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My wife and I first met Jonathan about 4 years ago, when he was only 2 years old. We had gone on a trip to Brazil to visit her side of the family. While there, my wife’s uncle approached us and asked if we would consider adopting his two grandchildren, Jonathan and his sister. The children’s mother became addicted to drugs and the kids were taken to a shelter. The grandfather lives alone and is not in good health, unable to care for the children himself. We were excited by the opportunity as we have been unable to have children together. What could be more perfect than adopting in the family? We didn’t want a stranger to adopt them.
We went to visit the children in the shelter who were living in miserable conditions. I gave Jonathan a piece of chocolate and when he couldn’t unwrap the candy, he ran to my wife and said “Open it for me mommy.” We fell in love with the children in that moment and wanted to adopt them that very day. Unfortunately, their mother did not agree with the adoption and promised she would go to rehab and clean up. We returned home devastated.
We checked with Uncle occasionally to see how things were going. “She’s trying” was the report. About a year or so later, we heard that Jonathan’s sister had run away from the shelter with a boyfriend. She was then 13 years old. This is when the story changes from sad to tragic. It is three years later, the mother’s drug problem is worse than ever, Jonathan is still in the shelter and his sister is nowhere to be found. Then one day, Jonathan’s sister shows up at a relative’s home. She had been kept against her will by a drug dealer. She had not run off with a boyfriend, that was a story made up by her mom. She had been traded for drugs by her own mother. We were very upset when we found this out because it could all have been prevented! The court ordered that the mother be denied all contact with Jonathan and moved him to a secured shelter. As a precaution, he is not allowed any visitors. The court is concerned that his mother may do to him what she did to his sister.
When we received this news and a renewed plea from Uncle, we immediately took steps to start the adoption process. We hired an attorney in Brazil and as directed by the court, obtained medical and psychiatric evaluations, background checks and submitted financial records. The court requested pictures of our home, Jonathan’s future room, our neighborhood, and photos of ourselves and relatives. Now that all the documents have been submitted, we anxiously wait for the Judge’s decision.
The answer could come at any time and we are desperate to obtain the funds necessary to pay the adoption fees, the attorney fees, court fees, Jonathan’s passport and immigration fees at the US Embassy, travel costs, and time off work. So many fees! There is a possibility that we might have to travel multiple times to Brazil. My wife is a school teacher and the school will allow her take unpaid time off. I am in the computer business and if I don’t work, I don’t get paid either. It all adds up very quickly. We ask you to consider donating to help us bring Jonathan to our safe and loving home. We would be eternally grateful!
*Note: Jonathan’s sister is now 16 and lives with her grandmother.
We went to visit the children in the shelter who were living in miserable conditions. I gave Jonathan a piece of chocolate and when he couldn’t unwrap the candy, he ran to my wife and said “Open it for me mommy.” We fell in love with the children in that moment and wanted to adopt them that very day. Unfortunately, their mother did not agree with the adoption and promised she would go to rehab and clean up. We returned home devastated.
We checked with Uncle occasionally to see how things were going. “She’s trying” was the report. About a year or so later, we heard that Jonathan’s sister had run away from the shelter with a boyfriend. She was then 13 years old. This is when the story changes from sad to tragic. It is three years later, the mother’s drug problem is worse than ever, Jonathan is still in the shelter and his sister is nowhere to be found. Then one day, Jonathan’s sister shows up at a relative’s home. She had been kept against her will by a drug dealer. She had not run off with a boyfriend, that was a story made up by her mom. She had been traded for drugs by her own mother. We were very upset when we found this out because it could all have been prevented! The court ordered that the mother be denied all contact with Jonathan and moved him to a secured shelter. As a precaution, he is not allowed any visitors. The court is concerned that his mother may do to him what she did to his sister.
When we received this news and a renewed plea from Uncle, we immediately took steps to start the adoption process. We hired an attorney in Brazil and as directed by the court, obtained medical and psychiatric evaluations, background checks and submitted financial records. The court requested pictures of our home, Jonathan’s future room, our neighborhood, and photos of ourselves and relatives. Now that all the documents have been submitted, we anxiously wait for the Judge’s decision.
The answer could come at any time and we are desperate to obtain the funds necessary to pay the adoption fees, the attorney fees, court fees, Jonathan’s passport and immigration fees at the US Embassy, travel costs, and time off work. So many fees! There is a possibility that we might have to travel multiple times to Brazil. My wife is a school teacher and the school will allow her take unpaid time off. I am in the computer business and if I don’t work, I don’t get paid either. It all adds up very quickly. We ask you to consider donating to help us bring Jonathan to our safe and loving home. We would be eternally grateful!
*Note: Jonathan’s sister is now 16 and lives with her grandmother.