Friday ,September 28th was like any other Friday. It had been a long week and at 2:30pm I was anxious to have only two more hours before my weekend started. Out of the blue I hear my cell phone ringing in my locker and "Oh my goodness" it was our adoption agency calling!! It's a wonder I was able to hear anything that my family coordinator was saying over the rapid beating of my heart. She was calling to tell me that she had a referral for a little girl that matched our application requests. I couldn't wait to call Pat with the news!
I think the moment we looked at the beautiful precious face of Chen Shan Ni(her chinese name)we began falling in love. Over the next week it was evident God was guiding our path. We were required to have a medical review with a physician due to her being considered a "special needs" child. We are privileged to have a pediatrician here in Concord that is an international adoption specialist. He was very informative both on a medical standpoint and a parental standpoint by the fact that he has two adopted children of his own.
Chen Shan Ni was born with a congential heart defect so it was important to us to get as much information regarding this as we could. We were blessed by the fact that a pediatric cardiologist here in Charlotte was willing to look over her medical records and speak to us about them. If that wasn't enough Pat was put in contact with a pediatric cardiac interventionalist via a fellow colleague that he hadn't seen in months! This particular doctor was able to give us a very thorough picture of what type of care and procedures Chen Shan Ni would possibly need.This little girl has already been thru a surgery before the age of one and is going to require at least another surgery soon.
After a lot of prayer and conversation between Pat and I there really was no question in our hearts that this little 3 year old girl a world a way was meant to be our daughter! All we want to do is love her and help heal her precious heart so she can enjoy a long happy love-filled life.
We are truly amazed at how much love we can have for her already. So now we wait(estimated5-6 months)t for the time to go to China and bring her home. During this time we will have time to prepare
her room, complete the proper paperwork required and pray for her and our family.
This adoption journey has been such a walk faith for our family from the very beginning. I have know doubts that he will continue to walk this path with us all the way.
We appreciate your prayers and look forward to sharing updates and pics of our sweet girl soon:)
