I get to write this blog post! We have submitted the paperwork with our new agency to request our waivers . . . which you may recall means that WE HAVE FOUND A MATCH!
After reviewing and returning the file for little girl “Iy,” I had come to two realizations. 1. That Hubby and I were both feeling strongly and persistently drawn to the idea that our next daughter would have hearing loss. 2. That in this part of the process, the main “currency” is timeliness. So I began a new routine . . . every morning, I would sit down to breakfast at my computer and go through my bookmarked lists looking for new listings that might meet our parameters.
On Thursday, September 18th, I was looking online yet again when I saw a new listing. Less than 12 hours after it appeared online, I called the agency to request to review her file. Late that night (after much extra effort on the inquiry specialist’s part to get us the information after their internet went down!), we met Sibyl (not her real name but one assigned for online purposes).
[Please note: All information that I share on here is with the permission of her agency, AAC (Adoption for All Children). We cannot share any pictures online at this time.]
As you can imagine, there were many facets to our processing over that weekend. But the end result was that by Monday afternoon, September 22nd, we were in agreement . . . we were ready to move forward and request the waivers for Sibyl!
Sibyl is 1½ years old; her special needs are microtia and cleft palate. Microtia is when the outer ear does not form completely, often including an absence of the ear canal and ear drum. In Sibyl’s case, her left ear canal is absent and her outer ear is present but not complete. Her right ear appears to only be mildly affected, at least from a cosmetic standpoint. There is some amount of hearing loss, although we won’t know exactly how much without further testing. She also has a very small cleft palate (which may or may not require reparative surgery).
Due to these two symptoms being present, the cause of these conditions MIGHT be an undiagnosed syndrome or disorder. Once we bring her home (Lord willing), there will be follow-up testing to determine the course that her medical care will take and perhaps determine a root cause, if there is a specific one.
While we are not taking lightly the responsibility of caring for her special needs, we also feel confident that we can do so. With our background in sign language and Deaf studies, hearing loss, even if it is permanent, does not feel like a disability as much as a different normal. While there are unknowns (as truly there are with any child, even biological), we are trusting that she will bless us as much as we hope to bless her!
At this time, the thing that we value most is prayer! All documentation has been submitted to AAC to be translated and then submitted to China. Once it is submitted, it will take 2-3 weeks for us to find out whether or not they will grant us the necessary waivers. We are resting in God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. We want to bring Sibyl home! But we also pray for God’s will in this as in all things.
While we wait, there have been some inquiries regarding fundraising. We are at the point now where it is time to begin that process as well. The first large fee has been paid to AAC, but once we receive the waivers (again, Lord willing!), the next round of fees will be due. I will be dedicating a blog soon to the specifics of where the fees go, the ways of raising funds for adoption, and how that all works, since many people have expressed curiosity about that part of the process.
In the meantime, if you are feeling led to be a part of Sibyl’s adoption financially as well as prayerfully, we have set up a dedicated account at U.S. Bank . . . 100% of donations will go to adoption costs! You can deposit any gifts through U.S. Bank, and you can also hand a gift to us in person, if you wish.
(Fundraising has since closed as we were fully funded.)
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