We are happy to announce a new addition to our family! We are adopting! There is a little girl living in Inner Mongolia who has captured our hearts! Annie (as we'll be calling her) was abandoned when she was approximately one-week old. She is currently two-years-old and has spent her entire life living in an orphanage in the Ulanqab (or Wulanchabu) region, in the northern part of P.R. China. Annie has some medical conditions which will need treatment once she arrives in the U.S. She was born with an under-developed right ear, a congenital deformity called Microtia. Additionally, she does not have an opening to her ear canal, a rare deformity referred to as Auditory Canal Atresia. Due to the general lack of extensive healthcare provided to special-needs orphans, we're not sure of her current hearing capacity or potential capability. However, we know that with proper, consistent love and medical treatment, Annie will thrive. Her life of living in less than optimal care will only be the beginning of her story. Having a family, and community of people, who care for and love her, will be what she knows. We're going to make sure of it. Orphan care and adoption aren't easy. They're also quite costly. In an effort to help combat corruption and child trafficking, the Hague Convention was enacted by the UN. This is part of the reason international adoptions have such a high monetary cost. There are many more governmental checks and balances in place, creating a much safer environment for all involved. Added to all of the documentation fees needed for both countries, travel costs, home studies and agency fees, the cost of international adoption quickly adds up. Annie is in need of a strong, loving family. In his boundless wisdom, God has chosen us to become that for her. While we will be her "family", we want her to also have a strong community of people around her. It is important to us that she knows exactly how we were able to bring her home. We will make sure she understands how much love and generosity was shown to her, and her family, to help bring her home. If you are willing and able to donate, we'd love if you helped us write this next chapter of Annie's story. All donations made through AdoptTogether.org are tax-deductible. Thank you for your consideration. We are very excited to welcome this little one into our family! Sincerely, The Estradas Brandon, Rachel, Caleb and Josie
