His friends call him Dou Dou (pronounced “dough dough“) for short.
In so many ways, Desmond is a typical little boy. His favorite toy is his Winnie the Pooh ball. He loves to roll it back and forth with his nanny. You can usually find him with a cookie in hand.
He loves to blow bubbles and make funny faces when his nanny leans in for a kiss on the cheek.
Unlike most little boys, Desmond is growing up without a family. At six months old, he was admitted to a Show Hope Care Center in Henan, China and was quickly diagnosed with arthrogryposis, a condition causing stiffness of the joints that can severely inhibit mobility.
Still, Desmond perseveres. It hasn’t slowed him down one bit.
Everyday, Desmond receives physical therapy to help strengthen his leg muscles. He works with his nanny to stand flat-footed with his back against the wall. He stands tall for five minutes at a time.
Thanks to the generosity of Show Hope sponsors and donors, Desmond has been able to receive the life-giving care he needs to thrive. The power of hope has miraculously transformed the life of this once stoic little boy. We pray that one day soon, Desmond can share his inspiring determination with a forever family of his own.
While we celebrate Desmond’s remarkable progress, we also recognize that there are so many more children who need this same love and life-giving care. They need hope: hope of love, hope of medical care, hope of a family.
This fall, Show Hope is breaking ground on a brand new care center in Nanyang, China. This three-story medical facility has the capacity to care for 72 orphans at one time. By opening this new center, Show Hope is able to help more children stand tall…just like Desmond.
© 2026 Show Hope