HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-27, Page 13odes celebrate international a
Brenda Burke TA staff
USBORNE TWP. Mery and Teresa Hern have
atiopted their fourth child, just in time for her birthday
oil April 2.
As with international adoption procedures for their
other children, there have been delays along the way.
Mery made the 14 -day trip this month to pick up
trio—year-91d Samantha in the Transylvania Highlands.
in Romania. The adoption process began' 19 months
ago. After hiring a third lawyer and dealing with
rejected medical papers that were earlier accepted, the
Hems were told they had a match on Oct. 31•. It then
took 10 days of coaxing to quickly gather Samantha's
information package including a photo, medical details
mid psychological profile.
Just before Christmas, the couple was told to book
Merv's flight for Jan. 21. They were forced to cancel
that flight less than a week before the trip date due to
an .objection to how their paperwork was handled.
Mery finally left for Romania on Feb. 28.
"At the•end of February, Mery was going to go
anyway," said Teresa.
When he left Canada he was told Samantha would
be available on March 5 but due to paperwork delays
and a requirement that stipulated he visit her for one
hour a day for three days, she wasn't ready for
adoption until March 9.
• After picking pp.ii{aigantha, it was an eight-hour
ride on an unheated train to Bucherst where he had
visa, problems, followed by an uneventful flight to
. Germany and then home on March 12. -
"I actually got home two hours earlier than I was
supposed to," he said.
That incident would have represented one of the
few details that didn't go wrong. with the adoption
procedures if it . weren't for .thefact that • a CFPL
television crew had been waitingfor his arrival to
capture the first moment back home.
After being warned Samantha was shy, Teresa was
prepared. It was hard enough not being able to be with
Mery on this trip since she had joined him for the other
adoptions. Samantha greeted her new mother with
open arms and now she's quickly adjusting to the
family.
"She's been called Maria for almost two years and
now it's Samantha Maria," said Teresa.
"Kids adapt very quickly," added Mery "They don't -
have mental blocks like adults do."
While on his trip, Mery had a chance to visit the
family's• sponsor child in Piatra Neamt through the
Christian Children's Fund of Canada.
"I was the first sponsor to ever visit that
orphanage," he said.
He also brought a photo album of his son, Eric, to
people at his former Romanian orphanage. Mery
noticed the orphanage' conditions had greatly improved
since he and Teresa adopted Eric in 1991. The facilities
were modern and diets contained more protein, thanks
to a sponsorship from Austria, claimed Teresa. Mery
filmed three orphanages while on his trip.
After experiencing the frustration and joy of
adopting four children in five years, the Herns indicate
they are ready to settle down with their growing
family.
The Hem ramlly. At left, Eric, 5, Teresa with Alex, 2, Mery with Samantha,. 2, and Court-
ney, 3. Mery spent two weeks in Romania this month in order to adopt Samantha, the
newest member of the family.
In 1991oup named SPARft; (Support for Parents Adopting.woRld Kids) was founded in
nto. Th erns and the Boyles belong to the 21 -member chapter in London that holds annual
mer picnics and Christmas parties..
"We meet at various times throughout the year as issues arise," said member Connie Zirine, who
lives in London.
The group began as a "support group for parents who have adopted international children," she
added.
With several people interested in international adoption, she explained, SPARK is a way to
formalize the act of parents getting together.
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EXETBR - Wendy and Trevor Boyle also have
roma to. celebrate. They adopted Josh from Lima,
Pent last April 4.
The couple, who knew of people struggling to adopt
.children In Canada, decided to adopt intematipnally in
the summer of 1993.
"I've altvays wanted to adopt since I was a child,"
said Wendy.
Asocial worker advised the Boyles to adopt from
Peru.
"We weren't in for a Romanian adventure,"
explained Wendy, adding they had settled on Peru only
after considering various countries around the world.
In March 1994, the adortion procedures were
underway and it was two months later that three-
month -old Josh, suffering from tuberculosis, was
abandoned at a church and taken in by local foster
parents.
The following January, the Boyles got ward of a
match with Josh. His foster parents were not suitable to
adopt. Trevor was in Peru for three weeks in February
and Wendy stayed an additional month in order to
adopt Josh, who was then one year old.
"Being down in a strange country for 52 days was
not fun," Wendy recalled, adding, "the only hardship
Was the fact that nobody spoke English."
At least she had access to a maid and helpful
wyer. Because she acquired a tan in Peru, plus the
le
ct she spoke some Spanish, she was accepted in the
mmunity as the new mother of Josh. For her
husband, however, it was a different story. Wendy
realized this when she was charged Tess fortaxirides
ter Trevor had left for home.
When she first met Josh, his only word was "Anna"
hile he•pointed td planes flying overhead at his foster
ts' home. -
"That was the only stimulation he ever had," said
Wendy;
-
He quickly fostered a love of
music after she brought him a mini
tape recorder to explore.
"He'd never heard music before."
For the first 10 days, visits with
Josh were restricted to two hours
• each day. . In the meantime the
' "I ' oil s. au +i '
by ial worker.
"We liked the system set up in
Peru," said Wendy, adding they were
one of the first couples to adopt
ender a new law that ensures
professionals are hired to help
Canadians in their adoption process.
"We wanted a country we could
come back to with him. We wanted
him to be proud of where he came
from."
Although she was relieved to be
informed of adoption costs up front,
she finds the required home study
"extremely extensive." It consists of
a 30 -page report by a social worker
as well as five interviews, a police
check, psychiatric check and follow -
ions
up every six months for three years following an
.adoption.
"It's very personal," she said. "They : ask you
everything from how you're going to have sex to how
you're going to raise your children."
But the real problem'was in America when Wendy
was bringing Josh home from Peru. Unable to stop and
change his wet ,diaper, she was escorted everywhere
and surrounded by frightenedetinmigrants she claims
were treated improperly.
Trevor, originally from Dashwood, was worried at
first about how people would accept Josh but family
and friends turned out to be very supportive.
"People are very tolerant considering we're a small
community," said Wendy.
However, she is concerned about the reaction from
his future school peers. The Boyles now plan to adopt
a girl from South America, but because of financial
and emotional reasons, admitted Wendy, they will
adopt just one more time.
"You're looking at thousands of dollars to get these
children," she explained, adding, "The second you step
on Canadian soil, you want to go back again. It's like
an addiction...I'm not giving him birth but I'm giving
him life."
•The Ontario Public Service Employees Union strike
is apparently holding up some international adoptions
and Wendy says prolonging the strike may mean some
children will be overlooked as they pass the desirable
adoption age of up to one year old.
"They don't realize the kind of power they have
over these children."
Wendy and Trevor Boyle are celebrating their first adoption
anniversary of two -year -old -Josh, from Peru.
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