NAC change

When I was out there, (July 05) - I was told that the new processes would take effect in September, but I just heard from my facilitator that it's more like October. As for healthy children - I think that's all relative. What's considered "Not healthy" there may mean some antibiotics here. I was so very fortunate to find a beautiful little two year old boy. He was very underweight, horrible ear infections, very flat head (from being in his crib), very pale (was never outside and not getting the nutrients he needed in his diet), bug bites all over his body and had a rash (from the hard water) that covered his body completely. In the 3 1/2 weeks we have been home, he looks completely different. His ear infection has cleared up, the rash and bug bites are gone, he has color in his cheeks now, his hair is filling in beautifully and his skull is rounding out nicely. (His pediatrician said that within 3-6 months it will be completely normal). I'm attaching a picture so you can see the change. But again, you may find a child that you are told is unhealthy while there but once you get him/her home - they will transform dramatically. Keep positive. :) As for the orphanage directors not wanting children to be adopted by foreigners - I find that hard to believe. The director of the orphanage I went to was so wonderful. She just wanted what was best for all the children there. She was so helpful and actually helped expedite things with the courts.

EricThanks for the pics, I can't believe how much he has changed in such a short time. It's amazing how little a child's life has to change to turn them into another person. I agree that the orphanage director and everyone that takes care of the children wants them to have as much in life as they can and they are happy when the children are adopted. It's the beaurocrats that cause the problems. Jane

Thanks Eric for the encouragement! I have just been reading some journals recently of people over there right now and all seem to be having problems. I am hoping in the next few months some of these problems work themselves out. Your boy is such a cutie. It really goes to show what some love and some tlc will do for these kids.

In some cases doctors in Ukraine as well as in Russia and other post-soviet countries are obliged to write that some children have curable illnesses. the reason is that the state funding for ill children is more than for healthy. Imagine $0,02 per day per one healthy child. This sum of money doesn't give you an opportunity to feed a child.

I see such love in your child's eyes.....it obviously reflects the heart of both adoptive parents. You certainly have choosen to save a life... there is no greater reward than this........

Charlotte, Please keep your hopes high. The directors of children's homes are unlikely to be holding healthy children back. There may be many reports of lots of healthy children in the children's homes. But remember that these are children's homes, not orphanages. A very large percentage of the children in state children's homes are not orphans. They are children whose parent/parents are temporarily unable to take care of them for a broad range of reasons including a major illness in the family, a lack of housing, unemployment or poverty. Foreign PAPs sometimes misunderstand why the directors of children's homes cannot put these kids on the registry. But have hope. Many children's homes directors want very much for foreigners to adopt the kids who are eligible. MM

Thanks MM! In any given orphanage, approx. what percentage of the children were available for adoption? Also, does anyone remember hearing that there were many children that were not listed at the NAC because of "paperwork" errors? I think they were turned away last Jan. or so. Does anyone know when these kids were going to be back on the database? Thanks.

charlotte,totally depends on the orphanage. In Belgorod-Dvnestrovsky children's home (3-8yo) there are typically 5-10 children available for foreign adoption out of ~120 children, with about 1/2 of those special needs. The reason for the low percentage is that the director is very agressive in registering the children and many families adopt from there and advocate for the children left behind. So, her children (and Mrs. Olga will tell you they are her children) are usually not available for long before they are adopted.Conversely, in Kerch Internat (3-17yo, 90%+ over 9yo)there are approx 40% of the 400+ children available for foreign adoption. Again, the director is agressive about registering the children. However, Kerch is very far from Kiev. The majority of the children are older and often are sibling groups. Crimea is often felt to be a harder region for adoption. All of these reasons contribute to fewer adoptions from this orphanage.

My child was very undernorished too, but a few weeks at home.. a loving home you see the changes. You are doing a great job!! Congrats.

I have not posted this before, but now that this thread has been bumped up, I thought I should share with everyone that Eric's little boy Cole had heart surgery after he came home and unfortunately he passed away the day after. I am not sure if Eric checks this forum any more or not, I have not heard from him in a while. Cole's surgery should have been a relatively routine one with a very high rate of success. Eric only had a few short weeks with Cole at home, but in that time Cole knew that someone loved him very much.

Thank you for the update jmchowat. I didn't know about it. Didn't realize how long the information was. I hope Eric and family are doing as best they can.

Oh my gosh...I am so sorry for Eric. I can't imagine anything worse than going through something as awful and heart breaking as that. I will keep Cole and Eric in my prayers.

This particular site, more than any other - is composed of caring and supportive people....I hope one day Eric will come forward and let us know how he is doing....