As
I Write Our Adoption Story...
Born August 4, 2000; Placed in our Loving Arms by the Grace of God February 6, 2001
As I write our adoption story emotions all surface again.We have only been home for four months and it all seems surreal. Our journey has
been so smooth (thanks to EAC) an unlike infertility treatments - this had the most
wonderful result at the end of our journey, our son Camden Burke. Thank you God!
My
sister's untimely death begins our story as I remember her so vividly as she coached me
through the infertility treatments and the loss of our unborn baby in 1996 after the GIFT
treatment. She kept reassuring me and she was such a woman of faith. She is
Camden's guardian angel and she was with us each step of the way. She would always
tell us, "I know there will be a baby - I don't know when but it is going to
happen." She was right and it did happen on February 6, 2001. We adopted
the most precious baby son , Camden Burke Dmitry Johnson from Yaroslavl, Russia. He
truly is a gift from God. You can see God's grace in his face.
After twelve years of marriage and seven of unsuccessful and
painful infertility treatments we decided to adopt. The decision came to us
peacefully and through faith. I do believe that God reserves special people to take
care of his children who are not born in the greatest conditions. We are all adopted
by God and first and foremost we belong to Him...we are all his children no matter what
walk of life we come from. He chose us for Camden. We are blessed beyond
words.
I am going to close this story with a letter my husband wrote to Camden the day we first saw
him. We will never forget it as long as we live. The blond-haired, blue-eyed
boy that grinned when they turned him to face us for the first time. This letter
moved me as I know it will each of you. It is from the hearts and it exuberates the
love we felt just a few hours after meeting our son. It is beautiful.
January 26, 2001
Dear Camden,
It is now Friday, January 26, 2001 and it is 3:30
am. Your mommy and I are somewhere in Yaroslavl and it is the morning after the
first time your mother and I saw our new bundle of joy and can't sleep. I have laid
in bed all night just thinking about all the plans the three of us will be making
together. Yesterday, Thursday January 25th began at 7 am in Moscow. Sergei,
our driver, picked us up along with another couple and we were off to Yaroslavl - scared
but very focused on the day's mission. It took about five hours to reach the
beautiful little town where you were located. When we arrived, our driver took us to
a building where we met Tonya, a very nice that would be the person who would take us to
see you. After meeting Tonya, she had the driver take us to a motel in Yaroslavl
while she and the other couple went to see their new baby girl. About 2 pm Tonya
came to our room to get us. We drove a little while and then stopped and picked up
our social worker, which had to be present when we met you for the first time. At
2:20 pm we arrived at the hospital where you were. We were led to a room where you
mother and I waited the final ten minutes before meeting you. When the door opened
and we saw you for the first time, your mother and I were in tears. It has been a
long and very tough road getting here but all was forgotten at that moment. Camden,
you will be from this day on - the love of our lives and the center of our attention.
I just cannot explain the joy that I feel right now. It is so strong and
exciting and I cannot wait to get you home/ I have been lying in bed the last three hours
just thinking about all the things we are going to do together. All the trips on
vacation, birthday parties, all the happy times. I enjoy fishing and hunting and I
look forward to spending time with you doing these things. Your mother and I want to
see you as happy as you can possibly be.
At 11 am Tonya is going to pick us up and take us
to sign papers and then take us back to Moscow. Tomorrow your mom and I will do some
site seeing and Sunday we leave and 1 pm to go home to Virginia. We will be waiting
for our call approximately two weeks to come back to Yaroslavl to get you and take you
home. We cannot wait. Camden, I cannot explain the love that we already feel
for you. We've only spent two hours with you and I am overwhelmed with love and
happiness so I cannot imagine the love you will receive from us over time. Little
Camden, I love you so much.
Love always and 4 ever, Papa.
For
those of you contemplating adoption or in the process thereof, trust your instincts, do
your homework and first and foremost...trust God. He will see you through this
journey and bring your baby home. Proof of our faith and the answer to our prayers
lies in his crib each night and I walk to his room a hundred times a night just to see the
living proof as I watch our son sleep peacefully.
Thank you, EAC - we love you! Blessings always,
Sara and Sidney |
