Our Adoption

In the last nine months we’ve learned much more about adoption, especially adoption from Ethiopia.  Bottom line is, these kids need our help.  One in particular, has drawn our attention, and we asked to be matched to him.

“Tommy” (not his real name, or his real picture because we're not allowed to share him online yet; we will as soon as we're allowed) is 3, and comes from a very rural village in southern Ethiopia.  Today, he lives in an orphanage in the capital of Ethiopia.  He was placed for adoption when he was 2 because his father died and his mother had no source of income.  Tommy was born with a neurological problem that has caused some paralysis and keeps him from speaking.  While his medical care at the orphanage is much better than it was at home, he still needs lots of help.  We want to bring him to America, where he can get an MRI and be properly diagnosed by a neurologist.  We’re confident, with the help of physicians, a better diet, physical and occupational therapy, he can improve.  But none of that will happen until we bring him home.

Adoption is a long, complex, and expensive process.  Ours will cost around $31,000. We're paying most of the cost ourselves, but we need some help to get Tommy home sooner.  We've applied for some help from a few charities that are in the business of encouraging adoption, international adoption, or adoption of kids with medical concerns.  We've received a grant from Brittany's Hope, a very cool charity in Pennsylvania, and Holt International, our agency, has agreed to reduce its fees a bit to help move our process along.  Still, even with all our resources and this help, we're about $6,000 shy of what it takes to bring our boy home.

We can't wait until we're allowed to share his photos with the world; he absolutely shines!  But, for now, you'll just have to take our word for it.  If you'd like to help us bring Tommy home please consider making a financial contribution.  We'll gladly put your money to work--with our own--to make a huge difference in the life of a child.

OUR ADOPTION TIMELINE:
1997: Adoption is a general topic of discussion, as well as a very real option due to certain family circumstances.  Does not come to pass; life continues.
May 2000: Birth of our youngest son, Morgan
June 2000: Decide four kids is enough
Jan 23, 2010: God touches our hearts again, begin researching adoption, primarily in Haiti due to recent natural disasters
Feb 1, 2010: Find out Haiti will not permit adoption, contact Holt International
Feb 10, 2010: Get introduced to Waiting Child Program as the way to make a big difference quickly
Feb 16, 2010: Begin series of telephone interviews and discussions
Mar 1, 2010: Introduced to M1, a 10 yr old boy in Uganda who is deaf.
Mar 31, 2010: Review of Chris' medical condition by Uganda program managers. Learn MS diagnosis will not exclude us.
Apr 5, 2010:  After extensive reading on older child adoptions, we decide a slightly younger boy would be better for our family, leaving space between him and Morgan.  Introduced to M2, a 4 yr old boy in Ethiopia who has some unknown medical problems, and H, a 3 yr old boy with neurological deficits.
Apr 12, 2010: Get lined up with Adoption Connection in Cincinnati, our local agency.  Meet Angie Bowling.
Apr 27, 2010: Notified by Holt another family has requested M2, decide we also want to "go to committee" for him.
May 7, 2010: Notified the other family was given M2's referral.  We were a little bummed, but knew God must have another plan for us.
May 10, 2010: Begin discussing A, a 7 yr old boy with a gorgeous smile, Uganda program staff talk us out of Uganda based on wait times and political difficulties there.
June 2, 2010: After extensive medical research, thoughtful discussion with our medical advisory team and tons of prayer, we ask to go to committee for H, a 3 yr old boy in Ethiopia.
June 15, 2010: Committee for H gives us the referral.  We're elated!  Kids start calling him Tommy.  Brittany's Hope offers $5,000 grant to assist with funding; Holt agrees to reduce country fees by $3,460.
June 22-23, 2010: Homestudy parts 1 and 2
June 30: Homestudy part 3
July 20: Meet with Dr. Deb Joy, family psychologist with international adoption experience to discuss impact on family.
September 15: Finally, our Homestudy paperwork is done.  Took waaay too long! Hosed by Ohio Dept of Jobs & Family Services who took 75 days to do 35 seconds worth of work.
September 16: final verifications for dossier paperwork
September 17: I-600A sent to Customs/Immigrations
September 21: Dossier sent to Holt, received 9/22, small errors fixed 9/23
September 23: Notified by USCIS they got our I-600 application
September 24: Holt says dossier complete...soon on its way to ET!
October 11: Holt says our dossier is in Ethiopia.  Now we wait for it to be translated, sent to the ET court, and our court date to be scheduled.
October 28: fingerprinting for USCIS done.  Sent official Brittany's Hope Foundation paperwork back to finalize their grant for Tommy.
November 2: Notified of our court date!!!! January 12, 2011
December 20: Tommy's medical record reviewed by International Adoption Center at Childrens Hospital; almost ENTIRELY good news!
January 8: Trip 1 to Ethiopia
January 12: Court!  Tommy is our son!!!!!  Now, we wait for the American Embassy and USCIS to issue a passport, visa, and immigration papers.