| Foreign adoptions take a lot of time and money. | | | | quiet. Chelsea and Fred were not allowed to go into |
| They also involve a lot of red tape. A person who | | | | the main rooms of the orphanage. They never saw |
| does this has to consider that he/she will be dealing | | | | the little room with rows of cribs where the children |
| with a foreign government. This person must | | | | spent two-thirds of their time. Their visits were |
| physically go to the foreign country at some point in | | | | conducted in a large room away from the main |
| the adoption process. This is time consuming and | | | | building. |
| definitely not cheap. There are governmental palms | | | | After falling in love with both children, the long |
| to be greased and fees to be paid. | | | | experience began. Neither child spoke English. Chelsea |
| Each country has its own rules and regulations. Some | | | | and Fred had to learn to speak in their native |
| require that you work through one of its trained | | | | language in order to communicate on their daily visits. |
| intermediaries. In some countries there are licensed | | | | Chelsea soon realized that both children craved love. |
| adoption agencies you can work through but private | | | | They would allow themselves to be cuddled as long |
| adoptions are the norm. One thing the person who | | | | as an adult wanted to hold them. The two week |
| wants to adopt should consider is the risk. You are | | | | "get to know you" period seemed to fly by. Then |
| basically putting your life in the hands of a foreigner; | | | | Chelsea and Fred returned to the U.S. and the real |
| playing by their rules; even living in a foreign country | | | | work started. They returned for a longer four week |
| while you wait. This puts additional stress on the | | | | visit after all the paper work had been completed. |
| adopting parent. | | | | Each child had to be evaluated by an American |
| Example: Fred and Chelsea have always wanted | | | | doctor. As there are very few of these in the |
| children. They both have good jobs and plenty of | | | | Ukraine, it was done through a teleconferencing |
| love in their hearts. Because Chelsea has lupus, they | | | | system that was set up in the meeting room of the |
| have been considered risky and turned down for U.S. | | | | Orphanage. Family medical histories were taken; |
| adoptions. They decide to adopt a child from the | | | | psychological tests were done. (Even the newly born |
| Ukraine. As they begin their preparations, they find | | | | adoptee undergoes rigorous testing.) Blood testing is |
| they must spend several months there prior to the | | | | done to screen for HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases. |
| finalization of the adoption. Their first visit is brief; 2 | | | | In general, the children that have been put up for |
| weeks. They fly over and visit the orphanage; meet | | | | adoption are victims of abandonment, illness or death |
| the intermediary and begin their search. They fall in | | | | of a parent. Sometimes the children are taken away |
| love with a little girl name Nadia. Because Nadia has a | | | | from the parent for neglect or abuse. Alcoholism and |
| brother 2 years older, they are offered as a package | | | | drug abuse is rampant in third world countries. Even |
| deal. Chelsea is careful to ask about any problems | | | | the fact that they have been placed in orphanages |
| the children may have had and is sad to discover | | | | for long term sometimes signals the possibility of |
| that they were taken away from their birth mother | | | | health issues. |
| because she left them alone to fend for themselves. | | | | The journey of completing an international adoption is |
| Nadia was one year old at the time they were placed | | | | long, but in the end - when the parents hold their |
| in the orphanage; her brother Alexi (who had been | | | | new child in their arms - it is all worth it. |
| her primary care giver) was three. Both children were | | | | |