Please consider donating to my campaign here. The deadline for my filing fee is May 27, 5 more days. I haven’t reached the cost to file yet- $1800. I just need $700 more. Check out my website to see my platform.
A subject dear to my heart...my husband and I adopted 2 infants, different birthmothers, from Almaty, Kazakhstan in March 2002. I was 44, and after attempting IVF treatments for several years, for me adoption was the next step. Please remember the state of world affairs in 2002: 7 months after 9/11, and the U.S. just went to war in Afghanistan, 200mi south of Almaty.
It was by far the most difficult, overwhelming journey I had ever accomplished, which has blossomed into decades of love and hope for their futures. They were 7mo, and are now 22yo. Yes, they are virtual twins, since their birthdays are 1 day apart.
Traveling to Moscow 1st, then to Almaty for 3wks and back to Moscow to get exit visas for the children, and then home to Chicago was certainly a whirlwind trip. I brought adoption journey books to detail the journey-but never had time to write it down. Our adoption agency based in IN, had coordinators who lived in country. Luckily we traveled with a physician couple, who were adopting 1 child from the same orphanage as our son’s. We shared our fears (they kept our passports for 5 days, facing the judge), and our joys of meeting our children for the 1st time.
We were required to visit every day, hold them, kiss them and dry their tears. Sadly, both were quite ill with ear infections, my son had a 104 degree temp, with diarrhea on a Sunday night in Moscow. Our coordinator in Moscow never gave us his contact info, as we strongly considered taking him to a hospital-in Moscow. While I was contacting the adoption agency stateside, I sent my husband out in the streets of Moscow to find Pedialyte, a lifesaving formula for children to combat dehydration.
He was gone for 5hrs! I thought he was in a Moscow prison somewhere...he indeed was stopped by the police, asked to present papers (we did have the passports back by then), and although I knew some Russian to converse, he did not. So he mimed what he needed-did the rocking baby in arms, then vomiting, then drinking. Mind you, he had waist length hair, tied neatly behind him. Eventually they let him go, and btw, Moscow doesn’t carry Pedialyte, for future reference. My son recovered but remained ill, screaming in pain, the entire flight home to Chicago. We were grateful to the MDs who had antibiotics with them on their journey and gave us some to treat our son.
There were so many other similar incidents in Russia and Kazakhstan. We were both generally fearful of being in these 2 countries, as the in-country coordinators were angry we were “stealing their babies”. And, when I had the 2 babies on the bed, alone, waiting for him to pay the hotel bill, in that moment, I thought-what have I done? Thankfully, it passed and I have never regretted our decision.
For those who are worried of the overseas adoption process back then...children remained in the orphanage for 6mo while attempts are made to find the birthparents before going on the adoption list to Americans. Many citizens did not adopt these children either, as they believe they are drug addicted or “defective” babies, discarded by their parents. And if they are not adopted, they are pushed out of the system at age 16, homeless, with a high percentage of addiction, prostitution and suicide. Russia and Kazakhstan stopped international adoptions in 2012, due to the U.S. signing the Magnitsky Act, which initially provided sanctions against those oligarchs responsible for torturing, murdering an attorney. Mr. Magnitsky represented an American businessman, Bill Browder, who escaped back to the U.S., exposing the theft and amassing of wealth by the Russian president and others.
Mostly, American couples wanted to adopt girls, therefore many boys were left behind. Given my son’s health history, born premature, unknown gestational age, just over 3#, and severely developmentally delayed (due to prematurity and isolation in the orphanage), he would most likely never had been adopted. As a nurse, I was not as worried, but he still had many potential health risks of cerebral palsy, deafness etc. They both received multiple therapies of physical, developmental and speech therapy back home, called Early Intervention Services, provided free for low income parents. They caught up with their peers by age 5. Luckily, both of us worked and had good health insurance to pay for these therapies. And they continue to be healthy and thriving, both in college. We are very proud of their accomplishments as young adults.
I did seek out their birthparents 1 year after their adoption. I knew then they would have many questions of why did this happen, why were they given away? Unfortunately, they were never found. But I have records to share with them-whenever they are ready to know. To help them process this, I told them both their “adoption bedtime story” every night, as I held them in my arms...”Once upon a time, Mommy and Daddy wanted to have babies just like you, but we couldn't. So we flew on a big, big plane to a far away place called Kazakhstan, and that’s when we met you...” They knew over time they were adopted, and they were loved.
I share this with you, because I know all of us have had our share of life events, those which are tragic and those which are joyous. It reminds me of the difficult situation of healthcare access here in Florida, and across the country, where the federal Medicaid pandemic program ended in April 2023, which prevented states from removing those on Medicaid, maintaining Medicaid dollars during the pandemic, keeping adults but mainly CHILDREN and pregnant women fed and receiving healthcare.
Additionally, and compounding the problem, Florida remains 1 of 10 GOP-controlled states, who never expanded Medicaid- the ability to receive $5.2 billion the first 2 yrs each yr, then $4.2 billion from then on. States would have to contribute state dollars as well. To provide healthcare coverage not only for children, and expanded for pregnant women, but also men and non-pregnant women without health insurance.
What kind of inhumane cruelty, without an ounce of empathy for others, are these Republican legislators and the GOVERNOR doing? Over 589k children nationwide were removed from Medicaid when the federal pandemic program ended in April 2023. kffhealthnews.org/…
In Florida, Medicaid covers mostly, only children and pregnant women. But the barriers to assist parents to re-apply for Medicaid is difficult with backlog and red tape. “Since 1 January, more than 22,500 children have been disenrolled from Florida KidCare, its version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip) that is jointly subsidized by states and the US government for families with earnings just above the threshold for Medicaid.” www.theguardian.com/…
Back in IL, where I am from, the passing of the Affordable HealthCare Act was a LIFESAVING act of not just kindness, but giving vital access to healthcare for the most affected groups, children and pregnant/non-pregnant women, as well as men without jobs or low-paying jobs with no health insurance.
Especially to the HIV infected men and pregnant/non-pregnant women I cared for in the Infectious Disease clinic at UIH. People were dying of HIV rapidly due to little research at that time, in the late 80’s-early 90’s, early diagnosis was limited, and not until they were close to dying, and also, the BLATANT ignorance of the nation dealing with an epidemic of an infectious disease, seen 1st in gay men, then needle sharing addicts. However, HIV did not discriminate. It rapidly spread to heterosexual men and women, and children born to infected mothers. In 2012, they were all able to receive Medicaid, and it saved many of the lives of people I cared for.
We HAVE to do better. As a state, a country, we must care for our citizens. I firmly believe healthcare is a HUMAN RIGHT, not just granted to you if you have a job. So you CAN see a doctor or nurse practioner, or get prenatal and postpartum care. So your children can receive healthcare and thrive. That’s why the Florida Medicaid Expansion petition initiative needs YOU to sign the petition to get it on the ballot in November 2024. One million signed petitions are needed for Florida voters to decide. You must be a registered Florida voter. Here’s more information.
I know this story was long. I’m sure you’re wondering how my adoption story is related to healthcare access? I know I was privileged to adopt 2 babies from Kazakhstan. To have adequate health insurance and be able to access it easily. As a nurse, I usually CAN cut through the red tape … And I am thankful for a supportive husband and family, and employer. Yet many children and others are not able to access health insurance. Isn’t everyone deserving of it? I think so. And will work fiercely to make it happen here in Florida.
Here are the “babies”, all grown up! And don’t forget to donate to my campaign here. The deadline for my filing fee is May 27, 5 more days. I haven’t reached the cost to file yet- $1800. I just need $700 more. Check out my website too.