Let us start by telling you about our daughter, N💕dk@, she is in Bulgaria, she loves, music, dancing, art, and clothes, not so much shoes but she loves clothes. She has been in an orphanage for the past 4 years after being removed from a less than loving home. She is thriving in the orphanage and wants to be adopted and have a family that loves her and is kind. She turns 16 in October. She became victim to the system and her file was not made available until recently and was sent to Hand in Hand International Adoption on July 7 th 2023, just 3 months before she ages out. We saw her story on facebook July 28 th and felt compelled to inquire if anybody was pursuing her adoption. Nobody was. This is not our first international adoption and we are knowledgeable about the process of aging out and couldn’t imagine her becoming another statistic. Every child deserves to have a family that loves and supports them throughout their life. We immediately knew that we wanted to be that for her. This gave us two months to contact a local Hague certified adoption agency, complete a home study and file our petition to USCIS. We contacted our home study agency about what we are needing and if it is possible. They stated that the shortest time that they have completed an international home study was a couple months, but that it really depends on the motivation of the family. This gave us hope because we were motivated and determined. We had some late nights but everything fell into place. The home study was completed in record time. We got approval from the Bulgarian ministry, and N💕dk@ has agreed to become a member of our family. We couldn’t be more excited.
Now let us introduce you to our little family. Our oldest, Ollie 19, loves sports, coloring, playing with Lego, and writing. He is a hard worker, and strong willed with a big heart. Ollie has the superpower of Down syndrome, he lives in the moment and feels things intensely. Although he was born in Latvia, he is family by choice, a bond stronger than blood. He was a fiery little punk at 10 years old when we met him, so much energy, attitude, and spunk. Over time he has become more tender hearted, but he will always be a little punk rock, and we love him for it. Our youngest son, Jet 12, loves, science, superheroes, art, and playing Lego. He is brilliant, a deep thinker and loves philosophical debate, honest to a fault, kind and understanding. His superpower is his ADHD which helps drive his continual learning. He came into the world a fighter having had a major stroke. He sustained damage to two-thirds of the right side of his brain. The first 6 years of his life he had many obstacles to overcome. This has made him resilient and compassionate towards others.
Mali has a BSW and is a stay at home mom. She homeschools our boys. She loves music, concerts, adventures, snowboarding, reading books and family time. Adoption has been in Mali’s heart since she was a little girl, and knew she could only marry someone who was open to adopt.
Gavin is a resident physician in internal medicine in his last year of training and an Army officer. He loves skateboarding, art, music, adventures, and family time. He believes in protecting those who need protection and standing for what is right.
We have been married for 19 years, and better friends now then ever. Our marriage has been fortified through time, adventures, fun memories, travel and many hardships along the way. These experiences have built a solid foundation for our family.
This adoption was a beautiful surprise. Unfortunately, with little time to prepare or put money back we do not have money to cover the rest of the fees and travel expenses. With her aging out this is a time sensitive adoption. Travel expenses are between 12-15k. This is for 2 people making 2 trips each about 7 days with in country fees, child medical, visa and legal fees. We still owe agency and country fees of just under $17,000.
We will be doing everything in our power to acquire sufficient resources to bring our daughter home. We ask you to be part of her story and help bring N💕dk@ home, with as much as you are able. Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Good evening, thank you for supporting and following us along this journey. We have our I-800 approval, which is the approval to pursue her adoption by USCIS. We have applied for her visa and got the final documents together for her court date. While we wait for the appointment with the US embassy our daughter will be getting ready to go to court to petition to be adopted by us!
During this process our sweet daughter was faced with the choice to change her name or keep her birth name. She is old enough that we wanted it to be her choice. She wanted a change. She never really liked her birth name she said, “It’s an old lady name”. She decided she would keep a more young variation of her name as a middle name. She also wanted Mali’s name as a middle name, which is custom in Bulgaria to take the mom’s name for the middle name. For first names, we talked about different options; she decided on her new name, Shiloh Nedi Malishia Kindall.
We are now back from our first trip. We loved our time in Bulgaria with our daughter and our new Bulgarian friends. Meeting our daughter for the first time, in person, went beautifully. The language barrier didn’t stop us from creating memories and forming a bond. We got to visit the center that she lives in now and the girls home she spent the previous 5 years, and explore both towns with her.
You don’t expect to have very many firsts with your child when adopting older children but we did with her on this trip from riding an escalator for the first time, going to a museum of illusions…which blew her mind, cutting food with a knife, walking the streets and exploring the town she lives fifteen minutes away from, and more.
The days counted down and we couldn’t bring her home with us this trip. It was an emotional “see you later”, reassuring her that we’ll be coming back for her. It will be a few months before we can legally bring her home. Heartache and tears were shared. She told us to hurry and come back for her. Her tears were heartbreaking as we parted ways.
Now we are waiting on approval by US immigration, court and legal documents in Bulgaria in order to get her a visa. Then we can schedule our US Embassy appointment for trip 2, and bring our daughter home!
Adoption is an expensive process, at this point expenses paid have totaled $28,000. We are working to come up with the final expenses which includes the final trip and fees of approximately $8,000.
Thank you so much for being a part of our adoption journey. We got USCIS approval today! That is the green light from US immigration to adopt a child from Bulgaria. This means we will be traveling soon to meet her! Through adoption grants, donations, and savings we have been able to get this far. All fees have been paid. We now are trying to cover the cost of two 7 day trips for 2 people to Bulgaria and our daughters flight home. If anyone has extra sky miles they can part with please let us know.
Thank you for being such a blessing in our daughter’s adoption journey. Between the many generous donations and adoption grants we have raised just over 24k! That leaves about 10k to raise. This is a huge step towards bringing her home. With all the fees paid, we are working on coming up with the final funds for travel.
We have completed our biometrics with USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Services) on October 31st and we should get our approval any day now. Our first travel date could be as early as next Month before things close down for the Holidays or the beginning of January. This would then put the final trip to bring her home in March or the first of April!
We are so thankful for all of the kind hearted people that have helped us get this far!
