Our Adoption Journey
On September 10, 2000 our dreams finally came true. Our
long awaited daughter, Savana Grace arrived home from India. She was the most
beautiful little girl. At last our very own daughter to love!
Our adoption story started like many other couples, by years of infertility. My husband and I struggled through five years of unexplained infertility. We suffered through three heart wrenching miscarriages, numerous fertility tests, and two unsuccessful IVF treatments. After years of disappointment, we decided to adopt. We considered adoption in our last year of fertility treatment but due to the expense of international adoption we knew we could not afford it. So, we continued our miserable treatments until it became too emotional to bear.
We attended our first general adoption meeting on December 30, 1998, (just about
the same time our daughter was born). After that meeting we were excited about
our new journey to become parents. We completed and gathered all the necessary
paper work needed for our adoption agency. After several visits with our social
worker, we had an approved home study. In July of 1999 our dossier went to India
and on February 22, 2000 our social worker phoned us with the most exciting news.
She told us they have a little girl for us. That was the one of the happiest days
of our lives!!
So, as I mentioned before we really didn't have any idea of how we were going
to afford almost $20,000 in adoption expenses. As we were going through the process,
I worried how we would find this kind of money. My husband and I had past credit
problems so obtaining a conventional loan was completely impossible. We were turned
down by credit card companies and banks numerous times. All I knew was I wanted
a child and nothing was going to stop us from being parents. I was hoping and
praying we would find a way to make it all possible. I guess I believed with prayers
and a little luck we would find a way of fulfilling our dreams of becoming a family.
A very big piece in completing this puzzle was made possible by Cynthia and Randolph
Nelson of A Child Waits Foundation.
We are extremely grateful to this couple for trusting us and approving us for
this special loan, without them we wouldn't have our daughter. A
Child Waits made our dream of becoming a family
a reality and for that we will always be grateful.
On September 10, 2000 our daughter's journey finally ended when she arrived at Logan Airport. She flew from Bombay, India to Switzerland then to the United States of America. A 22 hour flight!! !! The India Program Coordinator escorted Savana home. My daughter was greeted by friends and family members that were just as anxious to meet her as we were. We can not describe the feelings we felt as we saw her stroll through the doors. I guess you could say we felt elated and definitely complete. Our daughter was more beautiful than any picture we received and more gorgeous than we could of imagined.
Savana
(Bina) was quiet at first; I suppose she was amazed by all the strange surroundings.
However, quickly her emotions changed as soon as we held her she started to cry.
This was a bitter sweet moment, I felt bad that we were taking her away from everything
she ever knew; a foster family that she loved, a country that was a part of her,
and now an escort that she just bonded with. On the other end of the spectrum,
I was holding my daughter a moment we waited for our entire life. As we held each
other, and cried, Savana cried sad tears as we cried happy tears. It was the most
miraculous moment we have ever encountered. We were a family, a forever family!!
This was the happiest day of our life.
Our
daughter's adjustment was remarkably smooth. Savana has adjusted to her life in
America with admirable grace. She is a happy child and the light of our lives.
And we give our most gracious thanks to everyone that made it all possible, to
our family, Savana's birthmother, our adoption agency, A
Child Waits Foundation and God. Thank you for
a most memorable journey !
Yours
Truly,
The Dauksz Family