We Found Our Kids—Now We Just Need to Bring Them Home!
For years, we had considered growing our family through adoption. When we learned that having biological children wasn’t an option for us, it only solidified our decision to provide a loving home for kids who need one. Adoption was always in our hearts, and after hosting two siblings from Colombia with Project 143, we knew—these are our kids.
Now, we’re doing everything we can to bring them home permanently, but adoption is shockingly expensive. The total cost will be $44,385 - $48,605, which covers:
• Adoption fees, legal services, and in-country costs – because nothing says “family” like a mountain of paperwork.
• Travel expenses – since international adoption is definitely more than a simple road trip.
• A psychological evaluation – yes, we have to pay someone to confirm that we’re sane enough to adopt these amazing kids.
We’re hoping to raise $10,000 through crowdfunding to help cover these expenses. Every donation, big or small, gets us closer to bringing these kids home. If you can’t donate, sharing our story means the world to us. Thank you for being part of our journey and helping us make our family whole.
Things You Don’t Need to Know, But Want to Know
Q: Why can’t we have kids?
A: Gabi had endometrial cancer and needed a hysterectomy, which means having biological children wasn’t an option for us.
Q: Why didn’t we try IVF?
A: We never got that far —it would have required a surrogate, and that option just wasn’t right for us.
Q: What made us decide on adoption?
A: We’d always thought adoption was a wonderful option, and after really looking at our situation, we finally decided to take the plunge.
Q: How much have we paid so far?
A: We’ve already spent around $14,000 on various adoption-related fees and expenses.
Q: Are the kids siblings?
A: Yes, the kids we hosted through Project 143 are siblings, and they’ve shown us just how much joy and love they can bring into our lives.
Q: Are they really teenagers?
A: Yes, they are teenagers. I know you’re thinking, “Why not younger?” but we chose to host these kids and just couldn’t imagine not having them be a part of our lives.
Q: Did we want to adopt teenagers?
A: Not originally—we were open to adopting kids of all ages. But if we had our choice, we’d lean towards ones who can talk and are potty trained. However, the experience of hosting these remarkable teenagers made us realize that they were exactly the children we were meant to adopt.
Your support means everything to us. Whether it’s a donation or just sharing our story, thank you for helping us bring our kids home!
Cost Breakdown
CCAI Program Fees Paid
Application Fee $ 200
1st CCAI Program Fee $7,300
Dossier Translation Fee $1,360
CCAI PROGRAM FEE (PAID): $8,860.00 (paid)
CCAI Fees/Adoption Expenses (outstanding)
Final CCAI Program Fee $9,360
Authorized Adoption Institution Fee $3,830 (est)
2nd In-Country Fee $1,680
3rd In-Country Fee $680
In-Colombia Legal Services Fee $2,380-$2,600 (est)
In-Country Adoption costs $2,000-$2,500
Child US Entry Visa $325
Total Outstanding Fees Due excluding Travel: $20,255-20,975
Other Adoption Expenses (outstanding)
IAAME Fee $850 (paid)
Dossier Preparation (Estimate) $500
Psychological Evaluation $3,000 (paid)
USCIS $920 (paid)
TOTAL Other Adoption Expenses Paid $4770
Estimated Outstanding Travel Expenses $3,770
US Domestic & International Airfare (Estimate) $4,500 (for 3 travelers)
Room and Board $7,000 - $10,500 (4-5 weeks in country)
Total Estimated Outstanding Travel Expenses $11,500 - $15,000
Grand Total (Estimate): $44,385 – 48,605
