On Sunday I discovered that Moli--- returned home to the orphanage, and was on the mend. That same day his caregiver posted on facebook that he was looking out an open door calling "daddy....daddy...!" Perhaps he saw his little friend's father, the Dr., who came down to the rescue when she was sick. Maybe he was wondering, while he was ill, where was his daddy?
I feel so immeasurably grateful in the level of care that our boys are receiving. Everyone is just bending over backwards to ensure their health and safety and love. Thank you, S---, for insisting that he receive IV therapy! I am so glad that you can stomp your feet as be his advocate and his mommy while I cannot - you did exactly what I would have done and I take great comfort in that.
This adoption is such a roller coaster of emotion. A term I know that I have used before but I can't think of a better way to describe it. One day I am content that they are safe and loved. I am moved by a strangers kindness, blessed by someone's words. Another day my reality is much darker and filled with concern and anger at the corruption that is getting the way of progress, the inaction of our government, and the callousness in which they tend to see this situation. And then I imagine all the folks that are living it day to day. As it is I feel like in everything I do that half of me is in Haiti and it torments me. I live in a world of stark incongruity. Everything I see flashes before my eyes in paradox to the images of a country on its knees that seemed to be burned on the backs of my retinas.
I have to find a middle ground somewhere, but how? Where do I draw the line and not find everything that is ingrained in our society silly and greedy? I need some new clothes...I need a haircut...I need new floors...I need.....I need...I need...And I am not by any means excluding myself from this absurdity. I just got a quote for a new island in my kitchen...while my own Haitian children have a home, or rather, a plywood shelter. A type dwelling that our society would hardly deem partially acceptable, even for camping. I am living a life of relentless self loathing for all this 'stuff'. How will I find my happiness again?
This road to adoption has opened my eyes to a world...no, not just opened my eyes...pulled me into a world that I knew existed, but one that once my paltry monthly donation was enough to placate my concern for the needy. That's funny. The needy. What's so ironic is that our society is the one that feels neediest of all.
I will continue to walk this tightrope, trying to find my center; my happiness. However, I wonder if things will ever really be the same for me, and often I find myself longing for ignorance. The kind that allows you to throw money at a problem and it magically disappears. The kind that doesn't follow you around, taunting you; reminding you that your concern is almost inconsequential; a drop in the ocean. Yet, you can't escape, because your children live in most people's worst nightmare....and all you want to do is just open your eyes...and wake everybody up.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Letter to Jason Kenney before I found out my baby is sick
Nov.24, 2010
To the Hon. Jason Kenney,
I have been writing many letters to you in regards to our children, M---- and M----, who currently reside in Haiti. I have received two emails since the start of my letters; One from James T----n from the Ottawa Haiti Processing Office and one from Jane Burton with the Ministerial Enquires Division. Both letters have confirmed what I already know, and have known since the start of the year, that: “Operation Stork was a joint agreement between the Canadian and Haitian Governments, where the Haitian Government gave their permission to allow children, who were matched with their Canadian adoptive parents prior to the earthquake in January 2010, to be processed in Canada under special immigration measures.”
I understand that typically CIC does not get involved in the adoption process itself, and that the earthquake was very special circumstances. What I am having trouble with, is why, when post earth quake Haiti is in a much worse situation now with the Cholera epidemic, our Canadian government is not doing all they can on a federal level to try to help the very few (possibly even only 3-4) existing families in process who have received their match?
CBC reports:
"This today is the most urgent crisis Haiti is facing,"
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/23/cholera-haiti.html#ixzz16G80SjtI
Another CBC article states:
“Ten months after the earthquake, the humanitarian response "appears paralyzed," says Refugee International.”
“Experts I respect have urged the need for some form of international mandate to protect Haiti, basically from its own corrupt leadership and lack of governance, until some workable security and legal system can be established. Who owns title to a piece of land? How is housing zoned? Where does one appeal an injustice? To these questions there is still no answer.”
"Cholera is a game changer in the most fundamental sense," says Melinda Miles of the Let Haiti Live Group. "It is an immediate and critical crisis that requires all hands on deck in response.”
PLEASE Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/24/f-vp-stewart.html#ixzz16G1MUOeD
If what is being reported is true, CIC should be taking a very long look at those files currently in Haiti that were started before the quake.
I have accumulated the following questions and have compiled them into this one letter for your ease of response:
1. Why is CIC not doing all they can, by entering into a similar discussion as post quake with the Haitian authorities, on this matter of children who are in the adoption process with Canadian families in this time of crisis?
2. We understand that IBESR, Haitian Social Services, was never 'closed' after the earthquake of Jan.12, 2010. They were in fact operational and working outside of their collapsed building during and after the time of Operation Stork. The Haitian adoption system bounced back considerably fast in the circumstances. It was always the understanding of the public based on CIC releases and press coverage, that CIC was using Operation Stork to remove the children from the threats created by the quake. Are you now saying that this was not the case? If it was the case, why won’t you approach the Haitian government once again considering the conditions are far worse now, and continue to worsen, than they were post quake?
3. What flagged CIC into action post quake? Was it letters from concerned adoptive parents, or that the process was already being executed by Haiti and other governments including France, Netherlands and the USA? If it was the urgency of the situation itself, why is CIC not attempting to act now, considering the situation in every sense in Haiti is so much worse?
4. During the aftermath of the earthquake, upon inquiring about CIC's initial notices regarding Operation Stork in regards to families who had adoptions in process, I was informed by Minister Kenney's special assistant, Sean O----, via telephone that CIC would not leave behind any families in process, and that first priority would be given to families who had been matched with children, but that the government would not turn their back on families whose adoptions were already underway. What has made CIC change their position on helping 'all families in process' of adoption in the aftermath of the quake?
Thank you for your time in answering these questions. All we want to know is that our Canadian government has done everything they can for our children. By not having at least a discussion on this matter with the Haitian authorities, we will never know if something more could be done. If the Haitian authorities do not want their children removed prematurely, then we must respect that, but we implore you to at least approach the Haitian government or we will never know. Please do not turn your backs on these kids and their Canadian families.
Sincerely,
To the Hon. Jason Kenney,
I have been writing many letters to you in regards to our children, M---- and M----, who currently reside in Haiti. I have received two emails since the start of my letters; One from James T----n from the Ottawa Haiti Processing Office and one from Jane Burton with the Ministerial Enquires Division. Both letters have confirmed what I already know, and have known since the start of the year, that: “Operation Stork was a joint agreement between the Canadian and Haitian Governments, where the Haitian Government gave their permission to allow children, who were matched with their Canadian adoptive parents prior to the earthquake in January 2010, to be processed in Canada under special immigration measures.”
I understand that typically CIC does not get involved in the adoption process itself, and that the earthquake was very special circumstances. What I am having trouble with, is why, when post earth quake Haiti is in a much worse situation now with the Cholera epidemic, our Canadian government is not doing all they can on a federal level to try to help the very few (possibly even only 3-4) existing families in process who have received their match?
CBC reports:
"This today is the most urgent crisis Haiti is facing,"
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/23/cholera-haiti.html#ixzz16G80SjtI
Another CBC article states:
“Ten months after the earthquake, the humanitarian response "appears paralyzed," says Refugee International.”
“Experts I respect have urged the need for some form of international mandate to protect Haiti, basically from its own corrupt leadership and lack of governance, until some workable security and legal system can be established. Who owns title to a piece of land? How is housing zoned? Where does one appeal an injustice? To these questions there is still no answer.”
"Cholera is a game changer in the most fundamental sense," says Melinda Miles of the Let Haiti Live Group. "It is an immediate and critical crisis that requires all hands on deck in response.”
PLEASE Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/24/f-vp-stewart.html#ixzz16G1MUOeD
If what is being reported is true, CIC should be taking a very long look at those files currently in Haiti that were started before the quake.
I have accumulated the following questions and have compiled them into this one letter for your ease of response:
1. Why is CIC not doing all they can, by entering into a similar discussion as post quake with the Haitian authorities, on this matter of children who are in the adoption process with Canadian families in this time of crisis?
2. We understand that IBESR, Haitian Social Services, was never 'closed' after the earthquake of Jan.12, 2010. They were in fact operational and working outside of their collapsed building during and after the time of Operation Stork. The Haitian adoption system bounced back considerably fast in the circumstances. It was always the understanding of the public based on CIC releases and press coverage, that CIC was using Operation Stork to remove the children from the threats created by the quake. Are you now saying that this was not the case? If it was the case, why won’t you approach the Haitian government once again considering the conditions are far worse now, and continue to worsen, than they were post quake?
3. What flagged CIC into action post quake? Was it letters from concerned adoptive parents, or that the process was already being executed by Haiti and other governments including France, Netherlands and the USA? If it was the urgency of the situation itself, why is CIC not attempting to act now, considering the situation in every sense in Haiti is so much worse?
4. During the aftermath of the earthquake, upon inquiring about CIC's initial notices regarding Operation Stork in regards to families who had adoptions in process, I was informed by Minister Kenney's special assistant, Sean O----, via telephone that CIC would not leave behind any families in process, and that first priority would be given to families who had been matched with children, but that the government would not turn their back on families whose adoptions were already underway. What has made CIC change their position on helping 'all families in process' of adoption in the aftermath of the quake?
Thank you for your time in answering these questions. All we want to know is that our Canadian government has done everything they can for our children. By not having at least a discussion on this matter with the Haitian authorities, we will never know if something more could be done. If the Haitian authorities do not want their children removed prematurely, then we must respect that, but we implore you to at least approach the Haitian government or we will never know. Please do not turn your backs on these kids and their Canadian families.
Sincerely,
Monday, November 15, 2010
Update from HCH blog: Staff needed at HCH
The doctor and one or two other men will arrive in Haiti tomorrow. We still need to schedule helpers for basic child care and medical or nursing staff for after they leave.
We are also in need of funding to help cover the extra costs associated with isolation, caring for the children and medication etc. We also have people who are willing to go if we can help them with travel expenses. If you can help in this way, please see our website at http://www.haitichildrenshome.com/ for information on how to donate funds.
We are also in need of funding to help cover the extra costs associated with isolation, caring for the children and medication etc. We also have people who are willing to go if we can help them with travel expenses. If you can help in this way, please see our website at http://www.haitichildrenshome.com/ for information on how to donate funds.
An update from the HCH blog:
HCH Cholera update
We are getting a doctor!!! And some extra hands! This is in addition to the nurse who was loaned to HCH by another organization over the weekend. The nurse will be at HCH until Tuesday. We praise God as this is a huge answer to prayer. Thank you to everyone who has been helping us look for help. We will need more helpers over the next several weeks so please feel free to contact us if you would like to help.
We are now up to 7 children with symptoms of cholera (adoptive parents will be contacted personally if their children become ill). There seems to a new patient to our little 'cholera' unit every few hours; so far only one has had to be on IV fluid. We pray that God will continue to allow their symptoms to be moderate and not severe like Evan was at first.
Please continue to hold Shae and Melissa up in prayer; they are very weary and exhausted. They have only had 4 hours of sleep since Friday when all of this started. They have been so busy that in addition to sleep deprivation they have also lacked in nutrition as they haven't had time to stop and eat much. Please help us pray that God will put a hedge of protection about them.
Please continue to help us pray for the people of Haiti; those in Haiti who are ill or could become ill and those living in the deplorable conditions left by the earthquake. Please also remember the Haitian people (and missionaries) living in other countries who are experiencing great anxiety and grief over their families.
If you would like to help, items can be dropped off to Lori West for the team to take with them. Please contact Lori West on facebook or at sorrylori@hotmail.com for more information. If you would like to donate funds to help with medication and other expenses related to this crisis, please see the website www.haitichildrenshome.com for more information on how to donate.
We are getting a doctor!!! And some extra hands! This is in addition to the nurse who was loaned to HCH by another organization over the weekend. The nurse will be at HCH until Tuesday. We praise God as this is a huge answer to prayer. Thank you to everyone who has been helping us look for help. We will need more helpers over the next several weeks so please feel free to contact us if you would like to help.
We are now up to 7 children with symptoms of cholera (adoptive parents will be contacted personally if their children become ill). There seems to a new patient to our little 'cholera' unit every few hours; so far only one has had to be on IV fluid. We pray that God will continue to allow their symptoms to be moderate and not severe like Evan was at first.
Please continue to hold Shae and Melissa up in prayer; they are very weary and exhausted. They have only had 4 hours of sleep since Friday when all of this started. They have been so busy that in addition to sleep deprivation they have also lacked in nutrition as they haven't had time to stop and eat much. Please help us pray that God will put a hedge of protection about them.
Please continue to help us pray for the people of Haiti; those in Haiti who are ill or could become ill and those living in the deplorable conditions left by the earthquake. Please also remember the Haitian people (and missionaries) living in other countries who are experiencing great anxiety and grief over their families.
If you would like to help, items can be dropped off to Lori West for the team to take with them. Please contact Lori West on facebook or at sorrylori@hotmail.com for more information. If you would like to donate funds to help with medication and other expenses related to this crisis, please see the website www.haitichildrenshome.com for more information on how to donate.
So I found out yesterday that 7 kids are now sick with Cholera at HCH.
The staff are burned out and need help. I dreamt about being overboard on a boat without a lifejacket - that must be what they feel like.
A Doctor and his team are heading down there tonight from Edmonton, and we will be rounding up some supplies today....I want to be on that plane.
The staff are burned out and need help. I dreamt about being overboard on a boat without a lifejacket - that must be what they feel like.
A Doctor and his team are heading down there tonight from Edmonton, and we will be rounding up some supplies today....I want to be on that plane.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Enough
I feel a bit like I am vomiting. You know the kind where you are heaving and puking and in between the heaves, while you are bent over the toilet, unable to control it, you still say to yourself, like by some small miracle it will help stop the awfulness of it all "...enough.....enough..."
When is enough enough for Haiti?
Earthquake
-enough-
Cholera
-enough-
Hurricane
-enough-
Flooding
-enough-
Yesterday I got news that a small earthquake leveled a school.
-enough-
Today 2 babies from HCH are sick with Cholera....
-enough, enough, enough...
When is enough enough for Haiti?
Earthquake
-enough-
Cholera
-enough-
Hurricane
-enough-
Flooding
-enough-
Yesterday I got news that a small earthquake leveled a school.
-enough-
Today 2 babies from HCH are sick with Cholera....
-enough, enough, enough...
Thursday, November 11, 2010
10,000 infected, 800 dead....2 boys who AREN'T safe at home
10,000 people are now infected with Cholera, 650 are dead. This is all happening right around the area of our orphanage.
Who in Canada is trying to help our future Canadians? There are a small handful of us left with orphaned children stuck in the thick sludge of crumbled and condemned buildings, swollen rivers and floods, a deadly waterborne illness, makeshift shelters that need to be evacuated, not enough medicine, no one to administer IV's and there they remain abandoned in a bureaucratic, political grey area, with a handful of Canadian families unable to create enough political pressure to even inspire a conversation between governments....
If you can help to provide Cholera medication for the 33 orphans at Haiti Children's Home, or if you are a nurse who is willing to go and stay at HCH to administer IV's please contact me or HCH: www.haitichildrenshome.com
Who in Canada is trying to help our future Canadians? There are a small handful of us left with orphaned children stuck in the thick sludge of crumbled and condemned buildings, swollen rivers and floods, a deadly waterborne illness, makeshift shelters that need to be evacuated, not enough medicine, no one to administer IV's and there they remain abandoned in a bureaucratic, political grey area, with a handful of Canadian families unable to create enough political pressure to even inspire a conversation between governments....
If you can help to provide Cholera medication for the 33 orphans at Haiti Children's Home, or if you are a nurse who is willing to go and stay at HCH to administer IV's please contact me or HCH: www.haitichildrenshome.com
Saturday, November 6, 2010
From the mouths of babes
The other day at school I brought cake to Dee's class for her to share in celebration of her turning 4.
In the car on the way home she let me know that everyone loved the cake and they all said thank you to her for bringing it. I said "that was nice that they all loved it and said thank you! How did it make you feel?" she contemplated this for just a moment, and then muttered with a smile "it made me feel kind of hot and all wobbly when they said that to me"...
Could there possibly be a more innocent way to express that feeling of being appreciated (and possibly a bit embarrassed) at having done something nice for someone else? Straight out to the mouth of a 4 year old...there is definitely something to be said for having limited means and vocab to express yourself, and yet she was still able to do it so well!
So precious....
In the car on the way home she let me know that everyone loved the cake and they all said thank you to her for bringing it. I said "that was nice that they all loved it and said thank you! How did it make you feel?" she contemplated this for just a moment, and then muttered with a smile "it made me feel kind of hot and all wobbly when they said that to me"...
Could there possibly be a more innocent way to express that feeling of being appreciated (and possibly a bit embarrassed) at having done something nice for someone else? Straight out to the mouth of a 4 year old...there is definitely something to be said for having limited means and vocab to express yourself, and yet she was still able to do it so well!
So precious....
Friday, November 5, 2010
Fundraiser to Benefit Haiti Children's Home - Nov.20th
Haitian Children's Aid Society (www.hcas.ca) will be hosting a fundraiser to benefit Haiti Children's Home (www.haitichildrenshome.com)
They have purchased a piece of land to build a new orphanage compound on and will be sharing that information at the dinner. Lori West has just come back from spending 2 months at HCH and will be sharing as well.
Please RSVP for the fundraiser by Nov. 17.
Matt Day (www.mattday.ca), the entertainer for the Jasper Park Lodge, has been doing entertaining and speaking for many years will be the guest speaker for this event. He is funny and a good time - so come out and enjoy!
Do some Christmas shopping at the live and silent auction!
Bake sale tables will be there with regular and Christmas baking!
There will be some Haitian Nativity scenes and some other Haitian art works as well as vanilla.
Details:
where: Grace Point Church
720 - 62 Street SW
Edmonton, AB
T6X 0G3
Doors open 5:00pm
Supper @ 6:00 pm
Tickets: $30 adult
$10 5-10 yr
under 5 free.
childcare provided
If you can attend, please rsvp the names and ages of guests by Nov.17th at: inksoup@telus.net
They have purchased a piece of land to build a new orphanage compound on and will be sharing that information at the dinner. Lori West has just come back from spending 2 months at HCH and will be sharing as well.
Please RSVP for the fundraiser by Nov. 17.
Matt Day (www.mattday.ca), the entertainer for the Jasper Park Lodge, has been doing entertaining and speaking for many years will be the guest speaker for this event. He is funny and a good time - so come out and enjoy!
Do some Christmas shopping at the live and silent auction!
Bake sale tables will be there with regular and Christmas baking!
There will be some Haitian Nativity scenes and some other Haitian art works as well as vanilla.
Details:
where: Grace Point Church
720 - 62 Street SW
Edmonton, AB
T6X 0G3
Doors open 5:00pm
Supper @ 6:00 pm
Tickets: $30 adult
$10 5-10 yr
under 5 free.
childcare provided
If you can attend, please rsvp the names and ages of guests by Nov.17th at: inksoup@telus.net
Our twin boys
A picture speaks a thousand words. We are so privaledged to have access to pics of our baby boys. Just wanted to share some with you of them and their current living arrangements:
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Haiti - Tomas
"Haiti issued its highest storm warning to inform people they may need to evacuate - though most have nowhere to go." By JONATHAN M. KATZ Associated Press
As Tropical Storm Tomas approaches Haiti (predicted to be a category 1 Hurricane by the time it hits later this week: http://wxug.us/5adb) all the staff and children at HCH have evacuated today from their temporary shelter at the orphanage compound to the safety of a local church (concrete building) where they will be safe from the high winds and flooding that the hurricane could bring.
We are very thankful that they have somewhere that is able to provide them with adequate shelter from the storm and for the staff and volunteers who have put a great deal of effort into this evacuation! But at the same time our heart aches for our boys as they endure calamity upon calamity without their mom and dad to be the ones to keep them safe.
32 kids....one church basement...
As Tropical Storm Tomas approaches Haiti (predicted to be a category 1 Hurricane by the time it hits later this week: http://wxug.us/5adb) all the staff and children at HCH have evacuated today from their temporary shelter at the orphanage compound to the safety of a local church (concrete building) where they will be safe from the high winds and flooding that the hurricane could bring.
We are very thankful that they have somewhere that is able to provide them with adequate shelter from the storm and for the staff and volunteers who have put a great deal of effort into this evacuation! But at the same time our heart aches for our boys as they endure calamity upon calamity without their mom and dad to be the ones to keep them safe.
32 kids....one church basement...
"Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possibility" ~ Kate Douglas Wiggin
4 years ago today...
3 years ago...
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff
2 years ago...
Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. ~Neil Postman
1 year ago...
A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan
Today...
The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four - of secondary importance is to prepare for being five. ~Jim Trelease
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ~Dr. Seuss
Happy Birthday Dee!
4 years ago today...
3 years ago...
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff
2 years ago...
Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. ~Neil Postman
1 year ago...
A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan
Today...
The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four - of secondary importance is to prepare for being five. ~Jim Trelease
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ~Dr. Seuss
Happy Birthday Dee!
Global Edmonton interview
To see our interview on Global, copy and paste the following link, and click on the Oct.28th news hour final. We are at 5mins and 28 sec in:
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Letters letters letters.....
The following are my letters to various Government officials in hopes that it will move someone into action to help try to bring my boys home from Haiti....
Letters have been written to the key people involved with Operation Stork:
Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration
kennej@parl.gc.ca
Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Communication
ucm_mcu@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Right Hon. Stephen Harper
pm@pm.gc.ca
In addition to the people we hope will advocate on our behalves and the behalves of their future Albertans (our sons in Haiti):
Our MP, Mr. Mike Lake, Leduc-Millwoods-Beaumont
LakeM@parl.gc.ca
Our MLA, Mr. George Rogers, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon
Leduc.BeaumontDevon@assembly.ab.ca
and Hon. Yvonne Fritz, Alberta Minister of Children and Youth
cys.minister@gov.ab.ca
#1 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Millwoods-Leduc, Mr. Mike Lake
Oct.21, 2010
To the Honourable Jason Kenney, and to Mike Lake, our MP Edmonton-Millwoods-Beaumont,
I am an adoptive parent of Haitian twins, age 1. You may remember me from my previous correspondence immediately following the earthquake in Haiti in Jan, 2010, and further throughout the year. I recently sent you a thank you for your concern for our Haitian adoption. As I write this letter, my 1 year old boys reside in a temporary shelter in a town called Mirebalais. They remain outside as their orphanage was condemned in the earthquake earlier this year. As they now face the feared and now immediate danger of Cholera, I implore you to consider an attempt to revive and/or extend the efforts of "Operation Stork".
In the village where my sons' orphanage is located, already 14 people have been confirmed dead. This health threat is real and critical, and these soon to be Canadian children require the same kind of quick action applied to the adoptive children preceeding them. There is currently a process in place that is working for the Haitian adoptions that are currently being processed from within Canada for the 203 orphans who were brought home to their prospective Canadian families earlier this year. I plead with you to do everything you can for these future Canadians, in this time of uncertainty, as you did for the orphans who came before them.
I beg you to please help unite us with our children in light of this very real, and urgent threat.
sincerely,
#2 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Leduc-Millwoods, Mr. Mike Lake
Oct.21, 2010
Dear Honourable Jason Kenney, and Mike Lake
Thank you for your time once again. In addition to my previous email, I would just like to highlight how this current health threat is a tragic, ongoing result of the devastating earthquake in Jan of this year. The people of Haiti continue to be victims of the earthquake.
Operation Stork was Canada's Humanitarian evacuation of Haitian orphans in response to the quake. Please consider that these future Canadians are threatened by deadly disease, which is thriving because the post quake conditions have created a ripe environment for disease. Please continue your special immigration measures, do not rule out your continuing and committed post earthquake response to the Haitian-Canadian orphans.
My boys were not orphans created by the earthquake, rather, they have resided at the orphanage since ----, 2009. The Cholera outbreak is very close to their orphanage.
Please, I urge you to continue your admirable post earthquake response.
Sincerely,
#3 - NHQ, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Oct.22, 2010
Dear ------ National Headquaters, CIC,
Let me begin by thanking you for your massive efforts to date in Operation Stork. I have been able to witness the direct results of your labour as I watch the children of our fellow adoptive parents enjoy their new lives in Canada, safe from the threat of infectious disease. I truly admire your ability to be able to help change and possibly, save lives.
My husband and I are currently in process of adopting 2 Haitian boys, age 1, from Haiti Children's Home in Mirebalais, near the Artibonite river. Due to the continued threat to their well being since the earthquake in Jan of this year, and with the recent Cholera outbreak, which is a direct threat to them, I would like to follow up in regards to Operation Stork.
14 people have already passed in the village where their orphanage resides. A volunteer from our orphanage, who is currently in Haiti, will be doing a phone interview with CNN tomorrow to discuss the effects of this outbreak on the orphanage.
135 people are dead, and 1500 are ill so far. Please help us bring our boys home with special immigration measures through operation stork to help remove them from the threat of this deadly disease.
I have included our information and client ID # below.
We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.
Our boys are ---------, born ----- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ---, 2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.
I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake. Our children currently reside in temporary housing, as their building was condemned in the quake.
Sincerely,
#4 - Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney
Oct.22, 2010
Dear Honourable Jason Kenney,
I just received word that there are 42 now dead in Mirebalais, where Haiti Children's Home is located. I am praying every minute for my boys and everyone down there. Please us get them home and keep them safe...if there is anything that can be done, I have faith that you will be able to continue the efforts that were made for the same reason earlier this year.
There are other children who are in process with adoptions from our orphanage.
We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.
Our boys are ------------- born -------- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ----2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.
I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake.
Sincerely,
#5 - The Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Hon. Stephen Harper
Oct.23, 2010
To The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,
My husband and I are adoptive parents to one year old Haitian twin boys named -----------. I am writing to express my gratitude over your concerns for Haiti. I am so happy to read that you are continuing to respond to the needs of the people who are experiencing hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake, as you were you were quoted in the Montreal Gazette:
"Canada is concerned by the loss of life and the risk of this serious medical crisis spreading into further communities," Harper said in a statement.
"Canada will continue to respond to the needs of the people of Haiti who are experiencing tremendous hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake that took place earlier this year."
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Haiti+gets+Canadian+help+after+cholera+outbreak/3717037/story.html#ixzz13Cqp2ODL
I am writing to draw your attention to the fact that there are still adoptive parents in Canada trying to extract their children out of Haiti. We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since last summer. We are adopting from the orphanage Haiti Children's Home. A volunteer from our orphanage will be featured on a CNN interview tomorrow morning.
As adoptive parents, we are so worried about our children as they fare this latest threat of Cholera, which happens to be centralized in the region where the orphanage is located, threatening them directly. Since the earthquake, our children have been living outside of their home in temporary shelters, as their building was condemned; a situation that is not ideal in a country that is already on its knees, and now handling another deadly blow.
There are only a handful of adoptions still being processed by the Haitian government from Canada. I respectfully implore you to please allow the team from the Department of Immigration to continue their efforts in "Operation Stork". I understand that their efforts will be limited to what the Haitian Government will allow, but I beseech you to approach Haiti with your requests before our future Canadian children face the consequences of this too often deadly disease. They are relying on the ability of their soon to be fair and just Government to act swiftly on their behalf to join them with us, their family.
I have attached their pictures.
Thank you for your time,
#6 - Minister of International Cooperation Canada, Hon. Bev Oda
Oct.26, 2010
To the Honourable Bev Oda,
You have recently received a copy of my letter to The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, in regards to our Haitian Adoption and the current situation in Haiti.
I would like to thank you for your quick response in the measure taken for Operation Stork back in Jan of this year. You response was admirable and appreciated for the children being adopted by Canadian families. I have had the please to witness the fruit of your action personally, as some of the children that were evacuated shared their orphanage with my twin boys, ------. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys, because of simple timing remain in the home. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without their parents, and prone to disease.
I want to appeal to you to continue your action on behalf of our children. Operation Stork was a response taken by the Government for the safety and well being of the children who were left reeling in the aftermath of the earthquake in Jan.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have included more pictures of our babies at their orphanage.
Humbly,
#7 - Canadian International Development Agency
CIDA
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0G4
Toll free:
Fax: 819-953-6088
Oct.26, 2010
To whom it may concern,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------ 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
#8 - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Department of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 992-6802 Email: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Oct.26, 2010
To the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, --------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on -----. They have resided in the orphanage since ---. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request the Haitian government to extract these future Canadians.
Sincerely,
#9 - Mr. George Rogers, MLA
George Rogers, MLA
#503 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB Canada T5K 2B6
Phone: Fax: leduc.beaumontdevon@assembly.ab.ca
Oct.27, 2010
To Mr. George Rogers,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -----------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in assisting in whatever ways possible in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ----- 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------, 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ----- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
#10 - Minister of Children and Youth Alberta, Hon. Yvonne Fritz
Minister of Child and Youth Services
#228 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
tel.780-415-4890 fax: (780) 415-4859, email: cys.minister@gov.ab.ca
Oct.27, 2010
To the Hon. Yvonne Fritz,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, ------------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ---2009. Our twin boys were born on ---- 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ---- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
Letters have been written to the key people involved with Operation Stork:
Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration
kennej@parl.gc.ca
Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Communication
ucm_mcu@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Right Hon. Stephen Harper
pm@pm.gc.ca
In addition to the people we hope will advocate on our behalves and the behalves of their future Albertans (our sons in Haiti):
Our MP, Mr. Mike Lake, Leduc-Millwoods-Beaumont
LakeM@parl.gc.ca
Our MLA, Mr. George Rogers, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon
Leduc.BeaumontDevon@assembly.ab.ca
and Hon. Yvonne Fritz, Alberta Minister of Children and Youth
cys.minister@gov.ab.ca
#1 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Millwoods-Leduc, Mr. Mike Lake
Oct.21, 2010
To the Honourable Jason Kenney, and to Mike Lake, our MP Edmonton-Millwoods-Beaumont,
I am an adoptive parent of Haitian twins, age 1. You may remember me from my previous correspondence immediately following the earthquake in Haiti in Jan, 2010, and further throughout the year. I recently sent you a thank you for your concern for our Haitian adoption. As I write this letter, my 1 year old boys reside in a temporary shelter in a town called Mirebalais. They remain outside as their orphanage was condemned in the earthquake earlier this year. As they now face the feared and now immediate danger of Cholera, I implore you to consider an attempt to revive and/or extend the efforts of "Operation Stork".
In the village where my sons' orphanage is located, already 14 people have been confirmed dead. This health threat is real and critical, and these soon to be Canadian children require the same kind of quick action applied to the adoptive children preceeding them. There is currently a process in place that is working for the Haitian adoptions that are currently being processed from within Canada for the 203 orphans who were brought home to their prospective Canadian families earlier this year. I plead with you to do everything you can for these future Canadians, in this time of uncertainty, as you did for the orphans who came before them.
I beg you to please help unite us with our children in light of this very real, and urgent threat.
sincerely,
#2 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Leduc-Millwoods, Mr. Mike Lake
Oct.21, 2010
Dear Honourable Jason Kenney, and Mike Lake
Thank you for your time once again. In addition to my previous email, I would just like to highlight how this current health threat is a tragic, ongoing result of the devastating earthquake in Jan of this year. The people of Haiti continue to be victims of the earthquake.
Operation Stork was Canada's Humanitarian evacuation of Haitian orphans in response to the quake. Please consider that these future Canadians are threatened by deadly disease, which is thriving because the post quake conditions have created a ripe environment for disease. Please continue your special immigration measures, do not rule out your continuing and committed post earthquake response to the Haitian-Canadian orphans.
My boys were not orphans created by the earthquake, rather, they have resided at the orphanage since ----, 2009. The Cholera outbreak is very close to their orphanage.
Please, I urge you to continue your admirable post earthquake response.
Sincerely,
#3 - NHQ, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Oct.22, 2010
Dear ------ National Headquaters, CIC,
Let me begin by thanking you for your massive efforts to date in Operation Stork. I have been able to witness the direct results of your labour as I watch the children of our fellow adoptive parents enjoy their new lives in Canada, safe from the threat of infectious disease. I truly admire your ability to be able to help change and possibly, save lives.
My husband and I are currently in process of adopting 2 Haitian boys, age 1, from Haiti Children's Home in Mirebalais, near the Artibonite river. Due to the continued threat to their well being since the earthquake in Jan of this year, and with the recent Cholera outbreak, which is a direct threat to them, I would like to follow up in regards to Operation Stork.
14 people have already passed in the village where their orphanage resides. A volunteer from our orphanage, who is currently in Haiti, will be doing a phone interview with CNN tomorrow to discuss the effects of this outbreak on the orphanage.
135 people are dead, and 1500 are ill so far. Please help us bring our boys home with special immigration measures through operation stork to help remove them from the threat of this deadly disease.
I have included our information and client ID # below.
We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.
Our boys are ---------, born ----- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ---, 2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.
I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake. Our children currently reside in temporary housing, as their building was condemned in the quake.
Sincerely,
#4 - Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney
Oct.22, 2010
Dear Honourable Jason Kenney,
I just received word that there are 42 now dead in Mirebalais, where Haiti Children's Home is located. I am praying every minute for my boys and everyone down there. Please us get them home and keep them safe...if there is anything that can be done, I have faith that you will be able to continue the efforts that were made for the same reason earlier this year.
There are other children who are in process with adoptions from our orphanage.
We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.
Our boys are ------------- born -------- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ----2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.
I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake.
Sincerely,
#5 - The Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Hon. Stephen Harper
Oct.23, 2010
To The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,
My husband and I are adoptive parents to one year old Haitian twin boys named -----------. I am writing to express my gratitude over your concerns for Haiti. I am so happy to read that you are continuing to respond to the needs of the people who are experiencing hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake, as you were you were quoted in the Montreal Gazette:
"Canada is concerned by the loss of life and the risk of this serious medical crisis spreading into further communities," Harper said in a statement.
"Canada will continue to respond to the needs of the people of Haiti who are experiencing tremendous hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake that took place earlier this year."
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Haiti+gets+Canadian+help+after+cholera+outbreak/3717037/story.html#ixzz13Cqp2ODL
I am writing to draw your attention to the fact that there are still adoptive parents in Canada trying to extract their children out of Haiti. We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since last summer. We are adopting from the orphanage Haiti Children's Home. A volunteer from our orphanage will be featured on a CNN interview tomorrow morning.
As adoptive parents, we are so worried about our children as they fare this latest threat of Cholera, which happens to be centralized in the region where the orphanage is located, threatening them directly. Since the earthquake, our children have been living outside of their home in temporary shelters, as their building was condemned; a situation that is not ideal in a country that is already on its knees, and now handling another deadly blow.
There are only a handful of adoptions still being processed by the Haitian government from Canada. I respectfully implore you to please allow the team from the Department of Immigration to continue their efforts in "Operation Stork". I understand that their efforts will be limited to what the Haitian Government will allow, but I beseech you to approach Haiti with your requests before our future Canadian children face the consequences of this too often deadly disease. They are relying on the ability of their soon to be fair and just Government to act swiftly on their behalf to join them with us, their family.
I have attached their pictures.
Thank you for your time,
#6 - Minister of International Cooperation Canada, Hon. Bev Oda
Oct.26, 2010
To the Honourable Bev Oda,
You have recently received a copy of my letter to The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, in regards to our Haitian Adoption and the current situation in Haiti.
I would like to thank you for your quick response in the measure taken for Operation Stork back in Jan of this year. You response was admirable and appreciated for the children being adopted by Canadian families. I have had the please to witness the fruit of your action personally, as some of the children that were evacuated shared their orphanage with my twin boys, ------. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys, because of simple timing remain in the home. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without their parents, and prone to disease.
I want to appeal to you to continue your action on behalf of our children. Operation Stork was a response taken by the Government for the safety and well being of the children who were left reeling in the aftermath of the earthquake in Jan.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have included more pictures of our babies at their orphanage.
Humbly,
#7 - Canadian International Development Agency
CIDA
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0G4
Toll free:
Fax: 819-953-6088
Oct.26, 2010
To whom it may concern,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------ 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
#8 - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Department of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 992-6802 Email: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Oct.26, 2010
To the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, --------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on -----. They have resided in the orphanage since ---. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request the Haitian government to extract these future Canadians.
Sincerely,
#9 - Mr. George Rogers, MLA
George Rogers, MLA
#503 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB Canada T5K 2B6
Phone: Fax: leduc.beaumontdevon@assembly.ab.ca
Oct.27, 2010
To Mr. George Rogers,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -----------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in assisting in whatever ways possible in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ----- 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------, 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ----- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
#10 - Minister of Children and Youth Alberta, Hon. Yvonne Fritz
Minister of Child and Youth Services
#228 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
tel.780-415-4890 fax: (780) 415-4859, email: cys.minister@gov.ab.ca
Oct.27, 2010
To the Hon. Yvonne Fritz,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, ------------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.
Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.
As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.
We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ---2009. Our twin boys were born on ---- 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ---- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.
I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.
I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,
message from HCH
Monday, October 25, 2010
Reverse Isolation
We were successful in isolating the orphanage over the weekend. Several of our staff graciously agreed to stay around the clock in a lock down situation for at least a month and longer if needed. We had to hire some temporary staff as not enough of our employees were able to stay to make a full staff on-site with the children; we are grateful to all those who helped make the reverse isolation happen.
It took about 24 hours to actually get the compound ready, find the staff and get enough supplies to make it all happen but everyone worked together and made it happen. Lunto went to get bulk supplies on Friday, Mathieu went to employees homes, made phone calls and then arranged a meeting with those in place for the isolation. On Saturday, Shae and Melissa went to Port-au-Prince for one last grocery shopping trip to buy food, extra water jugs, air mattresses for the staff and hand sanitizer (they couldn't get any of this) before locking down. When they got home they set up mattresses and made sleeping arrangements for about 12 helpers who joined them in the already overcrowded sleeping quarters. Then they initiated the isolation officially.
So far no children and no staff from HCH have been effected by cholera. We do have a few children with mild illness but no one with symptoms of cholera. We thank God for this and we pray that he will continue to cover them.
We are still in need of a nurse or two. We need someone who is proficient at starting IV's and is willing to administer the daily medications and treatments. If you or someone you know is interested in helping in this way please contact Melinda Ulysse by phone at or 772-209-2527 or e-mail at hchkids@yahoo.com
Please continue to help us pray for the country of Haiti and HCH as everyone tried to recover from the earthquake earlier this year and now the cholera outbreak. HCH is in need of funding to help cover the extra expenses incurred due to the cholera outbreak if you would like to help financially please see our website http://www.haitichildrenshome.com/
Friday, October 22, 2010
...more mountains...
there has been an outbreak of cholera in Haiti. here is another mountain to surpass. rather than dwell on how bad this could be, i will choose to be thankful for the following:
for an orphanage that is organized and prepared to respond to this new threat.
for the wonderful caregivers who are loving up my boys for me.
for pictures and video that are capturing precious memories for my babies.
for family and friends who are taking the time to advocate on behalf of our family.
for a government that i choose to believe will do the right thing and act swiftly to remove my children from danger; it is in their power to try.
for my little ones that are within my grasp; that i can hold and protect with my own hands. family.
for faith.
for hope.
for love.
for an orphanage that is organized and prepared to respond to this new threat.
for the wonderful caregivers who are loving up my boys for me.
for pictures and video that are capturing precious memories for my babies.
for family and friends who are taking the time to advocate on behalf of our family.
for a government that i choose to believe will do the right thing and act swiftly to remove my children from danger; it is in their power to try.
for my little ones that are within my grasp; that i can hold and protect with my own hands. family.
for faith.
for hope.
for love.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The twins' 1st birthday
I miss my boys.
A strange feeling to miss someone you haven't met yet. Even weirder that they are my sons.
Celebrating their 1st birthday without them underscored all these feelings, and in a way also connected my to them a little more. It was so wonderful to have Nana and Grandad and Auntie S, Uncle M, the the 3 cousins here to celebrate this milestone for them and for our family.
It's cute - D keeps saying to the littlest baby as she shows him the twins' picture "Look at your baby brothers!" and I have to remind here that the twins are his BIG brothers, even though they came to us after the baby. A tricky concept for a 3 year old I guess!
I heard from one of the volunteers that our boys are "hilarious!" I love that. I think they will fit in to this quirky family of ours just fine. One of them is crawling across the floor "like a penguin or frog" I have been just trying hard to imagine that! I am told that they play together and it is not uncommon to see them holding hands. That, I can picture, and it melts my heart.
For their party last night, we had a Monster Truck cake (chosen by the girls), a candle wished on (intently) and blown out by mommy, then re-wished on and re-blown out and repeat by the family; presents, pictures and visiting. A good time had by all - maybe you'll be home by next year kiddos? I'll keep wishing and I'll definitely keep praying.
These 1st birthday presents will await your arrival. Thank you Auntie, Uncle and cousins!
Monday, September 6, 2010
armfarts and other useful things
I don't know what it is these lately, but for some reason our lives seem to be filled with crude jokes about bodily noises.
I would like to say that this is a new phenomena, but unfortunately, as I was reading back in prior entries, I see that I blogged about it around Sugarbear's 5th birthday. At the time it was Dee who was obsessed with the potty humour, but now it has spread to her big sis too.
I know that dad is to blame for these latest rounds, as he recently introduced them to the armpit fart. Since then, she has been heartily practicing at every spare moment. If only I could get her to practice piano this easily!
I honestly try to suppress my laughter each time and lecture her about how inappropriate this display would be at school, but to no avail. It is surely not the fart noise itself, but her steadfast determination mixed with her utter glee at having accomplished the toot sound.
The way she puts her hip into it.
She kind of tosses her whole body to the side and frantically wings her arm up and down.
Her upper lip curls as she furrows her brow.
I just can't keep a straight face, which certainly does not help to discourage the behaviour. In addition, the real thing has been popping up a lot lately.
Didn't I have girls??
So, when we were saying their bedtime prayers tonight and listing everything that we were thankful for, I mentioned (in resignation that this is and will be a perpetual part of my life - I also now have 3 younger boys...) that we should be thankful for farts because if we couldn't fart, then all that gas would build up inside and we would get a tummy ache; to which I get her astonished, slightly excited reply: "you mean farts are useful?!!"
Oh, yes and unfortunately, still, so funny.
I would like to say that this is a new phenomena, but unfortunately, as I was reading back in prior entries, I see that I blogged about it around Sugarbear's 5th birthday. At the time it was Dee who was obsessed with the potty humour, but now it has spread to her big sis too.
I know that dad is to blame for these latest rounds, as he recently introduced them to the armpit fart. Since then, she has been heartily practicing at every spare moment. If only I could get her to practice piano this easily!
I honestly try to suppress my laughter each time and lecture her about how inappropriate this display would be at school, but to no avail. It is surely not the fart noise itself, but her steadfast determination mixed with her utter glee at having accomplished the toot sound.
The way she puts her hip into it.
She kind of tosses her whole body to the side and frantically wings her arm up and down.
Her upper lip curls as she furrows her brow.
I just can't keep a straight face, which certainly does not help to discourage the behaviour. In addition, the real thing has been popping up a lot lately.
Didn't I have girls??
So, when we were saying their bedtime prayers tonight and listing everything that we were thankful for, I mentioned (in resignation that this is and will be a perpetual part of my life - I also now have 3 younger boys...) that we should be thankful for farts because if we couldn't fart, then all that gas would build up inside and we would get a tummy ache; to which I get her astonished, slightly excited reply: "you mean farts are useful?!!"
Oh, yes and unfortunately, still, so funny.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
careful what you pray for
Has someone ever told you "be careful what you pray for? You just might get it?" I don't think I ever really got that saying. That's the point of praying for something..because you do want it to happen! Right? Er, well....
I have spent the past, let's consult the the ticker here, um 2 years and 2 weeks today, praying for our adoption. Praying for a son, praying for our children. What a ride it has been.
In the process, we have attempted international adoption from two separate countries, failed at one, got sidelined by an earthquake in another, and considered pulling out completely on numerous occasions. We somehow ended up becoming foster parents, fostered 2 adorable little girls, but said goodbye to them too.
Around the time we let go of our little girls, our adoption from Haiti was stalled with no timeline of when we could proceed (years? months? never?). It did not look good(insert one of the numerous times we considered calling it quits here). And then something(s) amazing happened that brings us to now, with our heads spinning.
We accepted another foster placement for a brand new baby boy. This little miracle has been with us now for almost 5 months, with little to no sign of having to be returned (inhale). We have our sights on his adoption and he is a beautiful little blessing. My son.
Then on Aug.24 the phone rang. It was the stork calling (from Haiti)...it's twins! They are 7 months older than our baby boy. Um, so that will almost be like raising, ahem, triplets?! Now, when we began this journey of adoption, we initially envisioned adding a child to our family. A child. What began as a journey to one has twisted and turned unexpectedly in so many ways that it has brought us 3 more babies. Now this all seems too crazy, but crazy good. Insane good!
When we got married 10 years ago it was new and exciting and scary and fun. We knew each other for only 3 weeks. We met on June 2nd and got married on June 23rd. That is another story, but it feels the same. Wonderful and daunting. Daring and exhilarating. Frightening, in a good way. 5 kids! Who wouldn't be intimidated! That is why they say "life is full of surprises"..."be careful what you pray for"...."expect the unexpected"..."life's a journey, enjoy the ride" oh wait, no, that last one is a nissan ad.
Well, buckle up...here we go...!
I have spent the past, let's consult the the ticker here, um 2 years and 2 weeks today, praying for our adoption. Praying for a son, praying for our children. What a ride it has been.
In the process, we have attempted international adoption from two separate countries, failed at one, got sidelined by an earthquake in another, and considered pulling out completely on numerous occasions. We somehow ended up becoming foster parents, fostered 2 adorable little girls, but said goodbye to them too.
Around the time we let go of our little girls, our adoption from Haiti was stalled with no timeline of when we could proceed (years? months? never?). It did not look good(insert one of the numerous times we considered calling it quits here). And then something(s) amazing happened that brings us to now, with our heads spinning.
We accepted another foster placement for a brand new baby boy. This little miracle has been with us now for almost 5 months, with little to no sign of having to be returned (inhale). We have our sights on his adoption and he is a beautiful little blessing. My son.
Then on Aug.24 the phone rang. It was the stork calling (from Haiti)...it's twins! They are 7 months older than our baby boy. Um, so that will almost be like raising, ahem, triplets?! Now, when we began this journey of adoption, we initially envisioned adding a child to our family. A child. What began as a journey to one has twisted and turned unexpectedly in so many ways that it has brought us 3 more babies. Now this all seems too crazy, but crazy good. Insane good!
When we got married 10 years ago it was new and exciting and scary and fun. We knew each other for only 3 weeks. We met on June 2nd and got married on June 23rd. That is another story, but it feels the same. Wonderful and daunting. Daring and exhilarating. Frightening, in a good way. 5 kids! Who wouldn't be intimidated! That is why they say "life is full of surprises"..."be careful what you pray for"...."expect the unexpected"..."life's a journey, enjoy the ride" oh wait, no, that last one is a nissan ad.
Well, buckle up...here we go...!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Kontinye!
Yesterday we got the 'official' phone call from our province indicating to us that we are able to proceed with our adoption from Haiti. We are so thrilled to be able to move ahead in this adoption process.
Next step: child referral! We have been waiting over a year and a half for this, but it feels like eternity. The name of this blog is so appropriate - I didn't even realize how appropriate when I chose it. Another mountain - check! Now it will be a long few weeks until our referral comes in, and then a long few months? years? until he comes home. Many more mountains; but summiting this one was so sweet.
We Proceed!
“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.”
~Patti Smith
Definition
Proceeding:
of Proceed, The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or transaction; progress or movement from one thing to another; a measure or step taken in a course of business; a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding; a cautious or a violent proceeding. The course of procedure in the prosecution of an action at law.
Proceeding Translations:
Haitian Kreyol - kontinye
French - v. continuer, poursuivre; progresser
German - fortsetzend, verfahrende, verfahrend
Italian - procedura
Spanish - procedimiento
Next step: child referral! We have been waiting over a year and a half for this, but it feels like eternity. The name of this blog is so appropriate - I didn't even realize how appropriate when I chose it. Another mountain - check! Now it will be a long few weeks until our referral comes in, and then a long few months? years? until he comes home. Many more mountains; but summiting this one was so sweet.
We Proceed!
“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.”
~Patti Smith
Definition
Proceeding:
of Proceed, The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or transaction; progress or movement from one thing to another; a measure or step taken in a course of business; a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding; a cautious or a violent proceeding. The course of procedure in the prosecution of an action at law.
Proceeding Translations:
Haitian Kreyol - kontinye
French - v. continuer, poursuivre; progresser
German - fortsetzend, verfahrende, verfahrend
Italian - procedura
Spanish - procedimiento
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Riding the Hope rollercoaster
Wow, it has been a long time since I last wrote. To be honest - I thought I was done with blogging - and for a brief and dark moment, we thought our adoption from Haiti was over. It has been too painful for me to even think about writing an update on our adoption. But something wonderful is happening. In, fact, I am not sure I should even be publishing this post until I know for sure as these past 2 months have been tumultuous and full of hope and heartache. The biggest emotional roller coaster we have ever ridden! But it is a wonderful feeling to be living in hope again, albeit the very guarded kind.
But now we have begun to see a light at the end of this tunnel, and our dream of a son is again a real possibility. I think a lot about this long process and how all of the stuff that never made sense before has begun to gradually stitch itself together at the seams.
Feb 4th, 2010 - that was the day that CIC put up a notice on their website that they would only be proceeding with adoptions where a match had been made - in other words - NOT us. On this day, we accepted 2 beautiful baby girls into our care to foster them until their mom got back on her feet. Over the next month we were consumed with our 4 children, 2 of them in diapers! We navigated through intense emotion, as this was our first foster care placement. We felt what it was like to have a family of 6. (It's difficult! but worth every minute.) While we knew that these girls would never become ours, I tried 'on' being their mom many times. It was great reinforcement to us that adoption was still a good path for us. But at the same time, we were still inclined to believe that this would never happen.
By having these children in our care, we knew with certainty that we wanted more. So we made a big decision about midway through Feb to, as my husband would put it, "pull the goalie". Given our past experiences, typically all he has to do is look at me at this point and voila! a pregnancy. Unfortunately something unexpected happened. As some of you know, I have been fighting chronic pain over the past year or so. I have been through countless ultrasounds, MRI's, surgery, procedures, medication, theraputic medication, homeopath, naturopath, diets, acupuncture, chiropractor, cranio-sacral therapy, massage (my favourite) and physio. Over the past months I have gotten the pain under control - almost gone actually. So when I stopped the pill I was surprised and greatly disappointed to realize that the pain came back - with avengence. I realized that there was no way I could go through nine months of this - without the ability to take my pain medication. So, it seems, we have come full circle, from a family who could was not infertile, but chose this path to our next children deliberately, to a family whose only choice for expansion is through adoption. I pray that we will come out on the other end of this with our son(s)?
Something else has happened in the midst of all this uncertainty, and as the fog lifts, I realize that when we gave up on this process and got impatient, that God stepped in and armoured our decision to adopt(painfully, but decision made nonetheless!). We cannot give up. Our son is out there waiting for all this bureaurcracy to disappear so that he can finally come home.
On Friday, Mar. 26th, our baby girls left us. They went home to their mom who is now healthy enough to support them. We had them for almost 2 months. In that time our eyes were opened to another world within Canada. And to the children here who flounder in a system full of flaws. But they enjoyed their time with us, and they got to go home to a mom who loves them. On the very day they left our care, we discovered that adoptions are open and being processed in Haiti, and that Canada should be allowing matched to come in and that they are still processing Haitian adoptions.
So what happened over the past 2 months when everyone said everything was halted? I don't know, but what I like to believe is that 2 little girls needed our love. That we had to make a pit stop to deliver some care and attention. That we needed reinforcement that our adoption is necessary and destined to happen. At least, this is now, and we are at the top of the hill waiting to throw our hands up and ride this ride to the finish. We found some sense and some peace in all of this so far. Please, God, don't let that change again.
But now we have begun to see a light at the end of this tunnel, and our dream of a son is again a real possibility. I think a lot about this long process and how all of the stuff that never made sense before has begun to gradually stitch itself together at the seams.
Feb 4th, 2010 - that was the day that CIC put up a notice on their website that they would only be proceeding with adoptions where a match had been made - in other words - NOT us. On this day, we accepted 2 beautiful baby girls into our care to foster them until their mom got back on her feet. Over the next month we were consumed with our 4 children, 2 of them in diapers! We navigated through intense emotion, as this was our first foster care placement. We felt what it was like to have a family of 6. (It's difficult! but worth every minute.) While we knew that these girls would never become ours, I tried 'on' being their mom many times. It was great reinforcement to us that adoption was still a good path for us. But at the same time, we were still inclined to believe that this would never happen.
By having these children in our care, we knew with certainty that we wanted more. So we made a big decision about midway through Feb to, as my husband would put it, "pull the goalie". Given our past experiences, typically all he has to do is look at me at this point and voila! a pregnancy. Unfortunately something unexpected happened. As some of you know, I have been fighting chronic pain over the past year or so. I have been through countless ultrasounds, MRI's, surgery, procedures, medication, theraputic medication, homeopath, naturopath, diets, acupuncture, chiropractor, cranio-sacral therapy, massage (my favourite) and physio. Over the past months I have gotten the pain under control - almost gone actually. So when I stopped the pill I was surprised and greatly disappointed to realize that the pain came back - with avengence. I realized that there was no way I could go through nine months of this - without the ability to take my pain medication. So, it seems, we have come full circle, from a family who could was not infertile, but chose this path to our next children deliberately, to a family whose only choice for expansion is through adoption. I pray that we will come out on the other end of this with our son(s)?
Something else has happened in the midst of all this uncertainty, and as the fog lifts, I realize that when we gave up on this process and got impatient, that God stepped in and armoured our decision to adopt(painfully, but decision made nonetheless!). We cannot give up. Our son is out there waiting for all this bureaurcracy to disappear so that he can finally come home.
On Friday, Mar. 26th, our baby girls left us. They went home to their mom who is now healthy enough to support them. We had them for almost 2 months. In that time our eyes were opened to another world within Canada. And to the children here who flounder in a system full of flaws. But they enjoyed their time with us, and they got to go home to a mom who loves them. On the very day they left our care, we discovered that adoptions are open and being processed in Haiti, and that Canada should be allowing matched to come in and that they are still processing Haitian adoptions.
So what happened over the past 2 months when everyone said everything was halted? I don't know, but what I like to believe is that 2 little girls needed our love. That we had to make a pit stop to deliver some care and attention. That we needed reinforcement that our adoption is necessary and destined to happen. At least, this is now, and we are at the top of the hill waiting to throw our hands up and ride this ride to the finish. We found some sense and some peace in all of this so far. Please, God, don't let that change again.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
stop Unicef's anti-adoption pressure
I am writing to ask for your support in a letter writing campaign to Unicef. Please help us in yet another struggle for us to get our children home. Please read the information below, and check out the blog:
http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/, for information about how Unicef is trying to close adoptions in Haiti (Jan.30th entry).
"Kids abandoned to an orphanage by their birth parent PRE earthquake are now being held in Haiti thanks to pressure placed on the Haitian government by the giant and powerful Unicef."
I may have asked you for your support before, and I know I can count on you, that is why I am asking again - please write to Unicef using the link below, as well as your local MP, or even our Governor General Michaelle Jean or whoever else you can think of about this matter and encourage them to allow adoptive families and children who were legally adoptable BEFORE this earthquake be considered for international adoption. Please pass this on to anyone you think will write a letter and voice their concern. Unicef is severely misguided in their mission to stop all Haitian adoptions. Safeguards already exist and adoptions are and will continue to be carefully monitored. Unicef has a history of being against international adoption. They would rather see scores of children grow up in institutions or on the street without a family than be placed for adoption internationally. Especially in this day and age I find this stance atrocious. We live in a global community. International adoption has its challenges, but challenges that all internationally adoptive families are forced to examine carefully, prepared for by their agencies, and ultimately tackle head on should they go down this road.
While I agree with Unicef that it is in the best for children to stay with their birth family or extended family, this simply isn't always possible. While I believe in the caregivers at Haiti Children's Home and know they love these kids, they will also be the first to tell you that institutional care is not ideal. We are prepared with the fact that we may bring home a 3 or 4 year old child and have to take the time to teach them what a family is. Most of the children at the orphanages have been there since birth. The concept of family is so foreign to them that it is a concept that actually has to be taught. They don't get that 'Mom' and 'Dad' are a special person to them. They are used to many caregivers, some who come in and out of their lives. When children are removed from orphanages, it also creates a space for another child who may be living on the street to have access to a bed, care and regular food and water. I just simply fail to see why Unicef is taking such a hard stance against families like ours and children like the 30 plus at Haiti Children's Home. In taking this stance, Unicef is trying to protect the newly created orphans from this earthquake. I get that these children need to be safeguarded and not swept away to a foreign country. They may have other family who want to take care of them and who love them. But there were close to half a million orphans BEFORE this tragedy. The earthquake created about 50,000 more. There were THOUSANDS of orphans before this natural disaster, and they have paperwork to PROVE that they were already LEGALLY adoptable, dated BEFORE this earthquake. This can be monitored and no one needs to be sent away who they are not sure about. There are families like ours, who were already in the process of adopting one of these orphans who could needlessly be stopped if Unicef continues to apply their pressure.
Adoption is not going to solve Haiti's problems, adoption is not going to solve the problem of orphans or poverty, but adoption is going to allow some children to find a family, and that is priceless, ESPECIALLY now. Please help be part of the bridge home for these children. Be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Thank you,
To email Unicef, follow this link:
http://www.unicef.org/about/contact_contactusform.html
To email your MP, follow the link below to get the contact info:
FIND YOUR MP:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
For just a little more information on Unicef's efforts see these links:
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/haitian-government-announces-new-exit-requirement-for-children/
http://ouradopt.com/adoption-blog/feb-2008/sandrahanksbenoiton/another-look-unicef
http://thehaitilady.blogspot.com/2007/12/unicef-and-haiti.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is an example of the letter I wrote to UNICEF:
To whom it may concern,
RE: ADOPTION
I am writing in regards to international adoption. I am appalled at your stance in trying to shut down adoptions from Haiti.
My husband and I have been in the process of adoption from Haiti for about 6 months. We have been trying to adopt a child from Haiti Children's Home. In this orphanage, there are 44 children, and only about 10 of them have been matched with families. The rest of these children need a family and many have spent their entire lives in this orphanage. While I understand your concern for the newly orphaned children in Haiti I fail to see your logic in how shutting down adoption will be better for these kids. In Haiti, as with many countries, there are already safeguards in place - I fail to see the need to completely close the door on adoption here.
There were MANY thousands of children who were available for adoption PRIOR to this earthquake who NEED families. Any psychologist would agree, that institutional care is NEVER a better choice than a loving, approved family. Due to the pressure that you are putting on the Haitian government, these children may never get a chance at a loving home such as ours. I know these kids, and I know the caregivers. The care is wonderful, but still cannot compare to the benefit of family. Our child deserves to come home to us. Part of the preparation for international adoption is preparing to embrace the culture of the sending country and adopt the culture into your family. We take pride that we will be able to teach and embrace our child's birth country. Adoptive parents typically end up being their adoptive child's countries biggest advocates.
We want to see Haiti rise up, but please stop interfering with adoption, at least for the thousands of orphans who were paperworked and legally available for adoption prior to this earthquake. Many already had families like us waiting to be matched with them. This is a tragedy for all involved. Please stop your anti-adoption campaign.
http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/, for information about how Unicef is trying to close adoptions in Haiti (Jan.30th entry).
"Kids abandoned to an orphanage by their birth parent PRE earthquake are now being held in Haiti thanks to pressure placed on the Haitian government by the giant and powerful Unicef."
I may have asked you for your support before, and I know I can count on you, that is why I am asking again - please write to Unicef using the link below, as well as your local MP, or even our Governor General Michaelle Jean or whoever else you can think of about this matter and encourage them to allow adoptive families and children who were legally adoptable BEFORE this earthquake be considered for international adoption. Please pass this on to anyone you think will write a letter and voice their concern. Unicef is severely misguided in their mission to stop all Haitian adoptions. Safeguards already exist and adoptions are and will continue to be carefully monitored. Unicef has a history of being against international adoption. They would rather see scores of children grow up in institutions or on the street without a family than be placed for adoption internationally. Especially in this day and age I find this stance atrocious. We live in a global community. International adoption has its challenges, but challenges that all internationally adoptive families are forced to examine carefully, prepared for by their agencies, and ultimately tackle head on should they go down this road.
While I agree with Unicef that it is in the best for children to stay with their birth family or extended family, this simply isn't always possible. While I believe in the caregivers at Haiti Children's Home and know they love these kids, they will also be the first to tell you that institutional care is not ideal. We are prepared with the fact that we may bring home a 3 or 4 year old child and have to take the time to teach them what a family is. Most of the children at the orphanages have been there since birth. The concept of family is so foreign to them that it is a concept that actually has to be taught. They don't get that 'Mom' and 'Dad' are a special person to them. They are used to many caregivers, some who come in and out of their lives. When children are removed from orphanages, it also creates a space for another child who may be living on the street to have access to a bed, care and regular food and water. I just simply fail to see why Unicef is taking such a hard stance against families like ours and children like the 30 plus at Haiti Children's Home. In taking this stance, Unicef is trying to protect the newly created orphans from this earthquake. I get that these children need to be safeguarded and not swept away to a foreign country. They may have other family who want to take care of them and who love them. But there were close to half a million orphans BEFORE this tragedy. The earthquake created about 50,000 more. There were THOUSANDS of orphans before this natural disaster, and they have paperwork to PROVE that they were already LEGALLY adoptable, dated BEFORE this earthquake. This can be monitored and no one needs to be sent away who they are not sure about. There are families like ours, who were already in the process of adopting one of these orphans who could needlessly be stopped if Unicef continues to apply their pressure.
Adoption is not going to solve Haiti's problems, adoption is not going to solve the problem of orphans or poverty, but adoption is going to allow some children to find a family, and that is priceless, ESPECIALLY now. Please help be part of the bridge home for these children. Be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Thank you,
To email Unicef, follow this link:
http://www.unicef.org/about/contact_contactusform.html
To email your MP, follow the link below to get the contact info:
FIND YOUR MP:
For just a little more information on Unicef's efforts see these links:
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/haitian-government-announces-new-exit-requirement-for-children/
http://ouradopt.com/adoption-blog/feb-2008/sandrahanksbenoiton/another-look-unicef
http://thehaitilady.blogspot.com/2007/12/unicef-and-haiti.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is an example of the letter I wrote to UNICEF:
To whom it may concern,
RE: ADOPTION
I am writing in regards to international adoption. I am appalled at your stance in trying to shut down adoptions from Haiti.
My husband and I have been in the process of adoption from Haiti for about 6 months. We have been trying to adopt a child from Haiti Children's Home. In this orphanage, there are 44 children, and only about 10 of them have been matched with families. The rest of these children need a family and many have spent their entire lives in this orphanage. While I understand your concern for the newly orphaned children in Haiti I fail to see your logic in how shutting down adoption will be better for these kids. In Haiti, as with many countries, there are already safeguards in place - I fail to see the need to completely close the door on adoption here.
There were MANY thousands of children who were available for adoption PRIOR to this earthquake who NEED families. Any psychologist would agree, that institutional care is NEVER a better choice than a loving, approved family. Due to the pressure that you are putting on the Haitian government, these children may never get a chance at a loving home such as ours. I know these kids, and I know the caregivers. The care is wonderful, but still cannot compare to the benefit of family. Our child deserves to come home to us. Part of the preparation for international adoption is preparing to embrace the culture of the sending country and adopt the culture into your family. We take pride that we will be able to teach and embrace our child's birth country. Adoptive parents typically end up being their adoptive child's countries biggest advocates.
We want to see Haiti rise up, but please stop interfering with adoption, at least for the thousands of orphans who were paperworked and legally available for adoption prior to this earthquake. Many already had families like us waiting to be matched with them. This is a tragedy for all involved. Please stop your anti-adoption campaign.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Donations for Haiti Children's Home
Champion City Church in Edmonton has graciously agreed to take donations for Haiti Children's Home and issue tax receipts for Canadians only. They are able to do this only temporarily as an emergency relief measure until Feb.14th, 2010.
You can send cheques payable to:
Champion City Church
7531-152 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
T5C 3L2
Please make your cheque payable to "Champion City Church" and write in the cheque memo 'Haiti Relief' and include your full name and address.
You can send cheques payable to:
Champion City Church
7531-152 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
T5C 3L2
Please make your cheque payable to "Champion City Church" and write in the cheque memo 'Haiti Relief' and include your full name and address.
Where to donate? These agencies match individual donations...
The Canadian government is now matching individual donations to Haiti. One agency approved to accept these donations in PLAN Canada.
RBC and Walmart have also agreed to match donations to Haiti relief. Just drop by any location to make a donation.
See this news article in the Sun for more info:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2010/01/13/12456551.html
RBC and Walmart have also agreed to match donations to Haiti relief. Just drop by any location to make a donation.
See this news article in the Sun for more info:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2010/01/13/12456551.html
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Haiti Earthquake
I was on a long drive home last night when I heard about the earthquake in Haiti. I had called home for messages and on the machine, there was a concerned friend who let me know about the earthquake...I hadn't heard yet.
So with D asleep in the backseat I frantically tried to find a radio news station for more info. I couldn't find one but I managed to get a hold of my mom who I implored to please quickly go online and find out more. Where did happen?!!! How bad was it? Upon reading all she could find was that it was a 7.0 on the richter scale, a hospital had collapsed, and that thousands were dead. The rest of the way home all I could think of were the faces that I have been studying for the past several months. I know all their names. Oh my God. No. I feel like I know them all. One of them is my son! Were they alive? Were they okay? I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. My heart was aching. I began to pray. For 45 minutes I quietly drove home and wondered if a nightmare awaited me there.
As soon as I got in the door I dove for the phone number of the adoption coordinator for HCH. Thankfully, she answered on the second ring. Somehow, she had spoken to the orphanage director before the lines became jammed, or dropped or lost and was assured that everyone was okay. Thank God. Exhale. So far disaster averted.... for me....for now.
Unfortunately though, not for the tens of thousands feared dead. No, the nightmare is just beginning for those families. In the staggering damage of the earthquake on this third world country, it is as one news article put it; like kicking them when they are down. A nation where many make and eat mudchips as a viable way to cure their hunger. What is in store in the aftermath of a country abused by nature like a shaken baby.
Thankfully, many relief organizations are already stationed in Haiti and have hit the ground running. If you wish to help the relief effort in Haiti, you can do so by donating to any of the organizations listed in the upper right, or you can click the 'donate' button in the top right hand corner of this blog and I will ensure that the money finds the hands of the people working to help Haiti.
So with D asleep in the backseat I frantically tried to find a radio news station for more info. I couldn't find one but I managed to get a hold of my mom who I implored to please quickly go online and find out more. Where did happen?!!! How bad was it? Upon reading all she could find was that it was a 7.0 on the richter scale, a hospital had collapsed, and that thousands were dead. The rest of the way home all I could think of were the faces that I have been studying for the past several months. I know all their names. Oh my God. No. I feel like I know them all. One of them is my son! Were they alive? Were they okay? I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. My heart was aching. I began to pray. For 45 minutes I quietly drove home and wondered if a nightmare awaited me there.
As soon as I got in the door I dove for the phone number of the adoption coordinator for HCH. Thankfully, she answered on the second ring. Somehow, she had spoken to the orphanage director before the lines became jammed, or dropped or lost and was assured that everyone was okay. Thank God. Exhale. So far disaster averted.... for me....for now.
Unfortunately though, not for the tens of thousands feared dead. No, the nightmare is just beginning for those families. In the staggering damage of the earthquake on this third world country, it is as one news article put it; like kicking them when they are down. A nation where many make and eat mudchips as a viable way to cure their hunger. What is in store in the aftermath of a country abused by nature like a shaken baby.
Thankfully, many relief organizations are already stationed in Haiti and have hit the ground running. If you wish to help the relief effort in Haiti, you can do so by donating to any of the organizations listed in the upper right, or you can click the 'donate' button in the top right hand corner of this blog and I will ensure that the money finds the hands of the people working to help Haiti.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Welcome 2010!
Did anyone see the blue moon last night/this morning? It was big and beautiful like a grey harvest moon and hung low in the sky.
For those who are unfamiliar, according to wikipedia, "A blue moon is a full moon that is not timed to the regular monthly pattern. Most years have twelve full moons which occur approximately monthly, but in addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each solar calendar year contains an excess of roughly eleven days compared to the lunar year. The extra days accumulate, so that every two or three years (7 times in the 19-year Metonic cycle), there is an extra full moon. The extra moon is called a "blue moon." Different definitions place the "extra" moon at different times."
In addition, a blue moon occuring on New Years happens only every 19 years.
I plan to consider this a good omen for the year to come. I am happy to close the door on 2009 with little sentimentality.
Bring on the New Year! Welcome 2010!
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