My Orphanage Experience...
I told you all that I would tell you later of something that happened while at the orphanage. But, first, I needed to contact someone back in the states. I have and she is okay with me posting my story...
Some of you know that when we found and were matched with Anna, there were 2 other babies from her orphanage that were also matched with families with our same agency. We three talked a lot about our little ones and how much we longed to be united with them. Rodney and I were ready for our dossier submission and they were just getting started, so we knew the odds of us traveling together were very unlikely, but nonetheless, we had a connection...our babies were at the same orphanage.
We were on the agency yahoo group and then also the three of us joined the Foshan Nanhai yahoo group. We talked on the boards as well as personal e-mails. We had our little, Anna Mei, Annabelle and K.C. Our three Foshan babies. Anna and Annabelle were both cleft babies and K.C. had some vision problems. His mother wanted to get him home as soon as possible in order to have a successful corrective surgery.
When word came that CCAA was implementing the new regulations starting May 1, 2007, the rush to gather all the needed paperwork for those the regulations would affect was pressing. Julie, K.C.'s mother, was single. This would affect her. She worked and worked to get her paperwork together. She fought immigration to get the needed I-171. She contacted her Senator's office for help, she contacted newspapers, television stations, whoever she thought might could help her bring her baby home. She was a lioness and was victorious! She got her needed paperwork together and was elated to know that she would soon be sending in her dossier for little K.C.
One day, I got a horrible message from the other Foshan mom, Jeanne, Annabelle's mother. She told me that Julie had gotten word that the CCAA had pulled K.C.'s file and deemed him unadoptable. Even though she had already received pre-approval for him, she could no longer continue the adoption of him. As you might imagine, she was crushed. She loved this little guy, fought for him and now was told, "sorry."
I was devastated. Not only for my friend, but for this little boy. A home and a family that was so close, now taken away. There was no details on why or what had happened. So not only was she upset over not being allowed to adopt him, but also the worry and hurt of not knowing what was wrong or what had happened to him. Our adoption groups were saddened by the news and we all hurt for Julie and K.C.
Julie and I talked and I was so happy to hear that she had decided to move ahead and send in her dossier to China before the May 1st deadline. She knew that there were countless others that needed a home, but she would never stop loving her son, K.C.
When I received word that I would finally be traveling to China to pick up Anna, Julie asked if I would ask the orphanage director about him. I told Julie that I had already put him on my list and would let her know any information that they would share. With his file being pulled, I didn't know if they would share anything with me.
After our tour of the orphanage. I asked our guide if she would ask the director about him. I had his Chinese given name and his birth date. I explained to her the situation and how that his mother back in the US still loved him and wanted to know about his condition. The director agreed to tell me his current status.
She told me that one day he just sat down and wouldn't get back up. She said that they had to send him for a "brain scan" and it showed that something was wrong. She had to send that information to Beijing and they pulled the file. She said that they continue to do physical therapy with him and have plans of a surgery to see if it would improve his condition. She told me that she was sorry and to tell the mother that she was sorry.
Connie and I were talking about him, Annabelle and Anna when someone walked into the room. I turned around and said, "oh, K.C.!"
I couldn't believe it. They had brought K.C. in the office for me to see. I walked over to him and began to talk to him. I could tell that he had difficulty seeing me, but I knew he could. He would smile when I would talk and rub his legs and arms. After a few minutes, he began smiling when I would lift up my hand to come towards him, so I know he could see me.
The nanny that brought him in walked out of the room. I knew that this was a once in a lifetime, so I snatched him up, sat him in my lap and began to play with him and love on him. He would throw his little head back and just laugh. I don't know how many times I hugged and kissed on him, but I know it wasn't enough. I told him that he had a mother that loved him very much. That he had 2 big brothers that loved him. I told him that the hugs and kisses were from his Momma Julie...but I got a few in from Aunt Marcy too!
Seeing K.C. has made the biggest impact on me here in China. The other babies were so sweet and I felt so badly for them, not getting the one on one attention that every baby deserves, but there is a hope that one day they will. K.C., I don't know. But he deserves it too. I wonder how many times he has been told he was loved? I wonder when he will hear it again? I pray that God sends His angels to surround these children and whisper the love of the Father to them.
There are many things that I will cherish from my experiences here in China, but these few moments with K.C. and the pictures that I have to remind me are at the top of the list.
Sending love and hugs to my friend Julie in NY.
