A Mother’s Day Story: One Family’s Adoption Journey
Helping facilitate the intercountry adoption process is one of the most important missions we at USCIS carry out. Our agency is charged with determining the eligibility and suitability of prospective adoptive parents as well as the eligibility of children to immigrate to the United States.
Behind that process are remarkable individual stories of children in need of new families and homes. As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to highlight one family’s journey half-way around the world to adopt a brother and sister.
Ken and Heidi’s story stretches from California to Ethiopia and back again. They already had two children, but decided they wanted to help other children in need find a permanent family and a place they could call home. They began the adoption process in 2008, and have drawn on support from their community, church and other adoptive parents to help them fulfill their dream.
After months of waiting and searching and finally learning about the two children they would adopt, they embarked on a voyage across the globe, from Los Angeles to Chicago to Washington to Rome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They had only seen pictures and videos of the brother and sister they were soon to meet, and they didn’t know what to expect. When they finally saw their new daughter Tensaye, 5 and son Millennium, 2, words could not describe their feelings.
Mother Heidi writes in her blog of that moment:
On this day (Monday, April 5th) we had the life-changing experience of meeting Tensaye and Millennium face-to-face! We originally thought we would be traveling to meet our kids birth mother this day, but for some reason communication got confused and it did not work out...we would have to meet her later in the week. The joy of seeing our Ethiopian beauties was truly incredible...it is impossible to really capture the experience in words. Through pictures, videos, and updates we had grown to love Tensaye and Millennium so much...it was almost overwhelming to see them in person.
Millennium, born on the first day of the new century on the Ethiopian calendar, had never worn a seat-belt or flown in a plane. The long, arduous journey home culminated at Los Angeles International Airport. Heidi describes the feeling of arriving home:
Walking through the front door of our house was SUCH a relief! We showed the kids their bedroom and the play room. Although they were tired, their smiles were amazing! Before we left for Ethiopia, we were trying to finish a remodel on our house. When we came into the house, we saw how hard my parents and aunt worked to finish the job and make the house nice for our return home! It was such a joy to show Tensaye and Millennium their home!!! All of the kids were in bed and asleep by 9:00pm! A great end to a long journey!
It has been a month since that day, and Heidi tells us that Tensaye and Millennium are adjusting remarkably well and delighted to have a new brother and sister.
We want to wish Heidi a Happy Mother’s Day and thank both her and all of the other Moms like her that have opened their hearts and their homes to children in need around the world.
Labels: Adoption
posted by USCIS Blog Team @ 10:55 PM
67 Comments
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67 Comments:
Ken and Heidi, you guys are an extremely awesome family. You guys rock. God has definitely blessed your family. I wish you and your family the best of luck. God Bless.
Tim
Great story! Thanks for taking the time to spotlight such an amazing family!
Very moving story...
More posts should be like this one.
Congratulations on your newly extended family. Both you and all your children are very fortunate to have this experience of love and generosity.
Great story. God bless your family.
I wish there the process for adoption was simple. My brother and his wife have been trying for two years. Very nice story though.
Thank you for this story. However, I can hardly believe the first line of the article which states: "Helping facilitate the intercountry adoption process is one of the most important missions we at USCIS carry out." My wife an I have adopted four children, one from Korea, and three from Guatemala and we have received little to no help from the USCIS. In fact we have had a 10 year struggle with the USCIS concerning our last daughter from Guatemala. We were not able to get her to the United States until after her 18th birthday. We had to bring her to the US on a student visa. Immediately after she got to the US we adopted her. Her adoption is recognized as legal in the US, but the USCIS will not let us immigrate her. This despite the fact that she has learned English (this after not knowing any upon her arrival in the US), obtained a college degree (this despite not finishing high school equivalency in Guatemala) and having successfully worked as a teacher helping students become bi-lingual. She was with us for 10 years in the US and was a law abiding, tax paying contributor to the US society. However, because of further US regulations associated with the No Child Left Behind Act, which required her to pass a tough academic test to be "highly qualified," which because of extreme stress she did not pass, she lost her work visa and was forced to return to Guatemala. My wife and I have consulted with three different immigration attorneys and the USCIS. We never seem to get a straight answer from anyone regarding what can be done to get our daughter immigrated. The last time I talked to the USCIS, its agent would never directly answer my questions. I am so frustrated and disappointed with the US immigration system. Currently, my daughter is languishing back in Guatemala. She misses her family and friends, and wants a chance to pass her test and get her job back. Is there anyone willing to help us?
it seems the uscis adoption process is very broken, I wish they spent time fixing the system - then this website
Very touchy story, thank you!
Thanks for sharing this great story. It is my hope that international adoptions can be made much faster and simple for all qualified families. It breaks my heart every time I talk to an adoptive family who has had to wait months or even years after being matched with a child, before they can bring that child home. The research is clear that the first 3 years of development are crucial, so when a baby or toddler must wait in an orphanage for months or years, that is taking from their future.
I know that USCIS is one place this time can be shortened, though I also am aware that much of that waiting time is due to the many, many desks that each of the many, many pieces of paper must cross for an adoption to be approved.
Good story. Rich have money and poor have children. Adoption is one way of equalizing.
Very nice story. I am always disappointed when it takes so much time to complete an adoption. I am glad that this has a happy ending.
I can only image the joy that this couple must have felt when meeting those beautiful kids! Adoption is not for everyone, but those that feel at all compelled to go in that direction, should at very least look into it with an open mind and open heart. My wife and I are seriously considering this possibility (although idea is several years off)
My brother-in-law and his wife adopted a young boy from Vietnam last year. The whole thing has gone so well (and he is a wonderful young toddler) that they are now finalizing an adoption of a young girl from China. I'm very supportive of adoption. For those considering adoption, please be aware of the psychodynamics involved in adoption. There may be times where your adopted child will get into a pattern of rejecting you at times. This is normal from my personal experience. Just keep it in perspective!
Thank you for sharing this, we adopted a baby girl and got blessed-perfect health! Doing well in school and is a joy to be with! But it was a very look process and I'm happy that is over and now we just enjoy our child Jessica...
Why is it so easy to become parents the natural way and so hard to become parents once the natural way is not working? I often get the feeling that adoption especiallly in third world countries is nothing more that a business.
@ Dr. Schinnerer, You bring up a very interesting point. Do you recommend any books that cover the subject of adoption rejection in detail? Thank you in advance.
This is such a heart warming story. You are an amazing family, and so full of love. Thanks for sharing your story.
What a wonderful story, thanks so much for sharing!
Wouldn't of read this story if I wasn't for another post on this website. Good story glad I read it.
As others have said, adoption is a journey that is often fraught with problems, and to read the story of one with such a happy ending is wonderful... Congratulations to you all - wishing you a long and happy life together!
Of course adoption is a journey just like raising kids is too. I really enjoy reading these adoption stories, because I grew-up with several friends who were adopted and their life's (in a nutshell) were basically saved.
Congrats to you and your family.
Sarah
What a great story of adoption! Blessings to you and your family as it grows with the new addition ;-). Happy belated Mother's Day!
Adoption is a mission. This is not a simple assignment but it is a holy service. Well done!
@Sara: well said raising kids in and of itself is a challange! Very inspiring story, we are lookng to do the same in the next few years if God wills.
What beautiful children - the newly arrived ones from Ethiopia as well as the two already at home. I love the "new family" photo showing all six of them!
It's such a heart warming and touchy story, adoption is a big challenge and long term commitment and responsibility.
Let's hope that there are many good people like you out there.
Great story.
God bless you.
That is very moving story. Thanks for sharing that with everyone.
Oh, this is such a nice story! Congratulations, i wish you all best. Thanks for sharing the story.
My husband and I adopted our daughter from Moscow, Russia in December of 1997 and we thought the process was lengthy then. I'm so glad we're not going through all of that in our current Post 9/11 conditions! But I can assure everybody who is currently fretting over the red tape that it's all worth it in the end. Good luck to all!
Great story, we have some friends that their family members have adopted 4 children from Ethiopia. It has been truly amazing to watch how they have learned English.
This was a great story...very moving. I would be interested to hear 6 months on how everything is going.
I am glad for you that things went so well and I wish good luck and a speedy process for those still waiting.
Thank you for sharing this story. I love the "new family" photo showing all six of them!
a fantastic story and what a great journey you are on with your family. Thank you for sharing. It helps those who are considering adoption to hear success stories like yours because the process can be stressful.
Adopting a child is a part of saving the life of human being. We should always be kindhearted.
Nice photo, I love it. God bless your family. Thanks for sharing.
This is such a wonderful and inspiring story. It's great to know there are people out there that will adopt children. They are god's creation and they should be blessed! This is a very encouraging article.
What a beautiful story, I'm so glad I found this post. There are a lot of children that need a good life and a good family. Just beautiful!
What a beautiful and inspiring story. I am so glad I found this post. There should be a lot more stories like this one.
It really is quite an inspiring story. I hope that more US couples will consider the possibilty of adoption.
What a touching story. I'll need to pass this around to my friends.
I'm very inspired of Ken and Heidi's adoption story. Very touching, how I wish more couples would extend their love and support to those who are needy and adopt kids as much as they can. Let love spread all over the world!
This is such a great story - thanks for sharing! We just finished up our adoption process and have a beautiful little boy that's part of our family now. Our house is a little topsy turvy right now with all of the high chairs and strollers and baby products since we haven't had a child before, but we are cherishing the fact that he's a part of our lives now!
Adoptions of Vietnamese orphans are very popular. Visitors to orphanages in Vietnam will saddened by the stories of these children. Help and care for orphans around the world is available to many charities. If you're not in a position to adopt, please help through a charity. Vietnam travelers should contact religious organizations (pastors, priests & nuns)directly. Scammers are now know to "rent" orphans (and children who are not orphans) to play on the hearts of travelers. Tạm biệt
What an amazing story. It's great to see that families are wanting to adopt Vietnamese children. They deserve to have a family and be loved just like any other child.
Nice story very touching and inspiring. Keep posting this kind of beautiful article.
Adoption process usually takes longer, but I was surprised with R.Page's experience with USCIS. That's worse! And I feel sorry about what happened to your family. Hope you can get your daughter back soon..
Your story is amazing. People like you make my day.
A very touchy story - I would like to see more of it.
This is a touching story. It is nice to see people happy.
Thanks for the inspirational piece of writing. Love to read stories about others who still help people.
What a touching story. You know what? I'm still crying when typing this comment. Ken and Heidi, you guys are great. USCIS staffs, you guys earned my respect.
I also know about a family which adopted two girls from Ethiopia, they came 15 & 13 years ago, not sisters originally but now are one family. That's very nice when people open their hearts and make live better for disadvantage children.
This is a very touching story. You two should be applauded for your good deed and I wish there were more people like you in the world.
That is so sweet. Such a precious story of adoption. I have always thought about adopting a child myself because I understand the importance of acceptance for children.
This really is heart warming. Adoption takes it's toll but so worth it at the end. Congrats and what beautiful children.
People who adopt are wonderful. The worlds population is already out of control.
We have two kids and we want another one but I can't have any more children so we are considering adoption. And to be honest we are a bit scared about how the child and our kids would take that new turn. I've been searching for adoption stories and the stories are really different. But this one just gives me hope that everything will be ok and we'll make it. The family is so beautiful and they all seem to shine inside with love! God bless you all!
I think the story of this family will help many parents find a child and children find parents. That would also be wonderful if we had a chance to hear about this family in one of the new posts - it's been almost a year since this one was posted!
This makes for a wonderful FATHER'S Day story as well. While I'm sure there are others who've had difficulties getting appropriate assistance in adopting, it's great to hear of the success stories, too. I think this can give hope and encouragement to those struggling with the process.
This is awesome. What special people you are; to open your hearts and too work so hard to make this happen.
Adopting a child is something that is very commendable, the children who lost their compassion will get back their rights as children, that is to get the excitement, affection and the opportunity to attend school for the future. I thank the fathers and mothers in America who have been willing to adopt children in need.
World would be better place with more people like Ken and Heidi!!
Really nice story, wish the family all the best! It's great to see people who adopt, it's not an easy task, but it's awesome to see a family go that great length to adopt a child.
What a beautiful family! This is what loving one another is all about. That was nice of you two to reach out and help two children who probably wouldn't have the opportunities at life that you are providing them with. I'm sure that God is blessing all of you. Thank you for an inspiring story.
Great story!Thanks for sharing with us.God bless u!!
How many mothers are there who can take this kind of great steps. I hope they will keep you happy and one day they will make you proud as a Mother. Best wishes for your family.
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