We adopted Vienna from Russia at the age of 14 months. The orphanage was very, very clean and the staff seemed very loving and knowledgeable. Vienna had a specific caregiver who was assigned to her who cried when she handed her over to us, which made us feel very good about the care she had been receiving. Still there were so many babies and not enough staff. But you could tell they did what they could.
We were told that Vienna might have some cerebral palsy due to early birth but otherwise she appeared to be healthy. Unfortunately she has extreme sensory difficulties and other issues that have been difficult to diagnose although we have seen many, many doctors.
The conditions of the city of Krasnoyarsk; the city and especially the airplane to get there were very difficult to handle. But the people were very warm. I think the trip is just more difficult than you expect because you feel like you have no control over such an emotional situation.
When we went to court, the prosecutor didn't like something about how the deed to our house looked so she wanted a letter from our realtor stating that we owned our home. We bought our house so long ago that we couldn't find our realtor and had to find other documents and have them faxed over before they would finalize the adoption.
When we first met Vienna, she was so tiny, but so independent. We were just happy that she was being so well taken care of but it was still very hard to leave her and go home for weeks before we could come back to take her home with us.
The adjustment has been very difficult. We really love Vienna but for the first year she showed very little interest in us and hit and pinched me constantly. She doesn't stop moving, I think in an effort not to have to make a connection with people. Our agency doesn't seem to be equipped to help children as young as Vienna although they have tried to send us to some behaviorists but there doesn't seem to be anyone who specializes in her needs.
Unfortunately we just don't have a very happy story right
now; we adore our daughter and we are just struggling to find a way to make
her as happy as she can be.
We remain thankful to A Child Waits Foundation
for your help. And we do hope some day to adopt again. Vienna is
a sweet girl who will find her way. She is unbelievably athletic and was already
doing hand springs at two years old. We just have to find a way to channel that
energy. She has made a lot of progress in the two years that we have had her,
but she has a long way to go. We don't know if she will ever be able to be in
a normal classroom, but that is our goal and our hope.
Jeff & Carmen Borup