Stories of your adoption experiences

An upcoming Dateline episode deals with adopting children in Guatemala. Users have shared their photos and stories of their experience. Stories are listed by date:

We adopted a little girl from Guatemala in 2006. We worked with an extremely ethical agency, out of North Carolina. The owner of the agency was once the attorney General of NC. We had a wonderful process and I believe that adoptions should continue in Guatemala. --Nicole Nayak, Somerset, NJ (submitted on Jan. 14, 2008)

My wife and I have two children adopted from Guatemala. We maintain a relationship with their biological mother and are currently helping her other children to go to school. Our children received wonderful care in Guatemala before coming home to us, and we remain very close to their former foster families. So while this Dateline story will show the unfortunate dark side of Guatemalan adoptions, please realize that the overwhelming majority of cases were not that way. And PLEASE do not judge us or more importantly our children by the actions of a few people who deserve to be behind bars. --Kevin Kreutner, WI (submitted on Jan. 14, 2008)

After several years and several thousands of dollars of fertility treatments with no progress, my husband and I decided to adopt a child. First we investigated adoption agencies by requesting information packets from numerous agencies and speaking with staff at several agencies. We attended informational meetings and finally chose to adopt using Bethany Christian Services who also had an office located close to us. After we chose our agency, with their assistance we began researching both domestic and international adoptions. Guatemala seemed to be a great choice since we would be matched with a baby soon after birth and the babies were placed into foster homes instead of orphanages. Our dossier was sent to Guatemala early in 2006, our baby boy was born on January 30, 2006, and I received the call that we were matched with him on February 15, 2006. After we submitted our acceptance documents, our case went pretty smoothly. We were kicked out of PGN three times for what seemed to us to be trivial stuff like typeographical errors. In late September 2006 we went to Guatemala for a week to visit our baby, which was both awesome and heartbreaking at the same time. We were finally out of PGN approved on December 28, 2006. On his first birthday we got the call that we had two days to travel to Guatemala to pick up our son. The social worker and foster mother brought him to our hotel on February 2, 2007, and we arrived home on February 7, 2007. I think there is a good side and a bad side to adoptions there just like there is with anything else. I can only say that we had a great experience and we plan to adopt from Guatemala again in a few years. --Brandy Atterberry, Montgomery City, MO (submitted on Jan. 15, 2008)

My husband and I adopted our son Jack (now 1 year and 4 months old) from Guatemala in 2007; the process took 1 year and 3 months. Although the adoption process worked in our favor it, and was EXCELLENT, it was harrowing at best. For people who think that Guatemala and/or the United States don't thoroughly cover their bases, they are mistaken. The paperwork took us seven months to properly complete, and we were lucky because we live in Atlanta, GA where a Guatemalan Embassy is located to accelerate it. Even so, the times when a signature was "wrong," the fingerprints weren't "lined up," a notaries expiration date was under a year, etc. happened countless times. We understand the current state of affairs re the Hague Convention/compliance, but it's an internal problem, and caused setbacks and anxiety. After we accepted our "referral" and periodically received health reports/general information, we were discouraged from visiting the country/him since there were internal "wars," reports of baby kidnapping, and violence against adoptees. Representatives from our adoption agency traveled to Guatemala, and sent videos/pictures upon their return (we received three updates). We were sent a picture of Jack's birth mother taken during their DNA test. The process was moving along, but it's an interesting feeling to have a son out there, but can't visit him and are only given updates every so often. We were in the adoption vacuum; $1,000’s out of pocket. We constantly received updates (766) re USCIS, JCICS, President Berger/First Lady, phony rumors and decrees, delayed CIS clearances, etc., and were issued a "previo." (Jack's birth mom's birth certificate and the maternal grandmother who had to register something at the Central Registry). Our case was kicked out of PGN for 6 weeks during which we received atleast 10 additional document requirements to complete our adoption. Our case came out of PGN, and we traveled 4 weeks later to pick up Jack. Once there, the foster mother showed up at our door with Jack - gave us a bit of information - and then cried with Jack for 30 minutes. We showed up at 6am the next day at the embassy along with (est.) 20 other couples, and heard many different/strained adoption stories; American adoption agencies have contributed to the demise of Guatemalan adoptions (although our's was quite fabulous). The embassy process was relatively smooth, but once we returned to the United States we were stopped at security for over an hour because Jack was issued a "criminal visa." In no uncertain terms, adoption is not for the weary. If you have time for the process, it's absurd to believe Guatemala fails to comply with the highest of expectations and standards. For now, we're only worried about the children who remain in foster homes and orphanages, and are being held there because of pointless political propaganda. --Lori Broderick, Atlanta, GA (submitted on Jan. 15, 2008)

My husband and I adopted a baby girl from Guatemala last year. Our baby's birthmother was 28 years old. Our daughter was her 6th child - she had never been married and attempted to raise her children on less than $200 per month. They had no electricity. No running water. No medical care. Very little food. Very little chance. She lives in a country where even if she had readible access to birth control, she wouldn't be able to afford it. She also has no readible access to abortion - again, even if she could afford it. In her interview with the family court of Guatemala, she stated that she knew the best chance for her daughter was for her to live in the United States. Not "with a family". Not "with a loving family". Not "with a loving family who will take her to Disney World". No, she only wanted her daughter to live "in the United States". We, as Americans, cannot fathom what that means to people who live in abject poverty in the third world - who die on a daily basis trying to come here. Our daughter's birthmother may have received a few hundred dollars when she relinquished here baby. Goodness knows our adoption attorney made an obscene amount of money facilitating the adoption and a buscadora (baby finder) may have been paid several thousand dollars to contact the birthmother about a relinquishment. And the US adoption agencies knew all of this and bullied/exploited parents on a fairly regular basis too. But the one thing that was beautiful and pure through all of this - was that a young mother in Guatemala wanted her beloved baby daughter to have a chance in life - and a mom and a dad in the US are giving it to her. But that mom and dad are equally fortunate - they are raising a dynamic, joyful, smart, imaginative little girl. And that little girl is doing much more than just "living in the United States" like her first mother hoped - that little girl is part of a family that loves her deeply - so, so deeply. And we will be forever grateful and blessed by that beautiful young woman in Guatemala who gave birth to our daughter - and gave her a chance in life. --Anonymous , Parkland, FL (submitted on Jan. 15, 2008)

My husband and I are older, and it would have been difficult, if not impossible to adopt in the United States. The likelihood that a birthmother would choose us was very small. So, we decided to pursue an international adoption. We brought home our beautiful daughter in August, 2006. Our lives have been so enriched by this precious gift. Our entire extended family has fallen in love with our angel. She gives so much love and IS so loved. I would like to think that she is very happy and healthy and will have a wonderful life. I know that we will do everything we can to make that a reality. I know other families who have adopted internationally and participate in internet forums. Our children are SO loved and treasured. Many, if not all, of us have gone through difficult times during the adoption process and would do it again and worse for the priviledge of being able to parent. I know that we will never take for granted the precious gift of a child in our lives. My husband and I are both college graduates and financially secure. I hope that our daughter will choose to reach a high level of education and unless there are unforeseen circumstances, she should be financially stable. Although her life in Guatemala may have been fulfilling in different ways, I think and hope that we offer her opportunities she wouldn't have otherwise had in her home country. Many groups and individuals criticize international adoption. I know that in a perfect world, every biological mother should want and be able to keep and raise her child. In a perfect world, every child should be protected, cherished, loved and have their physical and emotional needs met. But we don't live in a perfect world, and there are many children that need homes. Why should national boundaries separate people who want families and children who need families? Just because we live in a different country doesn't mean we can't nurture and support our child's heritage. I dream of a world where every child is cared for, and loved. If international adoption is one of the ways to achieve this goal, we should expedite the process with adequate safeguards to prevent abuse. I fear a world where thousands and thousands of children group up or spend a significant portion of their early childhood in orphanages or on the streets, with no one to love them and show them the joys and rewards of life. Thank you to Dateline for attempting to present all sides of a complicated issue. --Janet Carpenter, Chesterton, IN (submitted on Jan. 15, 2008)

After having 2 biological daughters and being told I could no longer have children, I was positive our family wasn't complete. We decided to adopt from Guatemala with a naieve faith. Our process was very straight forward and rather quick, though the burecratical hoops were many. Our son came home on July 4th 2006 and is a light in our family. I truly believe he is the child hand-picked by God to be with our family. But I struggle because of my innocent belief that all the rules were followed. Were they? I do know that his DNA matched the person who was placing him (his biological mother) and I see her signature in multiple places in his paperwork. I was asked for not one cent more than my agency's contract said I would have to pay. But what went on behind the scenes with the money I did send? I will never know. I struggle with how I will explain this to him when he's old enough to understand. I hope he knows it was all done in love. --Valerie Cox, Frisco, TX (submitted on Jan. 15, 2008)

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