Soo-hoon Goes Home

Kim Brown joins Ilsan Center residents and staff in seeing a longtime resident go to his adoptive family

By: CEO, Kim Brown

My recent trip to Korea coincided with what would have been Grandma Holt’s 105th birthday. We planned to spend the day with Molly Holt (Harry and Bertha’s daughter) at Holt’s Ilsan Center.*

We visited Bertha’s and Harry’s graves–a very moving and emotional time, just as I knew it would be. Ilsan residents, staff from Holt’s Seoul office and some guests participated in a small program at the gravesite, remembeing ‘Grandma’ and how she had so profoundly touched all our lives.

“This is a special day here at Ilsan for another reason besides my mom’s birthday,” said Molly, as we walked back down the 59 steps from the gravesite to her house. “Soo-hoon, a 13-year-old boy who lives here, is going home tomorrow to his adoptive family, and we are having a farewell party for him this afternoon.”

A few minutes later I met Soo-hoon, a handsome, lively young man who smiled his million-dollar smile when he shook my hand. Soo-hoon is something of a celebrity at Ilsan. He is part of the Ilsan choir and ‘conducts’ along with the choir director during performances. He even directs the choir himself during some of the numbers, and is a true star in the eyes of his friends and fans that have watched him over the years.

Soo-hoon was about to join his own family. I thought about the amazing turn his life was about to take in a few short hours.

It was a bittersweet moment. Soo-hoon was going to his adoptive family because Molly and many others in his life had

never given up hope that he could find the right family to cherish and love him. But he was also leavi

ng his friends, and knew that for them the dream of a family was still that–just a dream.

As I watched Soo-hoon play and spend

time with his friends for the last time, I could not help but think about my own journey to my family more than 50 years ago. But I was only a baby and do not remember anything about leaving Korea, as Soo-hoon will.

I also thought of my son and daughter, adopted from Korea, and knew that across the ocean, Soo-hoon’s family anxiously awaited his arrival-an experience I remember vividly as an adoptive parent. When I said goodbye to Soo-hoon, I wished him well and told him I looked forward to seeing him and meeting his family some day.

On the drive back to Seoul, I reflected on the many experiences the day held for me. The memories of Grandma Holt, the inspiration of seeing what Molly faithfully does every day for children at Ilsan, the precious children who live there, and the wonderful opportunity to witness Soo-hoon getting ready to go home.

It was a day of many blessings. I am happy to know that Soo-hoon finally has a family. It reminded me of how Harry Holt must have felt when he said: “Every child deserves a home of his own.” That was 53 years ago, but it is still as relevant today as it was then, and I promised myself and Grandma Holt that I would do all I can to keep that promise.

* Originally built by the Holts as a temporary care facility for adoptable children, the Ilsan Center became a home and training complex for disabled children. Today, nearly 300 children and residents live and develop life skills at Ilsan, and some are eventually adopted.