PAPERCHASE

June 2005 After much prayer and discussion we feel God is leading us to adopt from China. We file our application with Holt International. We are excited and nervous to be taking the first step in a journey that will forever change our lives. July-September 2005 More paperwork than you can imagine. We could list it all, but it would put you to sleep. Let’s just say they don’t call it the paper chase for nothing. September 2005 We did not set out in the beginning of our adoption journey to adopt a waiting (special needs) child. Through the process of our adoption we came to know many other families who had adopted waiting children and we learned of how special these children were and how manageable their needs were. Some estimates are that up to 80% of the children in some orphanages are special needs children. We discuss entering into the waiting child program at Holt. We talked with the coordinator at great length. After much prayer and consideration we decided that because of Ann Marie’s nursing background and our home being close to a children’s hospital with an excellent heart program we told our agency that we would consider a child with a heart defect. With waiting children the process is different than in the non-special needs program. In the waiting child program families are selected by their agency to review files of children. These files contain pictures and medical information. The family can choose not to be matched with the child without penalty. October 2005 After waiting all month finally our last piece of documentation the 171 H form arrives. November 2005 On November 4, 2005 our dossier is sent to China! In late November twin girls with heart defects became available through our agency. We fell in love with their picture, but because they were close in age to Luke we were not able to pursue their adoption. We were heart broken. December 2005 In December after much prayer and discussion we decided that we would expand the list of special needs we would accept. This is the decision that would ultimately lead us to our daughter. Our agency informed us that their next list was due out in February or March. We knew in our hearts that our daughter would be on the next list. January 2006 At the end of January we learned from our agency that 36 waiting child files were being translated by their China staff. They were trying to get the translations completed before the Chinese New Year, but were not successful. We waited 3 more long weeks until we learned the files were in the US and were being evaluated by their “Waiting Child” program. We prayed during this time that God would guide the social workers to match us with the child who would be our daughter. February 2006 On February 16th at 1:30 pm we got the call that would change our lives forever. Her name is Ji Shi Xue. She was born on April 18, 2005. She is in Chengdu China. Her special need is glaucoma in one eye and an angioma on her face.

Angela and Nick's wedding The Ronsman family reunion at Camp Susan Our family at Halloween Christmas 2005 Happy Chinese New Year

We were a bit surprised by the special need, because so many of the waiting children have cleft lip and palate or heart defects that we had prepared ourselves for these special needs. After researching the medical information and reviewing her file…and falling in love…we decided to accept the referral of Ji Shi Xue. We know that with Ann Marie’s medical background, our access to an excellent Children’s hospital and our faith that God will guide us through Nora’s treatments. She will have surgery to her eye and likely laser treatments on her face. The extent of her medical needs will not truly be known until she is evaluated in the US.

This verse came on a bookmark in our introductory packet from Holt.
We have clung to this verse throughout our adoption journey . . .

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not yet seen.”
Hebrews 11:1


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