Adoption Stories

The Adoption Story of the Rice Family
Sweet Home, OR

As I watch my daughter Abbie, 2, play and talk with her big sister Ashley, it’s hard to believe this little bundle of energy joined our family only months ago. She runs to the door to greet her Daddy. She’s a miracle.
In January 1993 upon receiving the new issue of Hi Families, I turned, as usual, to the “Some Children Wait” section to read about the special children and pray for each of them. Perhaps I’ve always known someday there would be a child meant for especially for us. The picture of Suh, Mee-rim (now Abbie Rachelle Rice) jumped out at me immediately. She was so beautiful. I looked up the term “retinopathy of prematurity.” I already felt a sense of commitment to this adorable baby.

Waiting for my husband, Jim, to come home that day was difficult. I read to him about Suh, Mee-rim and showed him her picture. He said he would call Holt first thing Monday and find out more about her.
That weekend we talked to the family practice doctor I work for, and our friend who is an optometrist. They both told us how serious her visual impairment could be. We prayed. Jim and I told each other we would wait to make a decision when we had her records and could talk to specialists. But already in our hearts we knew she was to be our daughter.

By Monday I was a bundle of nerves. I couldn’t stand the thought of waiting for days to receive information on Abbie, and the chance that someone else might be starting the process. The next thing I knew, Jim called me at work to tell me Holt had faxed him all the records, and would put her on “hold” for us. That evening we did all the practical things: looked over her records, planned to talk to a specialist about her eyes, another specialist about her hepatitis B. Emotionally our decision had been made; we wanted our baby home as soon as possible.

That week we talked to an ophthalmologist who told us we should expect the worst and hope she might have some vision. We contacted Oregon School for the Blind and read everything they sent to help prepare us. We became familiar with Retinopathy of Prematurity, Retrolental Fibroplasia, Esotrophia, and Hepatitis B. Our friends, family, and church prayed for this baby. We prayed daily that God would keep her in His care and bring her home soon.

By January 18 we had completed all our paperwork for the home study, and scheduled our first appointment. By the end of February all our paperwork was completed.
We prayed the Lord would work out the financial details, and found out we qualified for a grant from Holt’s Adoption Fund for Children with Special Needs for a portion of Mee-rim’s adoption fees. In March we signed our placement agreement and, a few days later, we received our visa approval, only five weeks after applying. We were now waiting for Korea’s paperwork to be complete. This like all the paperwork so far, had been processed much more quickly than expected. On April 28, we were on our way to our daughter’s birth country, Korea. Indeed the Lord had a plan.

Many questions were in our minds as we flew to bring our little girl home. How would she adjust at 15 months of age, having lived with her Korean foster family her whole life thus far? How would we communicate? What kind of personality would she have? Would she be blind, and how would our family adjust if she was? Our first daughter, Ashley was only 4 months old when she came home, and we knew this was going to be a much more difficult adjustment.
Now eight months later, we have some of these answers. God hears our prayers. Abigail can see! She does require glasses and close follow-up, but our baby girl sees well enough to do everything any other 2 year old would do. She is a bundle of energy, has adjusted well, eats everything, and says close to 100 English words already. (Her favorite is “No!”) She has bonded wonderfully with our family. We feel that she is very special and love her dearly. Certainly we have had some challenges along the way, but never have we doubted our decision. Abbie is where the Lord planned for her to be, and she is thriving.

Just as God planned for Abbie to be with our family, I believe He has a plan for each of the other waiting kids. I thank Holt for its work on behalf of these kids who have so much potential. Their greatest need is to have a family willing to commit to them, love the, and allow them to reach their potential.
Also, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed financially and with prayers to Holt’s Adoption Fund for Children with Special Needs. You’ve brought joy to many families.

This article was reprinted with permission from Holt International Children’s Services magazine, Hi Families, Jan/Feb 1995 issue. To subscribe to Hi Families or find out more information on adopting from Holt, contact them at (503)687-2202. You can also write their main office at PO Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402.