My wife Karen and I married later in life. We discussed and decided that we both would like to have a family. We choose to adopt.  I talked with a couple of co-workers who had adopted children and both of them directed me to EAC.  We initiated the process in January of 2006, looking to adopt a little girl from nine months to eighteen months of age.  Our journey began with a LID (log in date) of September 11, 2006 and the hope that we would travel with in a year to China. A year later the wait for referral was longer.  My wife and I decided to stay the course and give it another year.  Another year passed and we were still waiting.  Our original travel group had dwindled to just four of ten couples.  We decided to continue to wait.  In February of 2009, we spoke with Karla about special needs.  We decided that we would proceed with special needs.  Our social worker completed the home study addendum approving us for a special needs child.

A few weeks later, Karla called us on a Thursday evening to tell us that we could expect a call at any time if there was a referral that matched the conditions we were approved for.  My wife and I were both excited and didn’t get much sleep that night.  The next morning we realized that we may have to wait a little longer.  Later that same day, I received a call on my cell while I was in a meeting.  I listed to the message from Kim, telling me that she believed she had the perfect referral for us and asked that I call back ASAP.  I called right away and she gave me the details about our little girl.  I called Karen and she was ecstatic.  I instructed Kim to forward the referral to the international adoption doctor.  At this time, Karen and I had not yet seen pictures of our daughter.  I spoke the doctor and she told me that everything looked good and that she was adorable.  I called Karen and we decided to accept the referral.  I then called Kim to notify her of our decision.  She e-mailed us the entire referral information regarding Mao Ai Jing along with our little girl’s photos. It was at this moment that Heather Viola Jing Killackey became part of our lives.

Now, Heather has been home with us since September 10, 2009 and is the center of our world.  Just a couple of Sundays back, the words that every parent longs to hear sprang from her lips, “I love you Papa” and “I love you Mommy.”

Our thanks to Karla who guided us gently down the special needs path and to Kim who was persistent in trying to get a hold of me on that fateful Friday.  Also our thanks to Mr. Zhou, who all EAC China families quickly come to know as Uncle Zhou.  He makes it his mission to ensure all families get what they need while in China.

Thanks and God Bless to all at EAC,

Tom and Karen Killackey