Please, please, please...

I have been posting some entries over the last week about adoption.  And through the ones specifically on the Ukrainian Parliamentary votes, you will have heard about the decision in Ukraine to go forward with a second and final vote to halt international adoption until an inter-country agreement is in place. This second vote is now scheduled for next week or the week after (depending on which piece of communication I am looking at).

My heart aches for these families. I simply can't express it.  Exactly one year ago, I lived with the fear of something like this happening to Viktor; I lived in fear that I wouldn't be able to get him out. He was waiting not so patiently for us. I didn't know how I was going to be able to explain to him that I couldn't come, that I was doing everything I could but I was simply unable to come for him. That his dream of a mamma and pappa had finally come true but we couldn't come for him because of a governmental entity that was supposed to have his best interest at heart. I remember being told not to borrow trouble (sound familiar anyone?). But 'trouble' does come, it does happen. One of my bestest buddies in the world, K had exactly this happen to them. Russia shut down in process for them several years ago. Last year when she listened to me whine K and I talked about the possibility, her son A was with us. She turned to him and asked what he thought when there was a big delay. His response? "I thought you weren't coming."  He remembers this from seven years ago!

Our adoption of Viktor has changed me, really changed me. I have asked you to consider what role you play. Not everyone is called to adopt, I get that. And frankly, I'm still surprised (pleasantly!) some days that I was called to adopt and care for this wonderful child. But even if you don't feel the call to adopt, you can get involved in orphan care. I WANT you to get involved in orphan care. Here's a simple way to get involved today...it will take 5 minutes, it's free and relatively easy but it can make a HUGE difference in the lives of those that we left behind when we came home with Viktor.


Please, please, please take a moment to write to your senators and congressmen/women, then encourage your friends and family to do the same!  Thank you! (And Thank You! to Jennifer Dove, from here down is basically a re-post.)

Below you'll find a letter that you can use or by all means, write your own.
To send a letter to your congressmen/women:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

To send a letter to your senators just click on the state and follow the link:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


Dear (name),


I am writing to you today regarding a VERY urgent situation. Many families in the US are currently in the process of adopting children from orphanages in Ukraine. Most of these children are older or disabled. American families adopting these children offer them what may be their only opportunity at a normal and productive life free of crime, prostitution, or institutionalization due to illnesses that are treatable in the United States. I personally know one of these families.

On November 3, 2010, the Ukrainian parliament voted to proceed with voting on legislation that would halt all international adoptions until inter-country adoption agreements are in place (see the State Dept. announcement at http://adoption.state.gov/news/ukraine.html) . At this point, all that is needed for this to become law is one more vote in Ukrainian parliament and a signature by the Ukrainian president. This could happen any day. If it does, many families and innocent children will be greatly affected. I personally know one of these families.

I am writing to you to urge you to act quickly on this matter by completing two actions. First, contact your Ukrainian cohorts and request a consideration of revision of the law to allow adoptions to proceed while the agreement is being drafted (as was done in Russia).  Secondly, work with your colleagues in congress to begin drafting this agreement so that it is ready to go in the event the law passes.

Thank you for your timely consideration of this urgent matter!