Soccer matches, toe painting, games of hide and seek. The Sullivans of Manchester are having fun with their new children adopted recently from Ethiopia, a long-time dream. “I was thinking at age 15, 16, ‘I want to take the kids home with me someday’,” says Kelly, a nurse and mom of two biological kids, remembering mission trips to South America that left a huge impression on her. But, their journey was filled with unexpected twists and turns. Kelly and her husband, Brian, started the adoption process after reading about these three siblings, living in an orphanage. But, unexpectedly, Brian lost his job and the Sullivans, devoted Christians, didn’t know how they’d pay for the adoption. They prayed for a miracle.
“It was very expensive,” says Kelly, noting that it cost $60,000 to adopt Sintayehu, Medhanit and Gifti, ages 10, 8 and 4. So, the Sullivans applied for a grant from Gift of Adoption, a national charitable organization that provides financial assistance for unforeseen expenses during domestic and international adoptions. They became the first family to receive funds, totaling $7,500, from the group’s new Connecticut chapter. “All the money that we raise in Connecticut, stays in Connecticut,” says the group’s local representative Patti Tarnowicz, eager to help more area parents connect with children in need. In the past decade, Gift of Adoption has awarded $4 million dollars in assistance grants to unite more than 1,300 kids with forever families.
Meeting their new kids in the African orphanage was an amazing experience for the Sullivans. “They just ran right up to us, gave us big hugs, gave us kisses, started calling us Mom and Dad,” says Brian. But, welcoming three children into the family was a big transition for teens, Gabe and Bethany. “To be honest, there were moments when they were not excited about all the change this was going to bring to their lives,” says Kelly. Now, though, they’ve discovered they enjoy spending time with their new brother and sisters, playing sports, decorating color books and showing them the ocean. They are also helping the children adapt to a new country and language, even homework. “It’s been one of the hardest times for our family but also one of the greatest times for our family,” says Brian.
The Sullivans look to the future with great excitement. Despite the long process, complicated paperwork, travel and expense, they wouldn’t change a thing and offer encouragement to other families interested in adoption. “Follow your heart. There are resources out there to help,” says Kelly. Brian, who now teaches at the kids’ school, agrees: “You just keep going, persevering, and it’s really worth it when it all comes together.”
For more information, visit http://www.giftofadoption.org and watch today’s Fox CT Morning News.
