As a single parent, ready to
embark on my second adoption journey, I knew I had a long,
emotional road ahead of me. My son Mitchell, adopted at
birth 12 years ago, was 11 when I asked him how he would
feel about adopting a little sister. I knew if he wasn't
100% ready, I wouldn't be able to proceed. We talked about
the pros and cons of having a sibling and what it would mean
to our family. Mitchell decided he wanted to sleep on it
before giving me his final answer. The next morning his
first word was "YES"!
With my son as my main support,
I completed the application for the Kazakhstan program
through Children's Hope International and we waited for
approval before telling the rest of the family our plans.
Depending on which country is
chosen, the wait for your referral can be excruciatingly
long. I tried to prepare everyone for the long wait but
after just a couple of months, the "Have you heard
anything?" started. Mitchell was hoping his sister would be
home by Christmas, but the holidays came and went without
word. I knew our paperwork was making its way around the
world but the waiting became harder and harder to bear.
Soon after we became a part of
the Children's Hope family, I had access to the Waiting
Children website. This allows you to see some of the "hard
to place" children. Although I had requested a child with
only mild medical issues (preferably healthy), it became a
daily ritual to view the children posted on the website. In
January 2007, it finally happened. There was a picture of a
tiny and frail little 13-month-old girl. The short
description of her said: "difficulty of movement in her left
leg". The pictures showed her standing and receiving help as
she tried to walk.
Something tugged at my heart,
and I immediately sent an e-mail to Children's Hope
requesting her medical information.
Reviewing a Medical, a
Life-Altering Decision
After a very long wait (it was
only two weeks!), I received a one page medical. Her name
was Karina and she was born on November 7, 2005, premature,
although it was unclear as to how premature. When she was
7-weeks-old, she was taken to the Baby House of Taldykorgan.
I later found out she weighed only 2 pounds at birth and was
so frail when she reached the orphanage, they didn't think
she would make it. The report mentioned a few medical
problems but didn't give a real diagnosis on anything. I
discussed her medical at length with both Jeff Morris and
Anna Rister of Children's Hope, with my son's pediatrician
and with my family. It's so hard to know what to do without
having the child in front of you to hold and observe. I
listened to everyone's thoughts and opinions and decided to
just follow my heart -I knew I had to bring her home.
After making such an important
decision, we then had to wait a couple more months to
receive our travel dates. This process can really test ones
strength and patience!
Once
we arrived in Taldykorgan, we had one day to rest before the
big day. Our CHI representative, interpreter and driver were
with us the whole day as we met the officials of the city
before receiving permission to visit the Baby House.
When we arrived, we were
escorted to a room to wait some more, until finally Olga,
our Children's Hope representative, brought Karina to meet
us. I had heard a lot of different things about what to
expect during the first meeting but nothing really prepares
you for it. Mitchell and I sat on the floor looking at her
in Olga's arms and she intently stared back - no tears. I
guess she decided we were safe because when Olga put her
down, she crawled right over to us and started touching
Mitchell's face and then my own. After that first moment of
hesitancy, it was as if she had known us forever. We started
our 14 day bonding period right then and it didn't take long
for her to become excited when she saw us walk in and then
start to cry when it was time for us to leave.
Our three week trip turned into
six. For those six weeks we went to the Baby House twice a
day to visit with Karina and the rest of the babies in her
group. Both Mitchell and I became attached, not only to
Karina but to the other babies as well. All their faces
would light up when they saw Mitchell walk in - they knew it
was play time! They were always happy and laughing when we
were there and Karina loved being able to play with the
others while we were there to watch and join in.
After our court date, we went to
say our goodbyes to Karina. I knew she didn't know what was
happening, but we did and it was very hard knowing it would
be four to six weeks before I could bring her home. On June
22 we arrived home...and she has been ruling the household
ever since!
I took her to the pediatrician
the first week home and then to an orthopedic doctor to find
out what was wrong with her leg. Guess what? Her left leg
works just like the right leg and she is not only walking on
her own but she is now running! Both doctors have declared
her healthy other than needing to catch up with regard to
her height and weight. She is still very tiny but she
doesn't notice it and thinks she is one of the big kids.
At Home with a Family
Karina
loves pre-school and is coming up with new words every day.
She has a wonderful relationship with her brother and they
love to make each other laugh. Her new extended family gives
her undivided attention and she has become quite the
"showboat" when all eyes are on her.
I hope that anyone that is
thinking of or is in the process of international adoption
knows that it is a long, emotional and sometimes rough road
but when you meet your son or daughter for the first time,
all of the waiting and emotional highs and lows that you
have experienced slip away and quickly become a distant
memory.
There isn't a day that goes by
when I don't think of all the babies we left behind. I hope
and pray it doesn't take long for them to find their forever
families. Keep looking at the Waiting Children's website
while you wait for your paperwork to be processed - your son
or daughter could be there waiting for you!
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