Our Adoption Story
My wife Lori and I have a biological daughter, Hannah (4),
and a son, Ethan (2 1/2), whom we adopted in March 2001 from Astana, Kazakhstan,
through Frank Adoption Center-Maryland. Because Ethan's adoption was so pleasant
and easy and he has become such a joyful, loving member of our family, Lori
and I started talking about adoption again last December 2001.
This time, we felt we were prepared to handle a mild disability so we decided to look into adopting a special needs child. We spoke with our coordinator at Frank, and in less than a week had the perfect referral. Rustam was almost two years old when we saw his picture and video, he had been living in Kazakhstan's Petropavlovsk Baby House since birth, and he was born with congenital cataracts in his left eye, which, if left untreated or not treated early enough, could leave him blind in that eye. (We later learned that Rustam had eye surgery in Kazakhstan to remove the bad lens, but no other corrective action had been taken. He did not have a new lens implanted in the eye.) We took one look and fell in love; we knew this child deserved a warm and loving home and we were just the parents to give it to him. At the same time we agreed to adopt Rustam, we decided that this would be my last adoption trip to Kazakhstan (I traveled alone to Astana to adopt Ethan in March 2001 and would travel alone again this time while my wife stayed home to care for our other two children) and, as a result, we wanted to adopt an infant girl as well.
After weeks of waiting, we finally got a referral for Mahabbat, a nine-month-old girl in Astana. We accepted this referral, and began planning my trip.
Needless to say, we were excited about doubling the number
of children in our family, but at the same time, we were concerned about the
financial stress these two adoptions were putting on our bank account. In fact,
we weren't really sure we could afford to adopt both children, but after seeing
their pictures and videos and falling so deeply in love with them (it's hard
to explain, but you really can fall in love with a child through a picture and
video), we knew we couldn't leave them in their respective orphanages; what
kind of life could they expect? These children needed a family.
That's when we learned about "A Child Waits Foundation" and the assistance they provide to families for international adoption.. We completed the paperwork, submitted it, and waited. Finally, a few weeks later, we received a call with the good news-we had been approved, and would be able to bring both of these beautiful children home. So, once again, my wife and I were planning for me to travel to Kazakhstan; this time for two adoptions in two different cities. I had my work cut out for me.
On June 5, 2002-exactly 30 days from when I left; my brother-in-law,
who met me in Moscow to help with the children on the flight home, and I arrived
at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport where my wife got to meet her two
newest children for the very first time, two-year-old Logan (formerly Rustam)
and 10-month-old Kiersten (formerly Mahabbat).
Since then, Logan has gotten glasses and is undergoing therapy
to help strengthen his vision. He has seen an eye specialist and we are now
planning eye surgery for him to receive a lens implant that we are hopeful will
correct his vision. While Logan may not fully understand the significance until
he is older, Lori and I are forever grateful for the assistance we received
from A Child Waits Foundation that
has allowed him to receive the care he needs to see clearly.
If not for A Child Waits Foundation, Logan may have never received this care and Lori and I never would have been able to complete our family and give these children the home, the brother and sister, and love they deserve.
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Pictured - Starting Back Left Hannah, Logan, Kierstan and Ethan |
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Pictured - Left to Right Hannah, Ethan, Kierstan and Logan |
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