My name is Candace Hooper, and I live in the middle of Washington State. All my life I have assumed I would have children, but finally I had to face the fact that it simply wasn’t going to happen except through adoption. After researching many countries, in March 2005 I took the plunge. I did my home study with a local agency, but they did not have their own Kazakhstan program, so the social worker there recommended Adoption ARK. After a lot more research, I took his advice and called, and I’m sure glad I did! I talked with Linda on the phone, who is upbeat and enthusiastic, and once I signed my contract, I was assigned to Alla.
Alla is a woman of infinite patience. She was very positive and supportive the whole way through. I had my dossier to her by April 20, and then had to start the big wait. I survived disappointments and turmoil along the way as the region I was heading to temporarily closed. But Alla listened to me carefully describe the children I wanted to adopt, and she was able to get my dossier to a region where I would have a very good chance of finding such children.
When I got to Kazakhstan I met the two little boys, 1-1/2 and 3 years old. The orphanage was wonderful, there were many wonderful children who need homes, and the caregivers are loving and capable women. The experience of going and visiting the orphanage every day is life changing even without the adoption. But the adoption was successful beyond my wildest dreams. I sent the following letter the day of court—it helps to know that I am a prosecutor:
Court today was a great success! I am now the proud mother of Lonya Nicholas Hooper and Sergey Christopher Hooper!
Everything went very well. I thoroughly enjoyed court. It was fun to see prosecutors and judges in action in another country. And the doctor that testified was so complimentary that I was almost embarrassed. Everyone was so sweet. I have been so happy and excited that I am still up in the clouds. I had dinner at the hotel with the American friends I have made here (who are going to court tomorrow), and tomorrow we are all going to go
out to dinner and have invited the translator and the coordinator.
Thank you so much for everything you have done. Kazakhstan may be difficult for some because it is a long period before court. But there are wonderful children here.
Candace (who cannot stop smiling!)
Now that I am home, the transition has gone just amazingly well. The boys are bonding very well with me and each other. People just smile all the time to see us because they are so cute and so polite. At just 2 and almost 4, they speak/understand English nearly the same as their peers, and though they occasionally do some testing, they are truly well-behaved and very affectionate. I could not be happier, and I will gladly recommend Adoption ARK to anyone!
Candace Hopper,
Ellensburg, Washington