Our path to parenthood was difficult, like that of so many. We endured many failed IVF procedures but we were also lucky–I gave birth to two daughters, Ruth and Diana, now 4 and 6. And yet, our family didn’t feel complete.
We were excited about the idea of adoption and always had been. We decided to try orphan hosting through a program from Kyrgyzstan that gives children living in an orphanage–children with very few opportunities in life–a summer abroad. For us, the summer would be a chance to see what adopting an older child might be like for our family.
Our first visit with Karina was in the summer of 2016. Waiting to meet this wide-eyed little girl of seven, we had all the worries one might have when bringing an older, orphaned child into their home. I imagined the worst and hoped that at best, it wouldn’t be a gigantic mistake.
We couldn’t have imagined what a perfect fit Karina would be for our family. I figured that Ruth and Diana would find the idea of an older sister novel at first, but after a few weeks would want their space and parents back. I’m still amazed at how wrong I was. The girls took to Karina immediately and never let go. They absolutely adored their new big sister who painted their nails, did their hair, and became their accomplice in crime. They quickly created their own communication system: a handful of Russian words, bad English grammar, and exaggerated body language.
In Karina we found a child who was curious and kind, both shy and spirited, at times quick to get upset, but easy to soothe, and always eager to give and receive love. In other words, just a child, like any who could have been born to us. Towards the end of our six week visit with Karina, we spent the day with another family who was hosting two brothers from the same orphanage. Karina asked the boys if they had found their mother and father, because, she explained, she had. And we had found our daughter. By the end of that first visit, we knew that she was the missing piece of our family.
The fees from the adoption agency are over $40,000, and there are many other agencies with their own fees that must be paid along the way. Kyrgyzstan has an unusual requirement which demands that adoptive families travel on three separate occasions before the adoption can be finalized (none of these costs are included in the adoption agency fees). And, there is the continued cost of bringing Karina to us for winter and summer visits until she is home for good. Karina is getting older and longs to be with her found family. We hope to finalize adoption as soon as possible, which means paying the fees as soon as possible. We humbly ask for your help in bringing Karina home.
