Don and Lisa Jenkins of Topeka, Kansas arrived in Kiev, in the Ukraine on February 2, 2014. The couple planned to stay just a few days before heading home with their four newly adopted Ukrainian children. Instead, they found themselves trapped in Kiev, unsure when they would be able to escape and whether their adopted children would be able to come with them.
The road to the Jenkins’ ill-fated trip to the Ukraine begin months earlier, when their church pastor told them about an orphan named Angela who would soon age out of the Ukrainian orphanage where she had been living. Almost as soon as they saw a picture of Angela, the Jenkins’ knew she was meant to be their daughter. For the Jenkins, who already had two biological sons but no daughter, the prospect of adopting Angela brought much joy and anticipation.
Through the adoption process, Don and Lisa met Angela’s friend Natalie, and her two siblings Tatiana and Roman. All three were teenagers in the foster care system in Ukraine. The Kansas couple instantly connected to these three youths as well and, hearing the sad plight of many aged-out Ukrainian orphans, filed to adopt all four children.
Four days after the Jenkins arrival in Kiev, a Ukrainian judge finalized the adoptions. There was much excitement, and the family prepared to return to America with their four additions. All they needed now were the children’s passports, but as the days went on, the political situation in Kiev worsened. Don Jenkins was told by their Ukrainian facilitator that things were not looking good—the very people currently fleeing the country were likely the ones the Jenkins were waiting on to complete the children’s passports.
Despite the uncertainty of the entire situation, the Jenkins never once considered leaving the country without their adopted children. The family stayed in a rented apartment a few blocks from Independence Square. They could see the glow from fires burning nearby and had a scary brush with demonstrators gathering right outside their door.
After a month of living in limbo, the four children’s passports came through. In less than 24 hours, the Jenkins and their four adopted children were back home in Kansas. There, the family celebrated a belated Christmas, complete with a tree and presents, and solidified their already strong bond.
The Jenkins’ amazing story is unique in that most international adoptions do not involve becoming trapped in a foreign country. However, their tale does serve to highlight some of the potential issues involved in an international adoption. International adoptions rely heavily on the laws and rules of the foreign country. Some countries are notorious for amending their laws to restrict adoptions or make them more difficult. Russia imposed an outright ban on American adoptions in 2013. Several other countries, including Rwanda, Guatemala, and Ghana have suspended international adoptions.
Globally, there are estimated to be between 143 million and 210 million orphans. Teenage orphans like those adopted by the Jenkins are the least likely to be adopted, generally aging out of the system and into a world of poverty, drugs, and homelessness.
Kansas residents considering international adoption should consult with an adoption attorney as soon as possible. International adoptions can be complex, but your knowledgeable adoption attorney can guide you through the process and towards completion of your family.
At McDowell Chartered, we assist families in both domestic and international adoptions. Since 1992, our compassionate attorney team has provided quality legal services to families throughout Kansas, simplifying and expediting the adoption process. Call our qualified Kansas Adoption Attorneys today at (316) 633-4322 for an initial consultation.