Our Journey to Bo- February 20, 2012
On October 25, 2010, I recieved an email from our social worker in Rock Hill who was currently working on our adoption for little girl from India. It contained a photo of a cute little 7 year old Chinese boy with no known health problems who needed a family. The message stated," I know you are not interested, but maybe you know someone who is." Now this email had many times been forwarded from an agency in Minnesota. Honestly, Randy and I both had always shied away from older kids, fearing major attachment issues and only being open to a child under the age of 2. But this little guy had caught our eye. Randy asked me to check on him; I was surprised but a bit excited. After carefully reviewing his information and watching a darling video of him with our children, we just didn't feel he was the right match for our family. We felt terrible saying "no" and could not understand why God had placed him in our path.
Eli, our 9 year old son, asked, "Well, don't they have other boys we could look at?" He had always wanted to adopt a brother close to his age. We were then sent a 2 minute video of Xi Bo Zhao. He was adorable and as Eli finished watching the video, he firmly stated, "That's my brother!" In looking at his health information, Xi Bo had been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Our insurance would not cover the costly injections, and we were a bit aprehensive but still trusting God. After careful review of his medical records from our trusted international adoption pediatrician and a very encouraging consult, Dr. Walker stated,"Xi Bo Zhao will make a wonderful addition to the Barfield family." She does not even believe he has a deficiency!
...And so our journey began. After all, he even has a "B" middle name like the rest of our children! We were told it would be a short process, and we should have our son home within 4 months. After 18 months of mounds of paperwork, frustration, and prayer, we are finally on our way to meet our son and bring him home! We are excited and aprehensive to pull him away from his foster family of 6 years. Thankfully, he has not been damaged by life in an orphanage but has been showered with love and a sense of family....but that is not something easy to leave. He has a wonderful life with a family who cares for him, as well as a foster sister who he has grown up. But due to the one child policy in China, this family can not adopt him. Orphans have no place in society, and at age 16 he would be put on the street to fend for himself. We are praying we will be able to meet his foster family while in China and that the transition into our family will be smooth. My heart does ache for him.... what are his thoughts? He must be so nervous and confused. He will get a better life, but how do you get an 8 year old to understand that concept?
Thank you for following our journey. Your fervent prayers are so valued and we look forward to seeing what the Lord does through this new addition to our family!
Blessings,
Stephanie Barfield
Eli, our 9 year old son, asked, "Well, don't they have other boys we could look at?" He had always wanted to adopt a brother close to his age. We were then sent a 2 minute video of Xi Bo Zhao. He was adorable and as Eli finished watching the video, he firmly stated, "That's my brother!" In looking at his health information, Xi Bo had been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Our insurance would not cover the costly injections, and we were a bit aprehensive but still trusting God. After careful review of his medical records from our trusted international adoption pediatrician and a very encouraging consult, Dr. Walker stated,"Xi Bo Zhao will make a wonderful addition to the Barfield family." She does not even believe he has a deficiency!
...And so our journey began. After all, he even has a "B" middle name like the rest of our children! We were told it would be a short process, and we should have our son home within 4 months. After 18 months of mounds of paperwork, frustration, and prayer, we are finally on our way to meet our son and bring him home! We are excited and aprehensive to pull him away from his foster family of 6 years. Thankfully, he has not been damaged by life in an orphanage but has been showered with love and a sense of family....but that is not something easy to leave. He has a wonderful life with a family who cares for him, as well as a foster sister who he has grown up. But due to the one child policy in China, this family can not adopt him. Orphans have no place in society, and at age 16 he would be put on the street to fend for himself. We are praying we will be able to meet his foster family while in China and that the transition into our family will be smooth. My heart does ache for him.... what are his thoughts? He must be so nervous and confused. He will get a better life, but how do you get an 8 year old to understand that concept?
Thank you for following our journey. Your fervent prayers are so valued and we look forward to seeing what the Lord does through this new addition to our family!
Blessings,
Stephanie Barfield