Roman and Anastashia..
Word is out that my adoption agency is no longer accepting new clients. Irina, the Director is retiring and her Administrative Assistant is moving on to a new agency that works in Kazakhastan. Adoption Horizons has been facilitating adoptions since 1995 and has help make over 700 families.
I can only speak from personal experience and the experiences shared by my fellow adoptive parents. For us it would seem that the encounters would be the birthing equivilant of a contraction. The experience could be sharp and meant that the baby was on it’s way. She is very direct, very knowledgable, compentent and no nonsence and also the woman at the reins to thank for making us parents.
The couple of events that have been hosted by the Agency in the last year have given a glimpse of the scope of her legacy. Hundreds of children celebrating with their forever families and every one was touched by the woman and her agency that brought home our children.
Almost every week since I’ve been home I’ve talked to other woman that are in the adoption process. Some at the very start of their journey looking for advice on navigating the process and some needing some practical advice on travel and the experience once in Russia.
I think of all those children at Roman’s baby home still looking for a family to take them home. My heart hurts knowing that the agency will no longer be there to bring Canadian prospective parents to them. I hope there are other agencies that pick up where mine left off doing that sacred work.
The legacy also lives on through HOPE the charity that was founded and run by the agencies clients moved to “pay it forward“ and give back through programs to aid the orphanages where our children started their lives.
Irina, I thank you for your dedication, your passion and your tireless advocacy for the orphans of Russia. Your legacy lives on in the lives of the hundreds of children who are forever home.