Welcoming Children into Forever Families

Holt Board Member, Kim Hanson, serves as an airport greeter—volunteering to help adoptive families meet their children for the first time

By: Kim A. Hanson

The countdown to the airplane landing is like watching the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, but instead of watching the ball, everyone watches the monitor for updates.

I can see the panic in the parent’s eyes, as I assure them their babies are on the plane. They get confirmation from other passengers, as well, who let them know their “babies are here!” As the Holt greeter, I am also crowd control and make sure that we don’t block the entire exit ramp, as we wait and wait for the babies and their escorts. In Korea, the escorts are told to be the last ones off the plane, which makes the wait even more excruciating.

I finally see the escorts with the babies in front carriers, and my heart beats faster when I announce: “Here they are!” The parents start to cry, and I can see the relief in their eyes and the immense love they have for their babies. With tears in my own eyes, I lead the escorts to the new parents. Cameras are in high gear as flashes go off to capture every special moment.

I am a Holt-Korean adoptee and have three children, one adopted from Korea. I volunteered as a greeter for families in Omaha as a way to give back to Holt. My experience is a gift I never expected. Witnessing families receiving their babies and seeing those babies held by their new mothers and fathers is a truly heart-warming experience, and one that never gets old. I’ve been on the receiving end and know the feelings of uncertainty, panic, anticipation, and joy. As the greeter, I do the thinking for the new parents and hopefully calm them at the same time.

I recently had the opportunity to be an airport greeter for two families, both receiving daughters, and adopting from Korea for the second time. I had escorted one family’s son home from Korea in 2006, so I was excited to help them welcome their new daughter home, as well. I’m not sure if their son remembered me, but he agreed to be photographed with me.

This is the best volunteer job in the world. I am grateful that I can take part in welcoming a baby home to his or her forever family. Even the passengers coming off the flight will wait to witness this beautiful moment. I think of myself as the “delivery nurse,” and I refer to every baby as one of my own. As fellow Holt adoptees, they really are my brothers and sisters.

I wish all of my families well and wish the best for my little brothers and sisters.