Wednesday, January 27, 2010
We're home!!!
Pretty wiped after the whirlwind and chaos of the last few days- I'll sit down and write the story tomorrow but for now, all that matters is that Stanley is home! Many of his buddies are still in Haiti though so the work continues... More on that tomorrow too!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monica in Florida, Michael in Haiti...
I am not sure if anyone follows this blog religiously, if so- I apologize for the delay in updates. It is hard to believe that it is now Saturday. The last few days have been like a blur. On Thursday afternoon, Michael and I hopped on a plane to Ft. Lauderdale. At that time, it was looking pretty good that Stanley would be home on Fridayish. Based on the information we got, visas were being processed and we had a good team of volunteers helping to coordinate flights, etc. Some parents decided to wait until they got word that their kids were in the air, but we didn't think we could wait any longer. On Friday, it became clear that we would spend the whole day doing exactly the same thing we were doing at home- staring at the computer. Our agency coordinator was able to get sporadic WiFi and was facebooking and tweeting so we just kept her pages up and pressed the "refresh" button every few minutes. She was actually turned away from the embassy, despite having an appointment and another orphanage took our spot!!!! After she was initially turned away, she communicated that with us and the parents/staff of LBB immediately contacted all of the officals that have been helping us and within minutes, the embassy said she could come back. By then, the kids were back on their way to the orphanage. She was told to come back on Sunday at 9 AM. She was then called back today (apparently to clear up paperwork and to process some of the files for her kids from another orphanage). 11 of THOSE kids went home today!
In the meantime, she was told that although she has this appointment tomorrow, that the paperwork will be processed but that the visas will not be issued until Monday! The other major hurdle is that the ministry group that our agency staff secured to work with us and help with logistics is having to take a less prominent role in the transporting of the kids because of pressure from UNICEF. For those of you that don't know, UNICEF is completely and 100% committed to keeping kids in their country of birth and will do anything in their power to block international adoptions. Their interference in Haiti is under the guise of wanting to prevent child trafficing BUT they are very aware that the children we are transporting were ALREADY in the process of being adopted and had been legally cleared for adoption by both the Haitian government and the U.S. government (complete with interviews with the birth parent/DNA test or death certificate of parent).
Our agency coordinator has been trying to run a one-woman show and it became clear that she would need some back-up. Someone to help her hold a place in line at the embassy, someone to help coordinate flights, someone to relay messages to the U.S., etc., etc. So, Michael and two other dads flew down today. Last night, as we were deciding who to send, I knew instinctively that Michael should go. He is so level-headed and calm and organized and selfishly, I wanted him to get his hands on Stanley! On the other hand, the thought of being worried about both of them and not having Michael for support was killing me. In the end, I know that he is better off there and we need to do whatever it takes to bring Stanley and his buddies home.
After many many emails with elected officials, etc., I am crossing my fingers that a few kids get their visas issued tomorrow but if not, AT LEAST by Monday morning. If all goes well, they will be escorting all of the children home- can you imagine that plane ride?
Anyway, thats all for now...
In the meantime, she was told that although she has this appointment tomorrow, that the paperwork will be processed but that the visas will not be issued until Monday! The other major hurdle is that the ministry group that our agency staff secured to work with us and help with logistics is having to take a less prominent role in the transporting of the kids because of pressure from UNICEF. For those of you that don't know, UNICEF is completely and 100% committed to keeping kids in their country of birth and will do anything in their power to block international adoptions. Their interference in Haiti is under the guise of wanting to prevent child trafficing BUT they are very aware that the children we are transporting were ALREADY in the process of being adopted and had been legally cleared for adoption by both the Haitian government and the U.S. government (complete with interviews with the birth parent/DNA test or death certificate of parent).
Our agency coordinator has been trying to run a one-woman show and it became clear that she would need some back-up. Someone to help her hold a place in line at the embassy, someone to help coordinate flights, someone to relay messages to the U.S., etc., etc. So, Michael and two other dads flew down today. Last night, as we were deciding who to send, I knew instinctively that Michael should go. He is so level-headed and calm and organized and selfishly, I wanted him to get his hands on Stanley! On the other hand, the thought of being worried about both of them and not having Michael for support was killing me. In the end, I know that he is better off there and we need to do whatever it takes to bring Stanley and his buddies home.
After many many emails with elected officials, etc., I am crossing my fingers that a few kids get their visas issued tomorrow but if not, AT LEAST by Monday morning. If all goes well, they will be escorting all of the children home- can you imagine that plane ride?
Anyway, thats all for now...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Chaos at the embassy!
From our understanding, hundreds of children were brought to the U.S. embassy in Haiti today with only a handful of USCIS officers able to process their travel documents. The situation has gone from troublesome to dangerous! Although it has been days since Humanitarian Parole was granted, the State Department has yet to implement a safe plan to get our children to safety! We understand that Stephanie was able to land in Port au Prince after a diversion to the Dominican Republic and should be with the kids this evening. The State Department is requesting that the orphanages wait to be contacted by them for details on a "plan." We don't have a lot of faith in this "plan" existing or being implemented quickly. It seems as if everyone has forgotten the reality of this urgent situation! We hope to hear something tonight.
On a much lighter note, Stanley is about to become famous! We were interviewed by WBAL TV, the Baltimore Sun, The Gazette, and tomorrow, we'll be on Fox 45 live at 7:15! More later...
On a much lighter note, Stanley is about to become famous! We were interviewed by WBAL TV, the Baltimore Sun, The Gazette, and tomorrow, we'll be on Fox 45 live at 7:15! More later...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Another day of waiting with NO NEWS! It seems that although advocacy groups have developed a safe, effective plan for bringing our children home, it is back in the federal government's hands- we are desperately waiting for news that they have taken the appropriate steps to make this happen. Again, we ask you to help us... You can start by contacting your legislators... Remember, its easy, fast, and effective!
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives, and BARACK OBAMA
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the following text into the box:
I am writing to request your swift action with the next and crucial stage of evacuating orphans from Haiti. As you may have heard, Secretary Napolitano announced yesterday that Humanitarian Parole status would be granted to Haitian orphans who had already begun the adoption process with American families at the time the earthquake struck Haiti. We are grateful for this important first step, but time is of the essence to ensure safe and successful evaulation of these children from Haiti. The situation on the ground in Port au Prince is deteriorating by the hour. Water, food and medicine are running out. Gangs have looted some of the orphanages and even travel is not safe for the children.
We are asking our government to pull together and create a Safe Haven Central processing center in Haiti as soon as possible so all the children have safe shelter, protection, food, water, medical care, and can have their paperwork processed for entering the US.
I ask that you please help by personally calling Secretary of State Clinton and USAID Administrator-designate Shah and specifically request that they authorize that security forces on the ground in Haiti be sent to the staging center that is being set up for the orphans and that these forces also assist in the extraction and transport of these children from their orphanages to the staging center. All other pieces of a successful operation of this staging center are currently in place, but all hinge on this authorization of security and transport of the children. Please help us finish the mission of getting these children into the loving arms and care of their American families so that assistance efforts on the ground in Haiti can focus on those who do not have alternatives for care.
Thank you,
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives, and BARACK OBAMA
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the following text into the box:
I am writing to request your swift action with the next and crucial stage of evacuating orphans from Haiti. As you may have heard, Secretary Napolitano announced yesterday that Humanitarian Parole status would be granted to Haitian orphans who had already begun the adoption process with American families at the time the earthquake struck Haiti. We are grateful for this important first step, but time is of the essence to ensure safe and successful evaulation of these children from Haiti. The situation on the ground in Port au Prince is deteriorating by the hour. Water, food and medicine are running out. Gangs have looted some of the orphanages and even travel is not safe for the children.
We are asking our government to pull together and create a Safe Haven Central processing center in Haiti as soon as possible so all the children have safe shelter, protection, food, water, medical care, and can have their paperwork processed for entering the US.
I ask that you please help by personally calling Secretary of State Clinton and USAID Administrator-designate Shah and specifically request that they authorize that security forces on the ground in Haiti be sent to the staging center that is being set up for the orphans and that these forces also assist in the extraction and transport of these children from their orphanages to the staging center. All other pieces of a successful operation of this staging center are currently in place, but all hinge on this authorization of security and transport of the children. Please help us finish the mission of getting these children into the loving arms and care of their American families so that assistance efforts on the ground in Haiti can focus on those who do not have alternatives for care.
Thank you,
Monday, January 18, 2010
Stanley is coming home!!!!
They are still working out the exact logistics, but here is the press release...
Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Press Release
January 18, 2010
Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010
SECRETARY NAPOLITANO ANNOUNCES HUMANITARIAN PAROLE POLICY FOR CERTAIN HAITIAN ORPHANS
WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, today announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need—as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to help reunite families in Haiti during this very difficult time,” said Secretary Napolitano. “While we remain focused on family reunification in Haiti, authorizing the use of humanitarian parole for orphans who are eligible for adoption in the United States will allow them to receive the care they need here.”
Humanitarian parole into the United States may be granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security to bring otherwise inadmissible individuals into the country on account of urgent humanitarian reasons or other emergencies. The humanitarian parole policy announced by Secretary Napolitano today will be applied on a case-by-case basis to the following children:
• Children who have been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti and are being adopted by U.S. citizens.
• Children who have been previously identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption and have been matched to U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents.
Under applicable laws, unaccompanied minors entering the country without a parent or legal guardian will be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Today’s announcement expands the humanitarian relief that the U.S. Government is extending to Haitians in response to the devastation caused by the earthquake. Last week, Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals who were physically present in the United States as of Jan. 12, 2010—allowing eligible Haitian nationals to continue living and working in the United States for the next 18 months. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after Jan. 12, 2010 will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated
More information about humanitarian parole and TPS is available at www.uscis.gov or by calling USCIS toll-free at (800) 375-5283. DHS encourages U.S. citizens with pending adoption cases in Haiti to send us detailed information about their cases to HaitianAdoptions@dhs.gov.
Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Press Release
January 18, 2010
Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010
SECRETARY NAPOLITANO ANNOUNCES HUMANITARIAN PAROLE POLICY FOR CERTAIN HAITIAN ORPHANS
WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, today announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need—as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to help reunite families in Haiti during this very difficult time,” said Secretary Napolitano. “While we remain focused on family reunification in Haiti, authorizing the use of humanitarian parole for orphans who are eligible for adoption in the United States will allow them to receive the care they need here.”
Humanitarian parole into the United States may be granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security to bring otherwise inadmissible individuals into the country on account of urgent humanitarian reasons or other emergencies. The humanitarian parole policy announced by Secretary Napolitano today will be applied on a case-by-case basis to the following children:
• Children who have been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti and are being adopted by U.S. citizens.
• Children who have been previously identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption and have been matched to U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents.
Under applicable laws, unaccompanied minors entering the country without a parent or legal guardian will be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Today’s announcement expands the humanitarian relief that the U.S. Government is extending to Haitians in response to the devastation caused by the earthquake. Last week, Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals who were physically present in the United States as of Jan. 12, 2010—allowing eligible Haitian nationals to continue living and working in the United States for the next 18 months. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after Jan. 12, 2010 will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated
More information about humanitarian parole and TPS is available at www.uscis.gov or by calling USCIS toll-free at (800) 375-5283. DHS encourages U.S. citizens with pending adoption cases in Haiti to send us detailed information about their cases to HaitianAdoptions@dhs.gov.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Lobbying for Humanitarian Parole
Well, another day down, and NO NEWS!!! We have learned that despite the fact that congressional leadership has explicitly asked Secretary Clinton to support granting Humanitarian Parole status to all orphans who were in the process of being adopted. We are desperately trying to apply pressure to make sure this becomes a reality! Please take the time to write (another) letter to your representative- we HAVE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives and BARACK OBAMA
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the following text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane, from Haiti since August 2008. Just like the thousands of other orphans in Haiti, he is in grave danger due to the worsening conditions in Haiti. Without proper access to food, water, and shelter, the children are susceptible to disease. Additionally, the trauma of the earthquake has no doubt begun to cause emotional harm to these children.
It is with these factors in mind that we urge you to support the initiave to grant Humanitarian Parole to all orphans in Haiti who were in the process of being adopted. Humanitarian Parole would not circumvent the adoption process but would allow the children of American families to get to safety while freeing up resources for the remaining orphans in Haiti.
We know that the State Department is working hard to develop policies but time may be running out for these children! It is extremely important that the U.S. follow the lead of other nations and evacuate these children immediately.
Please contact our friends, Monica and Michael Simonsen at monica.simonsen@gmail.com if you would like to discuss this issue further. I look forward to hearing of your continued support of these Haitian orphans and their American families here at home. Thank you, in advance, for your help and consideration.
This is no time to back off- we are almost there- these kids may really come home- but ONLY if we keep the pressure up- PLEASE help us!
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives and BARACK OBAMA
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the following text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane, from Haiti since August 2008. Just like the thousands of other orphans in Haiti, he is in grave danger due to the worsening conditions in Haiti. Without proper access to food, water, and shelter, the children are susceptible to disease. Additionally, the trauma of the earthquake has no doubt begun to cause emotional harm to these children.
It is with these factors in mind that we urge you to support the initiave to grant Humanitarian Parole to all orphans in Haiti who were in the process of being adopted. Humanitarian Parole would not circumvent the adoption process but would allow the children of American families to get to safety while freeing up resources for the remaining orphans in Haiti.
We know that the State Department is working hard to develop policies but time may be running out for these children! It is extremely important that the U.S. follow the lead of other nations and evacuate these children immediately.
Please contact our friends, Monica and Michael Simonsen at monica.simonsen@gmail.com if you would like to discuss this issue further. I look forward to hearing of your continued support of these Haitian orphans and their American families here at home. Thank you, in advance, for your help and consideration.
This is no time to back off- we are almost there- these kids may really come home- but ONLY if we keep the pressure up- PLEASE help us!
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives.
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the follwoing text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane (DOB: 4/9/2008), from Haiti since August 2008. Stanley was brought to Petit Anges de Chantal orphanage when he was only two months old. He was severely malnourished and covered in scabies. They have visited him in Haiti three times, each time bringing supplies and donations to the orphanage. The resources are scarce under normal circumstances and with the current crisis, there is a genuine concern that the children will not survive. They have received a USCIS approved I-797C form and signed and submitted their I-600 in front of an immigration official at the U.S. embassy in Haiti. I know that there are many families around the country who are at various stages of the adoption process and they need your help.
I am writing to request that you support initiatives created to help expedite the adoption process for children who already have completely committed U.S. approved families waiting at home. Expediting the process will not only secure their safety but will free up already scarce resources for children orphaned by this disaster.
Thank you, in advance, for your swift action in helping bring Stanley and all the other children in Haiti currently in the adoption process home.
We are hoping to put this information on our website as well but in the meantime, we want to see how many letters we can generate! Let's make some noise!!!
Lastly, we have set up a fondation for the orphanage. We are trying to collect as much as we can ($10,000 by Monday) so that we can mobilize and gets resources DIRECTLY TO STANLEY'S ORPHANAGE!!! Here is the link: http://pachaitifund.bbnow.org/
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives.
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the follwoing text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane (DOB: 4/9/2008), from Haiti since August 2008. Stanley was brought to Petit Anges de Chantal orphanage when he was only two months old. He was severely malnourished and covered in scabies. They have visited him in Haiti three times, each time bringing supplies and donations to the orphanage. The resources are scarce under normal circumstances and with the current crisis, there is a genuine concern that the children will not survive. They have received a USCIS approved I-797C form and signed and submitted their I-600 in front of an immigration official at the U.S. embassy in Haiti. I know that there are many families around the country who are at various stages of the adoption process and they need your help.
I am writing to request that you support initiatives created to help expedite the adoption process for children who already have completely committed U.S. approved families waiting at home. Expediting the process will not only secure their safety but will free up already scarce resources for children orphaned by this disaster.
Thank you, in advance, for your swift action in helping bring Stanley and all the other children in Haiti currently in the adoption process home.
We are hoping to put this information on our website as well but in the meantime, we want to see how many letters we can generate! Let's make some noise!!!
Lastly, we have set up a fondation for the orphanage. We are trying to collect as much as we can ($10,000 by Monday) so that we can mobilize and gets resources DIRECTLY TO STANLEY'S ORPHANAGE!!! Here is the link: http://pachaitifund.bbnow.org/
Saturday, January 16, 2010
finally, some news!!!
First of all, someone has heard from Marie, the orphanage director, and she and the kids are still ok! Our friend, Jean Garry (who has been our driver/translator when we visit) has apparently helping her gather supplies for the kids.
We have been completely consumed with the efforts to raise money and generate support for expediting the adoptions in progress from Haiti. It is starting to sound really really positive!!! At this point we are hoping that our children are granted Humanitarian Parole, which would allow them to come home before the adoptions are finalized. There are rumors that some children are already en route... can't find confirmation of that though.
Basically, we have been told to wait by the phone/computer, gather money for remaining fees, and be ready to travel at a moments' notice. Can you imagine??? We are holding our breath right now. Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!!!
By the way, we have raised almost $13,000 so far! We are SOOOO grateful. We know that in the coming weeks, months, and probably years to come, the orphanage will need sustained support. We are vowing to do just that, long after Stanley is home (which could maybe actually finally be soon!!!).
We have been completely consumed with the efforts to raise money and generate support for expediting the adoptions in progress from Haiti. It is starting to sound really really positive!!! At this point we are hoping that our children are granted Humanitarian Parole, which would allow them to come home before the adoptions are finalized. There are rumors that some children are already en route... can't find confirmation of that though.
Basically, we have been told to wait by the phone/computer, gather money for remaining fees, and be ready to travel at a moments' notice. Can you imagine??? We are holding our breath right now. Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!!!
By the way, we have raised almost $13,000 so far! We are SOOOO grateful. We know that in the coming weeks, months, and probably years to come, the orphanage will need sustained support. We are vowing to do just that, long after Stanley is home (which could maybe actually finally be soon!!!).
Friday, January 15, 2010
foundation, letters to legislators
Nothing more about Stanley- we are waiting for the orphanage director to contact someone again. She is a very resourceful woman and we know she is doing everything she can to keep our babies safe.
Now, the reason for this post- we have a REAL opportunity here to save the lives of hundreds (maybe thousands) of childrens' lives- including Stanley's!
Today at 10 AM, there will be a State Department meeting about the options for expediting adoptions for families/children whose Haitian adoptions are already in process. We have learned that many of the adoption-related offices in Haiti have collapsed and our best chance is that the U.S. government grants temporary visas to our children to expedite the process! This is the most important thing I have ever asked anyone to do- PLEASE send this letter to your legislators.
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives.
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the follwoing text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane (DOB: 4/9/2008), from Haiti since August 2008. Stanley was brought to Petit Anges de Chantal orphanage when he was only two months old. He was severely malnourished and covered in scabies. They have visited him in Haiti three times, each time bringing supplies and donations to the orphanage. The resources are scarce under normal circumstances and with the current crisis, there is a genuine concern that the children will not survive. They have received a USCIS approved I-797C form and signed and submitted their I-600 in front of an immigration official at the U.S. embassy in Haiti. I know that there are many families around the country who are at various stages of the adoption process and they need your help.
I am writing to request that you support initiatives created to help expedite the adoption process for children who already have completely committed U.S. approved families waiting at home. Expediting the process will not only secure their safety but will free up already scarce resources for children orphaned by this disaster.
Thank you, in advance, for your swift action in helping bring Stanley and all the other children in Haiti currently in the adoption process home.
We are hoping to put this information on our website as well but in the meantime, we want to see how many letters we can generate! Let's make some noise!!!
Lastly, we have set up a fondation for the orphanage. We are trying to collect as much as we can ($10,000 by Monday) so that we can mobilize and gets resources DIRECTLY TO STANLEY'S ORPHANAGE!!! Here is the link: http://pachaitifund.bbnow.org/
With love and appreciation, Michael, Monica, Dane, and STANLEY!
Now, the reason for this post- we have a REAL opportunity here to save the lives of hundreds (maybe thousands) of childrens' lives- including Stanley's!
Today at 10 AM, there will be a State Department meeting about the options for expediting adoptions for families/children whose Haitian adoptions are already in process. We have learned that many of the adoption-related offices in Haiti have collapsed and our best chance is that the U.S. government grants temporary visas to our children to expedite the process! This is the most important thing I have ever asked anyone to do- PLEASE send this letter to your legislators.
1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ to find your legislator
2. Just type in your zip code and then follow the links for the U.S. Senators and Representatives.
3. You can click to "contact" and submit your "comments."
4. Copy and paste the follwoing text into the box:
I am writing on behalf of our friends, Michael and Monica Simonsen who have been in the process of adopting their son, Stanley Hermane (DOB: 4/9/2008), from Haiti since August 2008. Stanley was brought to Petit Anges de Chantal orphanage when he was only two months old. He was severely malnourished and covered in scabies. They have visited him in Haiti three times, each time bringing supplies and donations to the orphanage. The resources are scarce under normal circumstances and with the current crisis, there is a genuine concern that the children will not survive. They have received a USCIS approved I-797C form and signed and submitted their I-600 in front of an immigration official at the U.S. embassy in Haiti. I know that there are many families around the country who are at various stages of the adoption process and they need your help.
I am writing to request that you support initiatives created to help expedite the adoption process for children who already have completely committed U.S. approved families waiting at home. Expediting the process will not only secure their safety but will free up already scarce resources for children orphaned by this disaster.
Thank you, in advance, for your swift action in helping bring Stanley and all the other children in Haiti currently in the adoption process home.
We are hoping to put this information on our website as well but in the meantime, we want to see how many letters we can generate! Let's make some noise!!!
Lastly, we have set up a fondation for the orphanage. We are trying to collect as much as we can ($10,000 by Monday) so that we can mobilize and gets resources DIRECTLY TO STANLEY'S ORPHANAGE!!! Here is the link: http://pachaitifund.bbnow.org/
With love and appreciation, Michael, Monica, Dane, and STANLEY!
updates, how to help?
I was going to apologize by saying that I am sorry I haven't updated since the earthquake struck, but Iknow that people have been following along with the news and our friends through facebook, etc. Somehow, amidst the chaos and devastation, all of the kids at Stanley's orphanage have survived! The staff have literally risked their own lives to make sure our babies are safe! After literally clinging to the TV and computer all of Tuesday night without word, we learned on Wednesday morning that Stanley was ok. The kids slept in the street and were scared and low on supplies but alive. That overwhelming fear has since given way to extreme grief and now inspiration... We are sick over the loss of life and the devastation to this country that we love.
Just hearing the noises and sounds from the streets of Port au Prince transports us to that place. Some of the most meaningful moments of our lives have happened there. It is the birthplace of our son, where his birthmother lives, and the place where I feel most at peace. Far away from the rat race, materialism, and luxuries, when we are in Haiti, we just are. Now, what is left? What will happen to the people, the landmarks, the culture?
We know for sure that Staney is not out of the woods yet- supplies are running low and it will be hard to keep the children fed and healthy. More on this later...
Just hearing the noises and sounds from the streets of Port au Prince transports us to that place. Some of the most meaningful moments of our lives have happened there. It is the birthplace of our son, where his birthmother lives, and the place where I feel most at peace. Far away from the rat race, materialism, and luxuries, when we are in Haiti, we just are. Now, what is left? What will happen to the people, the landmarks, the culture?
We know for sure that Staney is not out of the woods yet- supplies are running low and it will be hard to keep the children fed and healthy. More on this later...
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