We adopted our daughter Irene from Russia at the age of thirteen. She was healthy except for her teeth. She has to get six cavities filled. The conditions at the orphanage were not good but this orphanage was one of the better ones in the Bransk area. It was the orphanage that the government uses to show the politicians and foreigners. They were also lucky because their director was a very kind and caring person. I'm sure any American would be surprised by the conditions there, but since we are originally from Russia, we were not surprised.
It was unbearably hot when we went and there was no air conditioning in the cars. At our hotel (the best hotel in Bransk) there was no air conditioning or hot water. They turned off the hot water that entire week for some reason. The fact that we speak Russian did make things easier for us.
We had met our daughter for the first time in America because she participated in a one month "exchange program". At the orphanage, all the children were somewhat sickly looking even though they were dressed in their best. When I saw Irene at the orphanage for the first time, which had been 10 months since she stayed at our house in America, she ran up and hugged me so hard, that I couldn't breathe! Then she wouldn't leave my side until I left.
Things have been going very well. Little by little she lost her fear and became more confident. We are very happy with her and glad she is our daughter. She is also doing well at school and is in the 7th grade.
The Gerasenko's