Medical Expedited Adoption
Spende geschützt
Our adoption story started 2 years ago when our middle child asked if we would be interested in adopting a little girl from Ecuador. We said yes and spoke to everyone we could think of to help. In the end it was not possible and we were devastated. We had planned for this little girl and at that point we decided we were missing a piece to our family.
We researched all the options and decided on China. They have a stable adoption program and lots of children needing families. We started out looking for a minor correctable needs child.
In October I saw a little girl named “Elsa” on the advocacy board, and there was something about her. Her special need was far too great for us so I kept searching. I did however look at Elsa’s page every day to see if anyone had her file, or if anyone had written LOI for her.
December 1st I came upon a sweet little angel on the board with albinism, I asked to see “Paisley’s” file and was told we would be family number 7 in line. Did I want to be on the list anyway? Yes. “Paisley” is darling and many people look for children with albinism so I thought we may never even have the chance to look at her file let alone be her parents.
On December 15th I woke up and had an e-mail from the agency with this little ones file AND another file that was not even on the site yet. We had both girls evaluated by an International Adoption Doctor, who told us she had albinism, significant vision impairment and moderate developmental delays (probably from orphanage life and the vision impairment). We signed with the agency and submitted LOI for her. We received PA on January 8th.
Paul and I did a lot of talking about what we wanted. We were both only children and we did not want that for our newest child. The only consideration was one trip or two. There are pros and cons to both options. We had sort of settled on one child this time unless it felt right.
I had reviewed several files and in the meantime andI kept coming back to that first little girl I saw on the advocacy board, I asked questions and read reports. I dreamt about her. I had seen every picture, update and video. I showed them to Paul. Every single time. As we were eating dinner one night shortly after we got PA for “Paisley” Paul says lets see if they will transfer “Elsa’s” file. Wait? What? I wrote a ton of e-mails that night. Another family had the file and was “seriously considering” “Elsa”. They said no like all the other families before (at least 12 other families). The file was pulled back by the CCCWA right then.
We could not find “Elsa’s” file, she wasn’t on the shared list and the facilitator at her old agency couldn’t locate her, the facilitator at our agency couldn’t find her. She was just gone.
On January 19th, Kathy the gal that handles the inquiries about all the kids found “Elsa”!!! She called me that night from home. I didn’t know if we would find her. We had no idea what had happened to her file, but Kathy’s daughter (who also works in adoption) was looking at the shared list and she read “Elsa’s” special need and said how pretty the little girl is. Kathy came over and saw it was the girl we were looking for. She locked the file for us.
Am I scared? You bet! Honestly I’m terrified. Heart stuff is big and downright terrifying. I know she will need heart surgery shortly after she arrives home. I worried if we could do it, if we could handle it but then I realized if not us who? If someone doesn’t go get Elsa she isn’t going to survive. “Elsa” has been through so much already.
Elsa has Tetrology of Fallot and Pulmonary Atresia. TOF is basically four structural abnormalities of the heart and then added to that “Elsa” has a missing or malformed pulmonary valve. This makes her TOF very serious and complicated.
Here is the thing, her oxygen saturation rates have gone from 78% down to 62% and she needs to get home now. We have letters from the pediatric cardiologist and the IA doctor, we have been approved by the USCIS to expedite our adoption.
Time is critical.
At this point I cringe every single time our agency calls. I’m terrified they will call to give me bad news. In our forum 4 other moms have gotten the call that their child has passed away before they were able to reach them. I worry every day.
Please also feel free to follow us at www.bissynut.com
We researched all the options and decided on China. They have a stable adoption program and lots of children needing families. We started out looking for a minor correctable needs child.
In October I saw a little girl named “Elsa” on the advocacy board, and there was something about her. Her special need was far too great for us so I kept searching. I did however look at Elsa’s page every day to see if anyone had her file, or if anyone had written LOI for her.
December 1st I came upon a sweet little angel on the board with albinism, I asked to see “Paisley’s” file and was told we would be family number 7 in line. Did I want to be on the list anyway? Yes. “Paisley” is darling and many people look for children with albinism so I thought we may never even have the chance to look at her file let alone be her parents.
On December 15th I woke up and had an e-mail from the agency with this little ones file AND another file that was not even on the site yet. We had both girls evaluated by an International Adoption Doctor, who told us she had albinism, significant vision impairment and moderate developmental delays (probably from orphanage life and the vision impairment). We signed with the agency and submitted LOI for her. We received PA on January 8th.
Paul and I did a lot of talking about what we wanted. We were both only children and we did not want that for our newest child. The only consideration was one trip or two. There are pros and cons to both options. We had sort of settled on one child this time unless it felt right.
I had reviewed several files and in the meantime andI kept coming back to that first little girl I saw on the advocacy board, I asked questions and read reports. I dreamt about her. I had seen every picture, update and video. I showed them to Paul. Every single time. As we were eating dinner one night shortly after we got PA for “Paisley” Paul says lets see if they will transfer “Elsa’s” file. Wait? What? I wrote a ton of e-mails that night. Another family had the file and was “seriously considering” “Elsa”. They said no like all the other families before (at least 12 other families). The file was pulled back by the CCCWA right then.
We could not find “Elsa’s” file, she wasn’t on the shared list and the facilitator at her old agency couldn’t locate her, the facilitator at our agency couldn’t find her. She was just gone.
On January 19th, Kathy the gal that handles the inquiries about all the kids found “Elsa”!!! She called me that night from home. I didn’t know if we would find her. We had no idea what had happened to her file, but Kathy’s daughter (who also works in adoption) was looking at the shared list and she read “Elsa’s” special need and said how pretty the little girl is. Kathy came over and saw it was the girl we were looking for. She locked the file for us.
Am I scared? You bet! Honestly I’m terrified. Heart stuff is big and downright terrifying. I know she will need heart surgery shortly after she arrives home. I worried if we could do it, if we could handle it but then I realized if not us who? If someone doesn’t go get Elsa she isn’t going to survive. “Elsa” has been through so much already.
Elsa has Tetrology of Fallot and Pulmonary Atresia. TOF is basically four structural abnormalities of the heart and then added to that “Elsa” has a missing or malformed pulmonary valve. This makes her TOF very serious and complicated.
Here is the thing, her oxygen saturation rates have gone from 78% down to 62% and she needs to get home now. We have letters from the pediatric cardiologist and the IA doctor, we have been approved by the USCIS to expedite our adoption.
Time is critical.
At this point I cringe every single time our agency calls. I’m terrified they will call to give me bad news. In our forum 4 other moms have gotten the call that their child has passed away before they were able to reach them. I worry every day.
Please also feel free to follow us at www.bissynut.com
Organisator
Paul Staley
Organisator
Federal Way, WA
