What Our Families Say...

Carol Birt and Paul Hofacker: “We adopted the most healthy, happy and beautiful twin daughters from the Siberia Region in Vartovsk, Russia that you could ever hope for. Larissa Popova, born in Russia herself, heads the International Adoption Agency in Jenison, Michigan. She and her staff are professional, compassionate and completely dedicated to uniting children with their adopting parents. She is honest in all respects, and her information is completely trustworthy. I don’t know where she finds the energy to make the experience of adopting and traveling to the host country so positive, but she does.”

Laura and Kevin Kowalik: “We had our first home study in February and we were home from Russia four months later with Kailey. It seems like she has always been a part of our lives. She was just waiting for us to bring her home. This could not have happened if it were not for countless people like the staff at AdoptionPros and the remarkable people who lead us through the process in Russia”.

Joseph and Sharon Larrence: “The paper work before our trip to Russia seemed endless, but once we were in Russia the staff walked us through every step. The interpreters and staff supplied to us were extremely efficient, knowledgeable and kind. AdoptionPros paved every step for us and made the process less frightening. The adoption of our four children went very smoothly. We fell in love with the people we met while in Russian. We would definitely do it again, and who knows, maybe we will again someday!!!”

Jeffrey R. Ely: “Returning from Russia with a child I adopted in Siberia was a rarity when it comes to Russian adoptions, as I am a single father. Certainly, when I reached the American Embassy on my last day in Russia, I was greeted by some surprised staff members. When I sought an agency to help me with this undertaking, I found only one willing to take up my case - AdoptionPros in Jenison, Michigan, headed by Larissa Popova. Adoption Pros is extremely well thought of in the area of Siberia where I traveled, knowledgeable about the process and responsive. While in Russia, the in-country AdoptionPros’ personnel saw to it that we were always well briefed, and made sure all of the adoption trip and personal details were handled, both in Siberia and then later in Moscow as we were preparing our exit. I researched many agencies - most a lot bigger and better known - before choosing AdoptionPros. Adoption Pros’ small size is deceiving. They have very broad shoulders.”

Brian and Heather Merritt: “Our first family photo with Hannah was taken on November 2, 1999 in a bright room, upstairs at the Vyksa Dom Reybenka (baby home). The adventure began in July, when AdoptionPros informed us of a new program they were initiating in the Nizhney Novgorod region of Russia. We would be the first family travelling there if we chose to accept it as a “referral.” Then our story gets even more interesting. Generally, when adopting from this region, after your first visit you return in about three weeks to complete the adoption and bring your child home. For us three weeks came and went with only vague descriptions of “delays” coming from Russia. Then on October 22 word came that Hannah had a younger sister that was available for adoption and the Russian government was asking us to adopt them both. We initiated the paperwork and on November 11, 1999 we officially became parents to two beautiful and healthy little girls”

Randy and Ann McCaule: “We made it home from the Urai Orphanage in Russia with our son. We were about six hours later than planned because our transmission went out on the van between Dallas and Shreveport, but all worked out well. After we rested, we attended a big reception that night for our son. He is--as the doctor said in Moscow-- a "wild thing.” But, he makes our heart sing. He is a strong willed and typical toddler, but also sweet and affectionate. We are most happy with our little son. I wanted you to know that the Adoption Pros staff took excellent care of us while in Russia! They made us feel secure. We appreciated them all very much.”

John and Cynthia Oliver: “They’re so little!” That was my first thought when our new twin daughters trudged happily into our hotel suite in Romania. “Everyone wants the babies, “but these two, (5 year old) they’re still babies. After a long wait of pictures, videos and letters, Daniela and Aubriela were finally here with their caseworker, Liliana and foster mother, Anna. It was hard to believe it was real. The adoption progressed quickly and Liliana, the caseworker in Romania worked so efficiently and quickly with Adoption Pros to help bring our daughters home”.

Jerry and Vicki Thress: “Our daughter from Romania is five years old, but developmentally she is around two and a half. She has her own language through gesturing, and is such a happy child. Alexandra was abandoned at birth. She had been in an orphanage her entire life. We know we have a long road ahead of us, but our daughter is so precious. She is more that we ever hoped and prayed for and we have AdoptionPros to thank for bringing our daughter to us!”

Steve and Jennifer Herritz (Russian adoption): “We are very happy to have worked with Adoption Pros. They have been wonderful, understanding and helpful. We would recommend Adoption Pros and speak with anyone on their behalf.”

Susan White (Russian adoption): “Emily and Andrew are doing great and adjusting well to each other. I can’t imagine life without them. I am truly grateful to AdoptionPros and everyone who assisted with both adoptions. I can’t say enough wonderful things about all people I have worked with both at Adoption Pros and abroad. They did such a great job of pulling everything together for the benefit of these adorable children!”

Jeff and Alysa Gilman (Russian adoption): “Today… Katie is fully adjusted to her new life, home and family. She sleeps well, eats well and plays well. She understands English and is learning to speak it. Words can't begin to describe the joy she brings us every day. Alysa, Adam and I are truly blessed to have found our Katie!”

Tony and Heather Baldwin-Lewis (UK family, Russian adoption): “Thank you for the latest newsletter. Everything is going fine, Anna is growing fast and is very lively and inquisitive as all toddlers should be. She gets on well with adults and particularly well with other children. She's understanding many English words now, but doesn't say many English words herself. Although she is very talkative in a language of her own invention (it's not Russian). She calls Heather "Mummy" and actually called me "Daddy" a few days ago, so she's making progress”.

Suzanne Schiappacasse: “Irina is progressing very nicely. She is very smart. She understands so much already and is bonding very well...I think she is more fond of her big sister than her mother! It’s O.K. with me! She still prefers crawling, but on Monday (August 12) she began walking quite some distance with no support! As I thought after my first visit with her, she is quite "determined" to do things and have her own way! I am so grateful to you for your help. My entire family and circle of friends just adore Irina. Patricia and I couldn't be happier. The hardest part for me is recovering from the costs. I wish it wasn't so much because I would do it again!”

Tom and Barb Rynbrandt: “Jason and Jeremy have been home 4 months now. They have adjusted well to all the changes that have happened in their lives. They have fit right in to our family and the extended family. They have been a real joy and blessing to all of us. They are in Kindergarten and enjoying every minute of it. We are so thankful to the Adoption Pros staff for everything they did to help us be a family!” (In 2006 Barb and Tom brought a little daughter from Kazakhstan… Now it’s a happy family of three children!)

Ryan and Nicole Start (Russian adoption): “Everything about the adoption process was handled better than our expectations. From the initial meeting, all the way to the final trip to pick up our son, the Adoption Pros staff was incredibly helpful, and always kept us informed of what was going on. It is impossible to completely express our thanks to everyone on the Adoption Pros staff!” (In August 2006, Nicole and Ryan brought the second child from China…)

Coleen and Jan Van Zyl, South Africa (Georgia adoption): “At the end of all this we want to say: Well done!! You have accomplished the impossible. Lika is the most beautiful little babygirl that any parent can wish for. The Lord our God prepared us for a 4- year waiting period and we had to wait so long because we asked for a special baby and received even more than we asked for. Thank you for your enormous part in making our dream came true.”

MaryBeth Al-Hussaini (Georgia adoption): “We were the family that adopted with Adoption Pros and came home with the twins. The program went very smoothly and we are very happy with our boys. There were no surprises and I would use them again if we were to adopt. The process from start to finish was five months”.

Angela Norman (Guatemalan adoption, 2005): “I never in a million years thought I would be happy that things did not work out for us in Georgia, but I am so grateful that we did not come home from Georgia with a child because if we had, we would not have adopted our daughter…”

Karen Arnold (China adoption, 2005): “It's been nearly a year since you called us to tell us that we had a daughter. It's amazing how much joy Katie has brought to our lives. She will be 18 months old on Thursday and she is so happy, smart, healthy and just a wonderful little girl. We'll never be able to thank you enough for the work you do to bring families together.”