I have always wanted to start a blog. I was too busy, I wondered if anyone would read it, I worried that I wouldn’t have enough to say. I do have something to say, and if only one person read this and gets something out of it than that’s fine with me. Here it goes….. My husband and I began our adoption journey in 2006. It lead us to L. I believe that she was made for our family and we couldn’t be happier. A few years ago we started talking about adopting again. We were unsure of the country and nothing really felt right. We had a few situations that didn’t work out. We did a lot of talking. I did a lot of research. We decided to adopt where there was the greatest need. I knew there was a need in Ghana after studying abroad there in college. While researching Ghana and Africa I learned of a new adoption program being opened in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was as if the stars had aligned! Side story- lol Congo was connected to Rwanda and I had been intrigued with Rwanda for a very long time. My love of Africa started after reading Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey. That book got me researching Rwanda and the surrounding areas including DRC. I was horrified by what was happening. I followed news about Africa until college where I became wrapped up in studies and friends. My college career almost spanned a decade 
and my final year of school, I had a quarter life crisis, and called the college to see if they would send me to Rwanda. They declined my request but offered a program in Ghana and I jumped at the chance. End of tangent 
It just felt so right! I dove into researching Congo and came upon a startling discovery……DRC had been in a War…..not just any war but a war with atrocities that rivaled Hitler. A war that included routine raping of women and children. A war that claimed 45000 lives a MONTH! How could I not know! How was no one helping. In my research I came across a book written by Lisa Shannon called A Thousand Sisters. I finished the book in less than two days. I knew my child was in the DRC. We found an adoption agency and were matched with a baby girl! In her picture she was crying and very malnourished. I knew she was meant for our family and we completed the paperwork and contacted the bank. The wait had officially begun. We decided to name her Wren. Life felt complete. A few weeks after our paperwork was submitted we received a call saying that Wren had a sister. We were told that (we will call her M) was 2 years old but in her photo she looked much older (my guess would be around 4). We thought, talked, prayed and decided to except M’s referral. Everything was going according to plan until we got a call on October 27th. It was a call that I never thought that I would receive. Wren had died. There were 18 children in her orphanage and 12 had died from malaria. M was taken from the orphanage by family and they are unsure what will happen with her. We have grieved and cried and waited. Wren was suppose to be a beginning not an end. That is my hope with this blog. That I can share Wren’s story and that story will travel and move someone else into action. That Wren, my small frail, voiceless, baby who suffered for 13 months would not have died without meaning and without notice as so many children do. So this is the beginning. This is for Wren.
My sister, Maureen, adopted a wonderful little girl from the Congo and our family loves her very much. She tells me that you are now assisting her to bring another lil one into her family. Thank you for helping as you do. I just read your own story and looked through their photos and a lump was in my throat. Their adorable little faces have touched my heart. They are real. They are only children. They need people to care. So, thank you so much for your blog. I will pass it along, I hope that all of these beautiful children will find their very own new families!
Thank you so much for the kind words 🙂
We also lost our beautiful adopted daughter 5 1/2 years after we had brought her out of her orphanage in India. It turned out that she had the measles as an infant in the orphanage and because she was severely malnourished there. her body wasn’t able to fight off the measles virus. It mutated and turned into a fatal encephalitis called S.S.P.E. 5 1/2 years after we became a family. We lost her 5 months later. The children in many orphanages across the world are not cared for in the way people may think. Ou daughter’s orphanages had issues with its director being arrested and many irregularities with the funding and how the children ended up in the orphanage. We also began a non-profit to eduate about measles and S.S.P.E. Please look at http://www.emmyshope.org to see our Emmy’s story. I am so sorry for the loss you had during your adoption process. People without a background in adoption don’t understand the attachment we feel for our kids even before we meet them. They are OUR kids but they are still across the world. You are doing wonderful things to change the lives of others. I understand the strength it takes on a daily basis just to do what needs to be done. If I keep my mind and hands busy, things are better even though I am thinking of Emmy every second. We are now working on a future adoption of 2 children from DRC. A brother and a sister. I pray every day. I now know things can change in life at the blink of an eye.You are a very good person.
Amazing work!!!! I would live to all with you about what you do.
Sarah
I just came a cross your site. I am deeply touched by your life and so sorry for your loss of little Wren. We have just begun this journey and our hearts were led to the DRC. My eyes have been opened and my heart is with the children of the Congo. We know that we cannot save all the children, but hope that we can make a difference in one little girls life. Right now we are doing all we can to bring our girl home, but after she is home we want to continue helping the children in the DRC in anyway that we can.
It always touches me to know Wren has touched another life. Thank you for sharing. I hope your family is complete soon 🙂
Hi Sarah! My husband and I are interested in adopting from the Congo but don’t know where to begin. Are you still helping?
I signed on to work with an Agency called Africa Adoption Services. Independent adoption are no longer an option in the USA. Good luck to your family and sorry for my late reply 🙂