They are home
That is all. Just, they’re home.
My thoughts are with the family and extended family. Nothing I can say will make anything better, just know that our family’s thoughts are with your family.
Comments
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Note from RQ: The section below is for comments from ChinaAdoptTalk.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with any particular comment just because I let it stand. Posts are generally only removed if they don't follow the rules of the site. Anyone who fails to comply with the rules of the site may lose his or her posting privilege. 36 Responses to “They are home”Leave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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November 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Here is the Sunday Lansing Newspaper Article with picture.
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071118/NEWS01/711180602
The comments will curl your hai!
I had KNOW IDEA that people felt so much hatred toward my Chinese baby. I hope Sandi does not read the comments it would crush her. I don’t know if it is work posting a comment to such bigots.
November 18th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Here is the Sunday article.
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071118/NEWS01/711180602
I can NOT believe the comments. How cruel and heartless!
Do people really feel this way about us or is this an isolated idiot?
November 18th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Welcome home!
November 18th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
First off.
WELCOME HOME!
I am sure they are feeling better being with their family and in the US!
NEXT
I need to post this to you guys because I don’t feel that the person on the news board deserves a comment!
I just am so MAD?IRRITATED? at the man who posted those awful comments. As a mother of Both a Chinese baby and a Haitian baby I have no ideas what race could possible do with this situation! People adopt for their own reasons but I would be willing to bet that race wasn’t one of them. Someone also needs to inform him that the term oriental is used for a rug not our children! I have no tolerance for bigots and he definitely fits the bill. Call it my Mother Hen issues!
Sorry guys I just needed to be able to type that!
Heidi
November 18th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for letting us know, RQ.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
If you read all the posts, you will see that only one person, the first person, posted the ridiculously hate filled, ignorant statement. Every other poster after that was supportive of IA and correctly stated a few few problems associated with adoption in this country.
hellofrompgh, I would venture to say that the people who feel that way about IA are probably more outspoken than those who are supportive, but I would bet that way more people feel positively about your Chinese baby than negatively. Don’t let one idiot cause you to look at people with suspicion. Then, he’s has won.
Kim
November 18th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I hope her family protects her from seeing ugly comments like this. To post something like this at all in *any* situation is mean and vicious enough; to do so in the current context, in which her husband has just died, is just plain EVIL. (Yes, I know that capitalized letters mean “shouting” in cyberland. I *am* shouting.) Whoever posted that lacks basic human decency. Absolutely disgusting.
I am just happy that she and the baby are home. This story really got to me.
Thank goodness that most people in the world are not like that evil poster. The solidarity showed by the IA community demonstrates that most people out there are decent human beings.
November 18th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
The Sheldon family’s story touched me and my husband very deeply. The comment about the Sheldons’ choice being racist had me shaking my head. I hope the Sheldon family never sees it. Some people are toxic and ignorant and the best thing we can do is ignore them. As my mother always said to me, “Consider the source.” Let’s see what this community can do to help the Sheldon family AND build understanding of the issues around adoption in this country.
I would also add that any waiting parents with a health problem should think seriously about traveling to China. (Please don’t take this to be critical of the Sheldons, who deserve nothing but sympathy.) Our daughter got an infection while we were still in China, and even the supposedly good “Western” medicine clinic made her situation worse, not better, by prescribing the wrong dosage of the antibiotic our U.S. pediatrician had recommended. When we returned home, our adoption agency said under-dosing is common in China. That would have been helpful to know beforehand, as we could have verified the dose with our U.S. pediatrician.
November 18th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Welcome home to Sandi and Hannah!
November 18th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Welcome home, Sandi and Hannah!
Lots of love from Holland!
November 18th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I’m so happy that Sandy and Hannah are home also. I was also very shocked at the comments. I am glad that there wre more positive than negative.
Unfortunately, I do think that there are people out there that don’t understand (and probably never will) the whole inerntational adoption thing. I get so many people that ask me, “why didn’t you try domestic?” You just have to either explain it or ignore it.
I would also suggest that some of that racisim was fueled because of the special with Paula Zahn recently. However, the source of negativity towards Chinese adoptions, Pauala Zahn is off the air so that should tell us something.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
The 1st poster in the article seems ignorant to the process of adoption & the heartache behind fertility & other problems that means adoption is our only way to become a family & share & build the love.
It was lovely to see Hannah looking to her mother in the picture. The attachment & bonding looks well underway. Here’s hoping they share many happy times over the decades. They have a mass of support which will help get them through.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I think it’s sad that anyone would think that a child from another country would have less value just because s/he is not from the US. When people ask me “Why China? Why not a child here?” I answer with, “Do you think that a child from China or Africa or any other country has less value than a child born in the US?” I do think it’s sad that there are babies in the US without families, but there are babies everywhere without families and ALL of them need homes.
I’m glad Hannah is home. And I hope that each time Sandy looks into her eyes, she’d reminded of the love she and her husband shared, a love that brought Hannah into her life.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I felt very sad for what happened to the Sheldon’s family and hope that having Hannah home will make Sandi stronger.
Also, felt very upset with the comments about her chinese adoption. I’m brazilian, live in Canada for almost 18 years and I’m adopting a chinese child (LID Oct 20/06). I’m so tired of people asking me why not a brazilian baby instead, and I’m so tired of explaining that although the high level of poverty, the percentage of kids for adoption is very low, and it could take several years to finalize the adoption. It would be nice if people would respect the choices we make in life and would take care of their own business instead of criticizing what our heart wants to do. Unfortunately, the world is full of unhappy people that want us to feel bad for our choices, and instead of criticizing, they should roll up their sleeves and start doing some thing good.
November 18th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
welcome Home Sandy and Hannah!!!!!!
I am just relieved and happy that you are back!
I wish you the best in the future!!!
=)
November 18th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
The offensive comment has apparently been deleted.
November 18th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Congrats and welcome home. Your new daughter is beautiful.
Kym Canada
November 18th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Welcome home Sandy and Hannah.
Sandy- my condolensceson the loss of your husband.(((HUGS)))
November 18th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
WELCOME HOME SANDI AND HANNAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shelley We are so happy that you are on U.S. soil with your family, loved ones, and YES, YOUR DEAR DAUGHTER!!!!!
November 18th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
debrook2-
Be careful in your assumptions also. Some of us haven’t dealt with issues regarding fertility, but have simply chosen to adopt because we wanted to. We all have our reasons for adopting and we all have our reasons for where we chose to adopt from.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
wanthernow- I was relating to the person responding to the article, not making assumptions. I haven’t a fertility issue either. Maybe I should have used the words ‘issues’ or ’situations’ instead of ‘problems’ ( it was 7am when I wrote the comment). Either way, we have all become informed & aware on our journeys. Something the person in discussion does not seem to be.The bottom line is that the person who made the post seems ill informed & unaware of what all of us go through in the process. They’re shooting off their mouths without knowing the real issues, situations, problems or realities.
Sandi & Hannah are lucky to have support & nurture from people in their immediate & larger RQ community.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
ooops…….. I wanted a comma after my name, as I had an afterthought………
Shelley & family, who are so happy that you are home :) safe and sound!! (that’s what I get for rushing around).
November 18th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
So great to see the photo and know they are safe and home. Every year for Christmas I try and give something to a different deserving charity. This year it will be to the “Hope for Hannah” fund.
As for the racism comments, they are wildly inappropriate in this context but they will surface in your lives as a transracial family. If someone says to me, “Why didn’t you adopt an A-A child? or an American child?” I usually reply, “I think that’s a great idea! Why don’t you do that?” It shifts the focus from my reproductive choice to theirs and ends the conversation. Works for me!
What I have treasured are the A-A families with adopted children who have sought me out and included me and my family because we have adopted. It is a bond and a strong one. They are great people and you will get to know them because you will be part of adoptive culture. It is one of the secret benefits of adopting that no one really talks much about — all of the wonderful, generous people you will meet whose lives have been touched by adoption.
For every stupid person who makes a thoughtless comment to you about adoption, you will also meet someone very smart or nice whom you may have never met because you have your children or adoption in common.
So, welcome Hannah, who is a beautiful baby and peace to her mother who will have a difficult year before her.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Debrook2-
PLEASE PLEASE forgive me. I guess I was so iritated at that nasty person’s comments towards Sandi and little Hannah, that I just wanted to say something mean. Shame on me! I should have known better. Anyone who has gone down the adoption trail knows we all have our own situations and reasons for adopting. I should never have let such an uneducated person get to me so much! Again, please forgive me.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
So happy they have touched down and now can be with extended family and friends.
Welcome home Sandi and Hannah. May you know that you are trully supported by the IA community.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
wantherow-All is forgiven. I imagine most of us are got under the collar from what 1 ill informed person wrote. How much they must be missing out on from life with such a closed mind!
The issue at hand is to give Sandi extra support to get through her new rollercoaster ride. Hopefully knowing that people all around the world have her & Hannah in their thoughts will help. While all we at RQ can give are words, those closer will give her their ears, hearts & shoulders. In the long term hopefully those of us in RQland can give her strength to get through this time & enjoy & grow with her gorgeous, precious little girl.
November 18th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
debrook2-
Well said! I can’t imagine the mix of emotions Sandi must be going through.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:47 am
The nasty comment is still there. There is another one there now. I too am thrilled that Sandi is home whith her baby. I think it is unbelievable that people can be so cruel in the face of such tragedy. I’m just wondering if we shouldn’t remove the link to the story so we don’t give these idiots the attention they want. I’m also concerned about it getting back to Sandi or her family.
November 19th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Welcome home Sandi.
I’m SO sorry for your loss and I’ll be thinking of you.
Ray xxx.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:10 am
NovLID-
Great idea - I would be horified to think Sandi could see such an ignorant persons comments.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Yeah, I agree. I didn’t even click on it. Those things do nothing except aggrivate me.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:57 am
The newspaper should remove all comments and lock that thread. Talk about making a difficult situation worse! This does nothing but cause more pain.
So glad Sandi and Hannah are home! That precious little girl is a beauty!
November 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I disagree, leave the comment up. If you put ignorance under a basket ot hide it, it will always be there. Show the brightest light onto it, at it will be stamped out. I think everyone should log onto the Lansing paper site, and register as a user, I already have as chinadad. (It take 2 minutes) Respond to the moron.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Is it me or is any one else getting tired of explaining the whole domestic adoption issue. I had a doctor’s appoint on Friday and one of the medical assistants (an older african american man) saw on my file that we are adopting from China and asked why we didn’t adopt from the US. Not only was I shocked by the boldness of the question; but the underlying hint that I wouldn’t accept an african american child to adopt.
Not only did I explian the whole “the majority of children languishing in foster care are not legally free to be adopted” issue but also the fact that my husband are actually looking at an intermin adoption from Ethiopia. Although it annoys me that this question repeatedly is asked, but I also feel that the media has done a poor job of representing what domestic adoption in the US really entails.
I also got the distinct impression that the african american community as a whole is highly suspicious of international adoption (check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3JVmOPhlU) for further evidence of this.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I am so PROUD to be a member of the IA adoption community, and I am also PROUD to be a Mother and a member of the adoption community….no international or domestic attached to the phrase.
We could not have imagined what our DD would bring to our lives. It does not matter where she came from, it matters that we are a family!
DD Guangxi Girl - Home December ‘06
—preparing to celebrate our first Adoption Day!!!!
November 19th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I agree with “onourway” (china dad).
I registered (took only a minute) and posted a response. It’s under “Adoption Rocks!”
For every negative idiot out there, there are dozens of loving, kind people. Just remember that.
Erica