Our Angel from India

Support from the Holt forum and staff helps a family as they wait for their daughter

by Heather Hansen

With four children, my husband, Kent, and I were content with our already large family. However, after his sister and brother-in-law adopted a daughter from China, we began considering whether we could open our home and hearts to another child.

One evening, my husband and I went to dinner to have uninterrupted time to discuss our decision. While at the restaurant, we ran into a friend of ours, Dean. Dean and his wife were in the process of adopting two sisters from Ethiopia, and Kent asked him why they decided to adopt. I will never forget Dean’s response. He said, “You only get one shot at life. Why wouldn’t we do something that will bless our family in ways we can’t even imagine?” As we considered his words, our decision became clear!

We decided that, since our decision would affect the lives of our children, we should include them in the decision. That evening, we gathered the children for a “family council,” and asked each of them if they wanted to adopt another sibling. They each said yes, and were all very excited about the idea. We later learned that, half a world away, our little angel was born that same day in Pune, India.

Our first steps were to select an agency and decide from what country to adopt. We learned of Holt International from a friend, and called them several times with questions. They were always helpful, and it felt like a good fit. We ultimately decided to adopt a little girl from India, and submitted our application in 2007.

Holt’s India Program staff members were invaluable in guiding us through the process. They introduced us to the India Forum on the Holt website. That became my life-line over the next year. At first, the home study seemed daunting. I cleaned every closet, dusted the blinds and tried to sterilize our sons’ bedrooms. In the end, it was all unnecessary. Our social worker was very nice and gave us valuable information about what to expect when we brought the baby home. As an added bonus, I did have a clean house (at least for a while)! We submitted the paperwork and were officially “logged-in.”

With the Application and Home Study complete, our next step was the Dossier. I initially looked at the three inch thick India Program Guidebook with fear and dread. With support from the India Forum and help from Mary Reynolds, we took each of the required documents one at a time and completed each of them in between soccer and football games, track meets, orthodontist appointments and all of the children’s other activities. I received many answers and helpful advice from my new cyber-friends on the forum. Finally on March 25th,2008 the Dossier was complete and sent off to India.

Now the waiting began in earnest. This was the hardest part, and I found myself checking my email and the forum several times each day with the hope of news from Mary and the India program staff. I read books on attachment and bonding, cleaned out closets (again) and moved children to new rooms to prepare for our angel.

In May, we were preparing to leave for a short vacation to bicycle through Yellowstone National Park with a large group of neighbors and friends. As we were in our front yard loading bags, bikes and equipment into the cars, the telephone rang. At first, with all of the commotion, we considered not answering but were glad that we did. It was Dean Hale from Holt calling to tell us that we received the referral. We were matched with a darling little girl, only 11 months old, who was diagnosed with hearing loss and other minor medical needs. Her name was Leena, our angel from India. As we discussed the referral, we quickly fell in love with the angel we had not yet met, and decided we were equipped to help her with whatever hearing loss or health issues she might have.

As the next phase of paperwork began and we waited while Leena’s application went through the Indian court system, the Forum remained my life-line. I found myself telling everyone I know about Leena. I felt the need to talk about her and let the world know she was coming. Everybody was excited to hear about Leena and where we were in the process. We finally got our approval to travel, just over thirteen months after we submitted our application.

We were finally on our way to bring our angel home. Although the travel was long and tiresome, going to the orphanage was a wonderful experience. The staff was loving and friendly. It was fun to hold and play with the children who had been Leena’s family. We were able to take our oldest son who was 16 at the time.

While we were there, someone e-mailed us a comment that “India touches all of the senses.” We certainly found this to be true, in many different ways. Mostly, it touched our hearts as we enjoyed getting to know Leena. Pune will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our time in India was busy with the court appearance and visa and immigration applications and paperwork. However, we were able to spend some time learning about and seeing her homeland. When it was time to return, we were anxious to bring Leena home and introduce her to the rest her new siblings and extended family.

After another, thankfully short, flight, it was finally time for the rest of our children to meet Leena. We had a wonderful reunion with our children and family at the airport, and it was so fun to introduce Leena and the rest of our family to one another. As we drove into our neighborhood, many of the neighbors were gathered holding balloons and banners welcoming Leena and us home.

A short while later someone asked Kent and me about the adoption process and whether the paperwork was onerous. We both responded that it really wasn’t too bad. I had to stop myself and laugh. It was just like pregnancy . . . what once seemed unbearable was forgotten now that Leena was ours!

Over the months since our return, we have undergone many more adjustments. We have had several doctor appointments, hearing tests and medical examinations. We were grateful to learn that, although she has had chronic ear infections, her hearing is in fact within normal limits. Leena is adjusting well to all of the new sites, sounds, foods, her new language and being in a family with so much stimulus and excitement. She is a cheerful, happy, healthy, adventurous and outgoing child, and has developed a unique relationship with each of her siblings. We now realize that our friend Dean was right, Leena has blessed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. How we love our angel from India.

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