First, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Natalia Syracuse. I am living in Northern Virginia, in Fairfax County with my three children.
I am an advocate for adoption that I recently successfully finalized with Adoption Ark. I have a very warm feeling about all people from this agency who are so dedicated and caring in helping us with this an emotional and sensitive process.
My adoption story started in 2000. It took me almost 6 years finally to finish this adoption journey. During these years I had many ups and downs, disappointments, and few times I was ready to stop. Only my thoughts about the children sitting in the orphanages and dreaming to have mommies and daddies helped me get through all the papers, preparation, and bureaucracy from two countries.
I failed this process working with another agency. I had a problem with the documentation process through INS. Because of it, many people have been involved in my adoption process wanting to help me, but I didn't win the first round.
I was in the Russian and Bulgarian orphanages and memory of small arms stretching to me gave me a strong impulse to move this adoption process forward and to finish it.
Being involved in adoption chat I was lucky to meet people who worked with Adoption Ark. Remembering what I went through I was very hesitant and suspicious to start this emotional rollercoaster again, but my fate turned around. After talking with Linda my doubts were gone. I felt that I found a caring person who was willing to help me. I signed a contract, submitted documents and had a referral in two weeks. Everything looked like a dream. It was spring time and I was waking up with new expectations. My first trip to Russian was in August. I can not describe all my emotions that I had seeing my little girl for the first time. I was so happy, but everything was so not real for me. It was hard to believe that eventually this baby will be in my house.
The people from Adoption Ark on the Russian side were outstanding to go through all the Russian process with tons of papers. Everything was done very professionally with minimal amount of my input and in a timely manner, awhile showing their positive, optimistic, and encouraging attitude.
After returning home I decided to adopt two children. Actually I wanted to adopt all of them. Adoption Ark again was very cooperative and speedy. My last trip was in November when I brought both my kids home. It was hard to believe that this journey was over and it was so successful.
I worked with Natasha who was my case worker. She is very professional, responsive and detailed with papers. She always gave me outstanding explanations about documentations and real time frame. Also she always found time to talk with me that it's very important having many questions about adoption process, court procedure, children health issues and many different things that were in my head.
Even now, after adoption she is interested about my children asking to send her update with pictures. I see here not only her job obligation but real personal involvement.
I can not find enough warm words thanking Adoption Ark and its people who are working for the children and not only seeing monetary benefit. They have an opposite philosophy than the agency I used before. They are working hard trying to find homes for children and to meet all our expectations and hopes.