OUR STORY OF A TRUE MIRACLE
I
have always known that I wanted more than one child. Finding Mallory was a dream
come true. She is the perfect addition to our family. I am now the mother of two
beautiful daughters.
As
a single parent, I knew that it would be difficult to afford the costs of an adoption.
I have tremendous gratitude for the people involved in making this possible. Children
At Heart Adoption Services were great. I had enough money in savings to get the
process rolling, and my family was extremely supportive and helpful. I was able
to get one loan to cover a portion of the costs, but I still needed funds to cover
the final costs. A friend told me about A
Child Waits Foundation, and I was able to get
a loan from them and bring my
daughter home.
My
ten-year-old daughter and I flew to Moscow, Russia where a driver and translator
met us, after a layover we flew to Karaganda, Kazakhstan. We arrived along with
another couple early morning June 10, 2000. We were met again by a translator
and driver. We were taken to the motel to put our luggage away and shower and
change. (No actual showers were available.) They returned shortly to take us to
the orphanage. The director of the adoption agency was coincidentally in Karaganda
and would go along as well.
I could hardly contain myself. I was so excited.
I had a million emotions and thoughts going through my head. I was now only minutes
away from my second child who I had waited so long to hold. I was told there were
close to 200 babies in the Malutka orphanage from which to choose, but in my heart
I knew I was not going to choose a child. I simply had to find her. I knew in
my heart that when I saw my child I would know.
Although
all the babies were absolutely beautiful and definitely tugged at my heart, Mallory
was in the third room we entered. My daughter and I both agreed that she was going
home with us. I was told at first that she did not have the proper papers and
could
not be adopted. I asked them to recheck and they agreed. I was terrified
but I walked through the rest of the orphanage, playing with and holding the other
children. When we got to the end I asked if we could go check on my baby. Everyone
was thrilled. She was paper ready and could be adopted. They hurried to get her
and put her in my arms. I was overwhelmed. I held her with her sister right next
to her and told her about her room and toys she has at home. We told her how long
we had been waiting for her and how much she is loved. Although she was only 9
months old and weighed only 12 pounds. She
looked up at us with a beautiful
face and sparkling eyes as if to say, "what took you so long!"
We
spent the first two weeks in the orphanage through the day feeding and caring
for her and bonding. At first she did nothing, but lay on her blanket and look
at the toys we had brought for her. It was truly like watching a flower bloom
at high speed. By the end of the first week she was crawling, laughing and playing
with her toys. When she was returned to her room at the end of the day she said
"mama" and resisted. It was wonderful. She would get so excited when
we would come in the morning. Her eyes would light up and
her feet would
kick.
After two weeks we went to court and she was legally mine. Meg went to the orphanage
with another couple that were still in the visiting stage. She cared for Mallory
while I went to court. I went straight to the orphanage to pick up "both"
my daughters. What a great feeling.
We said our good-byes and left. We stayed at the motel the remainder of our stay in Karaganda. I met several other parents going through the same process. I feel I have made lasting friendships. We took our babies for walks and shopped and talked (we were the only ones not speaking Russian). It was very hard, not the life I am used to, but a great experience for my oldest daughter. Looking back the trip was definitely worth it. We arrived in NY JFK airport on July 22, 2000. Mallory did absolutely wonderful traveling. She is the happiest, most content, beautiful baby! One tip to future parents. Request a bulk head seat with a bassinet. There is no charge and Mallory slept quite comfortably for hours during the flight.
Update
Mallory has been home for 13 months. She is doing super. Her pediatrician Is extremely impressed with her physically and emotionally. She is very well adjusted. She is very content and happy, such an easy baby. She has a lot of the same mannerisms as my oldest daughter. I forget she is adopted. She follows her big sister around and mimics verything she does. She now weighs 24 lbs and is 33 inches tall.