A glimmer of hope?

As most of you know, we've been praying and fasting ever since learning that the adoption authorities in Alex's home country won't even look at our paperwork until March 29 (we had hoped to be traveling by then) due to a change in the way that they process their adoptions. The change basically took Alex out of the "special needs" adoption list and put him onto the same list as kids waiting for adoption without special needs.

On Friday morning we received word from Reece's Rainbow that a new special needs list is in the process of being "registered" with the Ministry of Justice; if that comes to pass, and if Alex's condition (moderate cerebral palsy) is on the list, it could mean we'd get bumped up in the queue again -- we wouldn't be waiting until March 29 for consideration. Those are two big "ifs," and already we are hearing from the in-country team that the General Prosecutor's office may challenge the new list after it is registered, on the grounds that it is not inclusive enough.

Regardless, it is heartening to see movement on this issue. Even if Alex does not benefit directly, an expanded special needs list will bring hope to many of the children who would otherwise be stuck there. On that note, we recently heard from another family who is adopting from Alex's country (they hand-carried our paperwork over there, saving us $100)...at the medical appointment required by the U.S. Embassy before bringing a child into the United States, the doctor told the new mom, "You made a mistake. You should have just left him there." And later added: "And if you had any decency, you would keep him medicated so the rest of us wouldn't have to deal with him."

Yeah. Unbelievable. This kid has been sedated for more than a year, and now we're seeing pictures of him eating and smiling and saying English words, and he's only been off the sedation for a few days and home in the U.S. for a day. What a remarkable transformation.

Just to balance that rather sad story out, another family went through that clinic for their required physical (this is a US requirement by the way, checking for infectious diseases), and the doctor asked what she thought of her new daughter's former orphanage.  Since the mom adopted from a first class orphanage and thought so highly of the people who worked there, she gave a glowing report.  The doctor actually began to cry, saying "This is so good.  I NEVER hear reports this good."  There are plenty of people in Alex's home country who do not share the view of the first doctor.  The team that works with Reece's Rainbow over there contains a few of them. From what we've read and heard, they work tirelessly to rescue and advocate for these kids. Another bit of goodness...we continue to be overwhelmed by the level of prayer support being offered for Alex and the other children in his situation. We just received a card in the mail the other day from a friend who is offering a Mass for this intention; and after Ash Wednesday services, the nine-year-old daughter of some friends of ours came up to us to say that she had fasted from chocolate during our novena (nine days of prayer). Amazing. And I got a note from a new Reece's Rainbow friend that she would be continuing to fast from chocolate for this cause until we get a travel date for Alex. Wow.

Thanks for all the support, people. It's been quite a roller coaster, but it's all good. We'll keep you posted.