Heavy Hearts Again....

We received our referral from Russia Tuesday, November 15, 2007 - a blond haired boy with gray eyes born in June, 2006. The referral included a picture and some very sketchy medical information. We immediately contacted the International Adoption Pediatrician to review the information. Today, after a long conversation with the doctor, our worst fears were realized. The child referred to us has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and likely a rather severe case based on the facial features of the child. These include, a low nasal bridge, smooth philtrum (the space between the bottom of the nose and the upper lip), thin upper lip, turned up nose, small eye openings with an abnormal distance between the eyes, and ears that are below the eye-line.

We were told that we could travel to Russia and see the child, but warned that children with FAS are much like Downs Syndrome children. They are very affectionate and likely to take to us quickly making it harder to deny the referral if we are led to do so. There are varying degrees of FAS, but given the number of facial features that are indicators of FAS, the child referred to us is at a very high risk of having a more severe form. In addition, he has an eye lid ptosis (lazy eye) which is another sign of serious FAS problems and would likely have to be corrected with surgery. FAS can result in mild to severe retardation, epilepsy, stunted growth, severe attention deficit disorder and many other developmental, social interaction and psychological issues.

After much prayer, some tears, long talks and soul searching, we have decided that God is not leading us to knowingly be the parents of a special needs child and we are denying the referral. We aren't sure where this leaves us in the process, but our agency has said that they will look for another referral.

Please keep us in your prayers. This is yet another loss for us. We feel that we have had so many.

Eddie and Vicki