|
Mandy decided to share her and Ryan’s story to educate the public about adoption. They created a blog. Adoption agencies share information just on a “need to know” basis. Mandy wanted to know what to expect and when, but that was not the way the adoption process works. Ryan and Mandy had goals to attain before having kids. In 2007, seven years into their marriage, they explored adopting children from China through a friend of theirs. They saw the need of so many children in need of homes but decided that with the mortgage and new job, they could not afford to take that on at that time. Years later, they explored having their own children. Even though there were no medical reasons for preventing a pregnancy, this apparently was not in the books, so in 2018 they decided to adopt. The first adoption agency they worked with had hundreds of couples on their waiting list and only a few successful adoptions by July of that year. About a year later they visited UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc. whose director had a completely different outlook on adoption. He indicated that it was possible to apply for grants or do fundraising to pay for the costs incurred in the adoption process …”Don’t worry about the financial part of adoption!” No one had ever said that to them before! He also had a photo album of one of the recent UAS adoptions. The relief that Mandy and Ryan felt after that visit to UAS was palpable – they were confident they would finally have their own adopted family! They signed the official documents in October 2019 and were told that the adoption process would likely take one and a half to two years before they’d have their children home. It did take two years – not too bad, given that this all happened during the COVID pandemic. The pile of documents, including translations, was about an inch thick. Rainbows kept appearing in the Kwasnica’s back yard! The following steps were taken: an education seminar, a home study, criminal background check, child abuse registry check, financial statements, house appraisal, medical statements (4 times – only to be hand-written in blue ink), bloodwork, 40 pages of autobiographies,3 visits with social worker, birth certificates, passports, marriage certificate and Canadian citizenship. In addition, 3 “selection trips” are required. In Kiev, Mandy and Ryan were shown pictures of children that were available for adoption. Since Anna looked like Mandy and her brother Artem kind of looked like Ryan, this was the brother and sister team they chose to adopt. The next day they were given their “ticket” to visit the orphanage as well as their train tickets to take them to Khmelnytskyi, where the orphanage was located and where they were taken, with a social worker, by taxi. They met Anna and Artem (who had lived in the orphanage for 5 years) and conversed and played with them in the playground through a translator during the 4 and 6 pm visit. They accepted Ana and Artem as their children, then waited to learn that the children had accepted Mandy and Ryan as their parents – on the day that happened to be the Kwasnica’s 20 year wedding anniversary! On the second day of their visit to see the children, Anna was already calling them Mom and Dad. Each day, Mandy and Ryan walked 15-20 minutes from the hotel to the orphanage to play outdoors with their children. After a week, the orphanage allowed them to take the children out for a day trip to a zoo and a playground. The children were advised of their new names Anna Joy Kwasnica (Joy is Mandy’s middle name) and Artem Michael Kwasnica (Michael in Ryan’s middle name). The court meeting with the judge in Ukraine was done online, and did not require the second trip to the country for that hearing. The expected date to bring the children home was August, but this was delayed until October, which happened to be the day Anna celebrated her 10th birthday. They spent a couple of days in Kiev as they waited for the children’s visas so they could fly back “home” with Mandy and Ryan. This was the kids’ first airplane flight. Mandy was impressed with how brave the children were to make the choice to come to Canada with them. Ryan and Mandy have maintained contact with the children’s grandmother in Khmelnytskyi (the children’s only family connection while they were at the orphanage), chatting with her every two days or so. Their grandmother was so excited for the kids and for the Kwasnicas Back together in Canada, there was lots of home schooling (mainly teaching them English), followed by going to Starbuck School on January 17th. They have had lots of donations -clothing, games, bikes, etc. from co-workers and Rotary friends. Their story and videos can be viewed at https://journey2adopt.com/ During the discussion, we learned that the reaction to leaving the orphanage by Artem was “I’m out of here!” while Anna cried – the orphanage had been her home. Their reactions to living in Canada – one has completely embraced life in Canada, while the other wants to go back. In response to questions, we learned that: Their grandmother lives in a very small apartment. The children’s English is great! Kids can age out of an orphanage – and some orphanages are very good in helping to pay for rent and even post-secondary schooling. Glenn thanked Mandy for her presentation. MOTION PDG Jim made a motion, seconded by Dave Morris to support humanitarian efforts for the children of Ukraine. The project would be supported by fundraising by RC of Wpg-Charleswood as well as funding from the 2022-2023 Lobsterfest – a portion of proceeds. Other groups will support the project as well.
– Carried Unanimously. |
.png)
