EthioStork Orphan Status Verification Reunites Twins

A family who experienced how important an orphan status verification can be shares their story:


In 2013 we began our second adoption partnering with Adoption Ministry of Ethiopia and Children’s House International.  Our son Miles who is also from Ethiopia had been home with us for over two years at that point, and we were excited to grow our family even more.  By the end of May, 2013 our homestudy was approved, on July 15^th we received our I-171H.  At that point we were really starting to get excited at the idea of being matched with another child, so on July 29^th, when our agency informed us of a  six and half month old baby boy, we were thrilled!  We accepted the referral for Maranatha on August 1^st.  We were surprised and pleased that our case had been submitted to court on August 14^, 2013. 

Then everything changed when we received a phone call on October 21^st, 2013.  Through the process of our case moving forward, the details of Maranatha’s story came out.  EthioStork conducted a thorough investigation and an interview with the woman who had been involved in Maranatha’s first days of life, and the investigation and interview revealed he had a twin sister.  We were both shocked and anxious, because at this point we really didn’t know if we would be bringing Marantha and his twin sister home at all.  There were so many unknowns.  

 

It wasn’t until November 7^th that we were informed we would be adopting both Maranatha and his twin sister, Amen.  Our homestudy indicated our desire for siblings, and our I-171H had approved us to bring home siblings, so that part had not been a problem.  We had actually hoped and prayed for twins from the very beginning of this adoption.  We could not have been happier, we were not only growing our family, but we were bringing home twins!  We flew to Ethiopia weeks later and appeared in court on November 21^st, 2013; we passed.  On February 20^th, we were interviewed at the US. Embassy in Ethiopia and flew home to the US with our twins on February 22^nd, 2014. 

Our story is unique, I have never heard of anyone finding out about a twin sibling, part way through an adoption.  We are so grateful for the hard work done by the wonderful people we work with at Adoption Ministry, Children’s House International, and the investigations and interviews done by EthioStork.  If it weren’t for the diligent work of EthioStork, our twins could have been separated for life, never knowing one another, never knowing their story.  We are grateful, beyond words. Thank you.

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An Orphan Status Verification that Saved Twins from Separating

I was in Ethiopia for my quarterly quality check visit when our local EthioStork employee called me. She was in Oromiya region, conducting Orphan Status Verifications on a number of children who were being adopted through an agency that has made it a requirement for a verification by EthioStork to be done before an adoption is finalized. 

"That two babies, A and M are actually twins" my employee said. I could hear the emotions in her voice...one being excitement. And I was feeling the same thing.  That what we do really matters, that this was a matter of life and death. A matter of siblings, minutes apart in birth order, being saved from being miles and hours apart, placed in different homes with different families.  A and M were referred to families in separate states. The agency had no idea they were twins as they had separate paperwork and the orphanage representative had told them they were brought by the police separately.   While there was relief this was discovered, much was left for the agency to resolve. They had to rush to get both cases out of court so they don't get approved separately and also make the hard decision of which family gets to take the twins.  It was heart breaking for one family, and double the joy for another.  But most importantly, twins were reunited.   I have come across such situations before, just not with good endings.  In the other situations (unfortunately I knew about them long after the adoptions were finalized and there wasn't much I could do). 

To be continued Monday May 11. Come back then and read the rest. 

How EthioStork helped a child come home...

"I do have to say many families caught up in the IAG mess were unable to bring their kids home. We hired EthioStork right away and were able to keep our case moving forward. EthioStork did our investigation, as well as our finder interview, and it was done professionally and promptly. I wholeheartedly believe that, because of EthioStork, we were able to complete our adoption and the embassy accepted all the information needed. I can't thank you enough!  EthioStork was a God send, and I'm so happy I hired EthioStork!!! "

Sherrie

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