. Not only did she survive, but she was also adopted by Cindy and received a lifesaving liver transplant.
After Hope’s transplant in November of 2015, it became clear that the time for the establishment of Knowing Hope Inc. as a registered 501 (c) (3) had arrived. Hope’s life became a symbol that there is always hope for all children regardless of medical diagnosis or circumstance. The mission of Knowing Hope is to help children with catastrophic and chronic illness to not only survive but thrive. We are committed to serve and make a difference for each child, one life at a time.
Over the past 18 years, beginning as a volunteer and continuing through partnership work, many children’s lives have been changed by providing: access to medical support including blood transfusions for children with transfusion dependent thalassemia; medical and developmental equipment to orphanages, foster families, and community families; emotional care to those who are caring for orphans or children with chronic medical needs; and ongoing education regarding the provision of exceptional care for children with medical and special needs.
