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Articles & Stories: Program Related
Clinical Articles
Ethiopia
Lost in Translation
I feel lost in translation, but this is the mud, wood and stone version, not the chrome, glass and neon version of the movie. In addition to my inability to understand much of the language(s), there is much implied but not spoken in this beautiful culture.
Reconnecting With Ethiopia
Although I was born and raised in Ethiopia, this was my first visit to my homeland in the capacity of the WHFC Ethiopia Adoption Coordinator.
The Philippines
The Philippines
I imagine my life if I had been born poor and hopeless in a Manila slum. We are riding past the contradictions that make up that never-ending city - the squatters' shacks, the hotel with an indoor waterfall, the street beggars, the five-story malls, the lives of plenty and the lives of poverty.
United States
Domestic Infant Adoption: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Since 1974, WHFC has placed over 500 domestically born children with adoptive families. While the process of a domestic placement shares many aspects of an international placement, there are also significant differences.
WHFC's Domestic Adoption Program
Adoption in one form or another has been in existence since the beginning of recorded time. There are many stories of adopted persons throughout history, including Moses, Steve Jobs (cofounder of Apple), Faith Hill (country singer), Scott Hamilton (Olympic figure skater), Darryl McDaniels (hip hop artist of Run DMC), and Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's).
Family Stories
China
A Family of Four, Finally
When we started this process in 2002, we knew that we wanted to adopt two children, a boy and a girl. The adoption of our son was a relatively short somewhat painless process, though it didn't seem that way at the time.
Celebrating Three Trips to China
In 1991 our sons and a daughter were in grades eleven, nine and five. As the oldest toured colleges we were just beginning to see on the horizon the end of swim meets, soccer games, and school concerts.
China 15
It all began in the year of 1995 when 11 excited couples boarded a plane and headed for China. 23 hours of talking, waiting, sleeping, and eating.
The Dream Continues
The sign next to the church read: "You're never too old to be what you might have been". So, John took a picture of me next to it with Katie.
Jie's Journey
All stories like this are packed with emotion - because they are indeed emotional stories. But we will NEVER forget the moment when our babies actually arrived with their respective care-givers in the Sunshine Plaza Hotel in Langzhou.
Our Angel
What can I say, we have been home for over 3 weeks and Jia feels like she has been here for all of her little life.
Our Small Strand of China Pearls
I waited anxiously to see the headlights of the shiny black car that would bring my husband, Mike, and our fourth daughter, Leah, home from China.
Will's Story
Adopted from China as a baby in 1998 through Wide Horizons For Children, Will McCarthy was immediately welcomed and loved by his new family; his mom Ginny, his aunt Cathleen, his cousin, Mei-Lin, who is also adopted from China, and his grandmother.
Ethiopia
Eli's Family
Holding the envelope tight in my hand and my seven-month-old son Eli on my hip, I made my way from the mailbox to the kitchen table.
The Laughing Boy Under the Table
My eight-year-old daughter, Ruby, tapped me on my shoulder and whispered. "Where's Adugna?"
Our Adoption Journey
My husband and I are the proud parents of two children adopted from Ethiopia in 2006 and 2008.
Our "Best Day"
As deliriously happy a couple we were before we found our daughter, we both feel like our lives truly began when we held our 3 yr. old Kalkidan in our arms.
Our Leap of Faith
Yared is the perfect addition to our family. He's a joy to be around and his smile lights up every room he enters.
Smiles and Laughter From Ethiopia
It was all the smiles and laughter that surprised me the most. All of these beautiful children had lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ethiopia, yet they all smile.
Tamirat
Our adoptee, two-year-old Tamirat, fell asleep at the airport in Addis Ababa at about 8 p.m. Ethiopian time, May 15. He pretty much slept through the boarding process and take-off, at midnight, of the Ethiopian Airlines jet.
Guatemala
A Brother For Daniel
"Roseanne, I think you may want to hear this too," I called up the cellar stairs to my wife. "It's Nancy Thompson." It was about 72 hours before our very long awaited trip to Guatemala to bring our 10 1/2 month old son Daniel home.
The New Christmas Tradition
I recall it was in mid-November of 2003, as I was just turning 45, when I mailed in the initial application to Wide Horizons For Children, which was the first step in the adoption process.
Opening the Door to Adoption
When Michael and I married, we were both ready to fully embrace family life.
Thoughts of You
January 16, 1998: Yesterday, we sent off our application packet. Today, we can say we are expecting a baby.
India
Jadon's Journey
It has been a year now that Jadon Aniket has come home, and it is well past time that I write to you! What an exciting, experience-filled two years this has been for us!
Neelakshi's Story
Neelakshi has been part of our family since April 28, 2008 when we brought her back to our hotel from Bal Anand. It was quite the experience that is hard to prepare for.
Report from India
After 26 hours of travel by van, air, and truck we arrived safely at 2 AM India time in Pune. Just driving here is quite an experience.
Kazakhstan
Our Journey to Adoption
My husband and I always knew we wanted a family. After trying to conceive unsuccessfully, we decided to take matters into our own hands.
Korea
The Message Board
I never imagined by adopting a little baby from South Korea that I would also be gaining a group of friends for a lifetime.
The Philippines
An Important Country in Asia
The most interesting, awesome trip I've ever been on is when I went with my whole family to the Philippines to adopt my 4 year old brother, Andro. He was born in Ligao in 2000.
Waiting For Raul
Little did I know as I headed out the door on Friday, April 9th, to make the two-hour trip to Boston to accompany my mother to a routine appointment, that I would return home that evening to tell my husband that I had found our son.
Russia
A Family of Angels
It was time to start the most joyful journey of our lives. An "Introduction meeting" at Wide Horizons was our first step on a path that would lead us to our first child.
A Year Ago
A year ago today, Mike and I were in Yekaterinburg, Russia making our way to Kamensk-Uralsky to see a little boy. The uncertainty of that trip and all the emotions are still vivid in my memory.
The First Dance
It was the summer of 2007 when my husband and I just finished our first round of in-vitro fertilization. The doctors told us not to expect much from this first round, another let down in a roller coaster of emotions that accompany infertility.
Our Christmas Miracle
Let me tell you about the experience of a lifetime. When my husband, Jim, and I decided to get married over 20 years ago, we thought it would be nice to have two birth children and adopt a third.
Reflections
Ten years ago, I stepped off a plane in Moscow, flanked by Steve, my nine year-old son, my husband, and two other families who were set to begin their life's grand adventure.
What I Learned From my Brother, Paul
A few years ago, as my family was reading a book about the lives of orphans in Russia, the question came up, "Can we help at least one of them?"
Ukraine
Ukraine Angels
When John and I planned to get married, we knew that there would be children in our lives. When we realized that biological children were not meant to be, adoption was a natural choice for us.
United States
Our Decision to Adopt
We are the Harrigans and this is our story.
Two Makes a Family
I've wanted to be a mom since I was 5 years old, so I never imagined that I would reach my late 30's and not be married or have children.
Unconditional Love
Our story is probably very similar to that of many other couples who wanted to have children, but were having troubles on their own.
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