Help Kylee Go Home
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The Long Road Home – Lost for 13 Years
I have a beautiful, adopted daughter. Her American name is Kylee Fengmin Bowers. She is beautiful, smart, talented and just about to turn 18 and head off to college!
My family and I adopted Kylee, when she was 11 years old, on Valentine’s Day, 2012. She turned 12 just a few short months later.
We were originally told that she had been abandoned when she was 5 years old. She was found alone, walking along a bridge, over a small creek bed, on the outskirts of a small village.
By all accounts, Kylee welcomed the opportunity to be adopted and brought into a loving family! She knew who we were and agreed to be adopted by us before we proceeded. We got to Skype with her and exchange picture and letters during the year long wait to journey to China to get her.
Here is a picture she sent to us during that wait!
Kylee wrote us a letter at one point, describing her joy at joining our family! This is a picture of the letter that they took for us to see.
The orphanage provided a translation of the letter for us to see.
Dear Mam,
How are you?
In the past few days, I am so thankful for the surprise you bring to me and for a warm and happy family to me. Mam, can I travel all over USA? I really want to go. I hope to see dad and mam soon as well as my family members. And I hope to travel and spend the time with you together.
Mam, do you know what clothes I like to dress? Let me tell you. I like beautiful skirts. I also like fresh fruits. Do you know my hobbies? If you don’t know, I can tell you. That’s Latin dancing and I like Latin Dancing.
Mam, can you send me some photos? I really want to see my future family members and my house. If possible, I am looking forward to your letters.
Love you,
Your daughter: Zhong Feng Min.
June 30, 2011
Kylee transitioned into our family exceedingly well, and has been a joy and brought us much happiness!
However, from the time she learned enough English to communicate and talk to us (about 6 months), she has insisted, vehemently and repeatedly, that she was never abandoned! She related a story about going with her daddy, early one morning, while still dark out, and raining.
One day, after about 6 months with us, she pointed to her feet and said, “bad feet, bad, bad feet.” We asked her why do you say that, you have the cutest little feet in the world?” They are size 3 in kids. She said, “because they walked away from my family.”
Her story in her own words:
“I kept begging my dad to take me to work with him so he finally agreed. We left and stopped by a ladies house, I think my aunt’s and she gave me some money that I put in my pocket. On the way to work, my dad dropped me off at a house. I think it was a family friend. I snuck out of the house because I missed my dad and wanted to go find him at work. It was raining really, really hard. I got lost. A nice, older lady found me and took me to the police station. I couldn’t understand anything they were saying to me. They were speaking in another language that I did not know, so I just kept shaking my head yes and smiling. Then they took me to the orphanage.”
Kylee loves it here. Loves her family. Loves school and is excited to be going off to college soon!
But for 6 years now, she has retold and relived the story above. She remembers her biological mother and father, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And remembered having 3 siblings. In her memories, she had family that loved her and knowingly disregarded the China “one child” policy. She recalls all the kids hiding under a bed in grandmother’s when police came to see if there was more than one child there.
For 6 years, her number one dream and aspiration has been to find and reconnect with her birth family. During this time, we did fully support her desire and efforts to find and reconnect. I just ached inside for her, because I did not want to see her hurt or to be disappointed.
So, she has reached out to as many people as she could in China. Has maintained contact with her orphanage family, many of the social workers, kids from school etc.
Coming to the present, about 2 months ago, Kylee found a web site in China, that seems to have as its mission, the work of reconnecting families that have been separated by adoption etc. She made an inquiry on the page. This agency then assigned a volunteer to work with her to navigate their process and the things they would need to try to help her.
They conducted an interview with her, asking numerous questions and gathering information. Then drafted an article for the news papers there along with a picture of herself from the orphanage when she was 5 or 6, and a current graduation photo.
This was published in a local newspapers in the area where she was found 13 years ago, as well as an online publication that has readership all over Southern China.
In addition, it was shared with the local police in that neighborhood. The volunteer required anyone who inquired or thought they knew her to work through the police.
Lo and behold, through a series of events, she was contacted by her Aunt there, who had seen the article. She reached out to Kylee. Eventually, this led to her father reaching out as well.
He even had a letter he had written 13 years ago, taking to all the local police and other agencies trying to find his daughter.
So he went to the local police station, provided a blood sample, and the volunteer got a sample of Kylee’s DNA from the orphanage. Several days later, we got confirmation that he was indeed her biological father! She has now been in communication with her biological family for 2 weeks. She has parents, grandparents, 3 other siblings as she remembered and a 4th born after she got lost. Aunt’s and Uncles and cousins! She has been Skyping and texting and communicating now for two weeks.
Kylee asked her dad what he remembered about that day.
He said that he knew she was a little young, but that she was very smart and mature for her age so he did decide to take her to work that day. They stopped by her aunt’s house. Her aunt gave her money for a pair of shoes. They bought the pair of shoes and Kylee was allowed to put the change in her pocket. Kylee remembered the money—but did not put that in her story in the newspaper. Nor did she put that it was raining really hard that day. After they got the shoes, her dad took her to work but they told him she was too young so he took her to his brother’s house. Later, she disappeared and they never saw her again. Her dad said he did not go home for a month-but kept searching for her. Her Aunt and Uncle set up a stand by a market to watch for her. They did this for 8 years. Also, when her younger brother turned 8, he determined to become a police officer when he got older. When he was asked why, he said it was so he could find his lost sister.
Kylee is not looking to move back to China, relocate there etc. But she does desire to return there to visit her family. She knows how much opportunity she has here, and is very excited to go to college at the U of I in the fall!
Thus, my prayer and my ask. If you could contribute whatever you are moved to do, to the fund to help me take her to China for 10 – 12 days, it would be greatly appreciated!
Kylee has a scholarship for tuition to attend U of I in the fall, but we still need to cover books, fees and housing. And, I have another daughter also starting college at the same time.
I would love to take Kylee back to China to see her family, but I simply lack the resources at this time.
I am asking for $12,000.00 to cover plane tickets, In-country transportation, translator for essential times during visit—especially when arriving, meeting them and leaving, hotel (the safer ones for foreign travelers are costly according to the adoption agency), food, tips, etc.
.
If we can generate enough, my desire would be for my wife and I take her back to China. So we can be joyous witnesses to her reunification.
Thank you for your consideration!
God bless you!
I have a beautiful, adopted daughter. Her American name is Kylee Fengmin Bowers. She is beautiful, smart, talented and just about to turn 18 and head off to college!
My family and I adopted Kylee, when she was 11 years old, on Valentine’s Day, 2012. She turned 12 just a few short months later.
We were originally told that she had been abandoned when she was 5 years old. She was found alone, walking along a bridge, over a small creek bed, on the outskirts of a small village.
By all accounts, Kylee welcomed the opportunity to be adopted and brought into a loving family! She knew who we were and agreed to be adopted by us before we proceeded. We got to Skype with her and exchange picture and letters during the year long wait to journey to China to get her.
Here is a picture she sent to us during that wait!
Kylee wrote us a letter at one point, describing her joy at joining our family! This is a picture of the letter that they took for us to see.
The orphanage provided a translation of the letter for us to see.
Dear Mam,
How are you?
In the past few days, I am so thankful for the surprise you bring to me and for a warm and happy family to me. Mam, can I travel all over USA? I really want to go. I hope to see dad and mam soon as well as my family members. And I hope to travel and spend the time with you together.
Mam, do you know what clothes I like to dress? Let me tell you. I like beautiful skirts. I also like fresh fruits. Do you know my hobbies? If you don’t know, I can tell you. That’s Latin dancing and I like Latin Dancing.
Mam, can you send me some photos? I really want to see my future family members and my house. If possible, I am looking forward to your letters.
Love you,
Your daughter: Zhong Feng Min.
June 30, 2011
Kylee transitioned into our family exceedingly well, and has been a joy and brought us much happiness!
However, from the time she learned enough English to communicate and talk to us (about 6 months), she has insisted, vehemently and repeatedly, that she was never abandoned! She related a story about going with her daddy, early one morning, while still dark out, and raining.
One day, after about 6 months with us, she pointed to her feet and said, “bad feet, bad, bad feet.” We asked her why do you say that, you have the cutest little feet in the world?” They are size 3 in kids. She said, “because they walked away from my family.”
Her story in her own words:
“I kept begging my dad to take me to work with him so he finally agreed. We left and stopped by a ladies house, I think my aunt’s and she gave me some money that I put in my pocket. On the way to work, my dad dropped me off at a house. I think it was a family friend. I snuck out of the house because I missed my dad and wanted to go find him at work. It was raining really, really hard. I got lost. A nice, older lady found me and took me to the police station. I couldn’t understand anything they were saying to me. They were speaking in another language that I did not know, so I just kept shaking my head yes and smiling. Then they took me to the orphanage.”
Kylee loves it here. Loves her family. Loves school and is excited to be going off to college soon!
But for 6 years now, she has retold and relived the story above. She remembers her biological mother and father, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And remembered having 3 siblings. In her memories, she had family that loved her and knowingly disregarded the China “one child” policy. She recalls all the kids hiding under a bed in grandmother’s when police came to see if there was more than one child there.
For 6 years, her number one dream and aspiration has been to find and reconnect with her birth family. During this time, we did fully support her desire and efforts to find and reconnect. I just ached inside for her, because I did not want to see her hurt or to be disappointed.
So, she has reached out to as many people as she could in China. Has maintained contact with her orphanage family, many of the social workers, kids from school etc.
Coming to the present, about 2 months ago, Kylee found a web site in China, that seems to have as its mission, the work of reconnecting families that have been separated by adoption etc. She made an inquiry on the page. This agency then assigned a volunteer to work with her to navigate their process and the things they would need to try to help her.
They conducted an interview with her, asking numerous questions and gathering information. Then drafted an article for the news papers there along with a picture of herself from the orphanage when she was 5 or 6, and a current graduation photo.
This was published in a local newspapers in the area where she was found 13 years ago, as well as an online publication that has readership all over Southern China.
In addition, it was shared with the local police in that neighborhood. The volunteer required anyone who inquired or thought they knew her to work through the police.
Lo and behold, through a series of events, she was contacted by her Aunt there, who had seen the article. She reached out to Kylee. Eventually, this led to her father reaching out as well.
He even had a letter he had written 13 years ago, taking to all the local police and other agencies trying to find his daughter.
So he went to the local police station, provided a blood sample, and the volunteer got a sample of Kylee’s DNA from the orphanage. Several days later, we got confirmation that he was indeed her biological father! She has now been in communication with her biological family for 2 weeks. She has parents, grandparents, 3 other siblings as she remembered and a 4th born after she got lost. Aunt’s and Uncles and cousins! She has been Skyping and texting and communicating now for two weeks.
Kylee asked her dad what he remembered about that day.
He said that he knew she was a little young, but that she was very smart and mature for her age so he did decide to take her to work that day. They stopped by her aunt’s house. Her aunt gave her money for a pair of shoes. They bought the pair of shoes and Kylee was allowed to put the change in her pocket. Kylee remembered the money—but did not put that in her story in the newspaper. Nor did she put that it was raining really hard that day. After they got the shoes, her dad took her to work but they told him she was too young so he took her to his brother’s house. Later, she disappeared and they never saw her again. Her dad said he did not go home for a month-but kept searching for her. Her Aunt and Uncle set up a stand by a market to watch for her. They did this for 8 years. Also, when her younger brother turned 8, he determined to become a police officer when he got older. When he was asked why, he said it was so he could find his lost sister.
Kylee is not looking to move back to China, relocate there etc. But she does desire to return there to visit her family. She knows how much opportunity she has here, and is very excited to go to college at the U of I in the fall!
Thus, my prayer and my ask. If you could contribute whatever you are moved to do, to the fund to help me take her to China for 10 – 12 days, it would be greatly appreciated!
Kylee has a scholarship for tuition to attend U of I in the fall, but we still need to cover books, fees and housing. And, I have another daughter also starting college at the same time.
I would love to take Kylee back to China to see her family, but I simply lack the resources at this time.
I am asking for $12,000.00 to cover plane tickets, In-country transportation, translator for essential times during visit—especially when arriving, meeting them and leaving, hotel (the safer ones for foreign travelers are costly according to the adoption agency), food, tips, etc.
.
If we can generate enough, my desire would be for my wife and I take her back to China. So we can be joyous witnesses to her reunification.
Thank you for your consideration!
God bless you!
Organizer
Matthew W. Bowers
Organizer
Hamel, IL
