Posts
Traveling Blind
It was lovely to speak with you on the phone today regarding traveling "Blind" to Russia.
As you know, we spoke about these risks regarding traveling blind:
1. Financial; if you don't locate a child, you will be responsible for all costs related to an additional trip to Russia.
2. Emotional; it is difficult to view various children then possibly "Turn them down." The process, as we spoke about, requires a visit to an orphanage to see one child, a decision, then a trip to the local Ministry of Education to officially accept or turn down that specific child before you see another.
3. You may come home with only one child, or no children, based on availability and your choices.
4. Availability and choices of children are in no way guaranteed.
As we spoke about today, you will find the release form you will need to sign before travel attached. Please review this as you make your decision. Also, I will ask you to sign this and speak with Eastern European Director, Debbie Taylor, before travel plans can commence.
We are here for you. If this fits your families needs at this time, we will support you as you travel. If you decide to remain in the "Hurry up and wait" period of the adoption journey and wait for pictures and medicals, we will support you in this decision as well.
3 comments:
Leslie
Sent : Thursday, July 21, 2005 9:49 AM
You are asking good questions. Keep em' coming. Hope these answers help:
1. Will the medicals we receive in Volgograd be translated into
English?-you will be taking notes as the doctor shares the information
with you and convey the information to your specialist at home.
2. Who will interpret the medicals? A doctor there? Yes, the orphanage
doctor.
Would we correspond back and forth with our international MD here? Yes,
you would correspond.
Do you have a recommendation of a doctor here or in Russia that would be
able to look at the medicals while we are in Russia? We had planned to
use an international doctor here but I am unsure if that is something he
would do.
Please see the doctor's recommended by previous families below:
List of Doctors
The agency that you consult with either one of the physicians below, or an international medical specialist of
your choosing, who specializes in reviewing medical information of
children that are being offered for international adoption. Many of the
physicians below have traveled abroad and have their own international
adoption clinics. For a fee of usually $200-$400, they will be on call
while you are in Ukraine reviewing information on prospective children.
Please call to find out what services they offer for Ukraine adoptions,
as this can change frequently.
Dr. Patrick Mason
Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children
International Adoption Center
8505 Arlington Blvd., Suite 100
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Tel: 703-970-2651 Fax: 703-970-2620
Dr. David Douglass, M.D.
For the Children International Adoption Medical Services Cabarrus
Pediatric Clinic
66 Lake Concord Rd.
Concord, NC 28025
(P): 704-786-1144
(F): 704-788-1916
Dr. Laurie Miller
New England Medical Center
International Adoption Clinic
The Floating Hospital
750 Washington Street, Box 286
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Tel: 617-636-8121
Dr. Jane Ellen Aronson
International Pediatric Health Services (IHP)
151 East 62nd Street, Suite 1A
New York, New York 10021
Tel: 212-207-6666 Fax: 212-207-6665
Also, the following website has information on some of these doctors and
many others that are commonly used. The list is not all inclusive.
From : Craig & Amy H.
Sent : Wednesday, July 20, 2005 10:07 PM
Beth -
We travelled blind to <> and liked the experience very
much. Our guide made sure we saw children that exactly met our
criteria. The way it worked for us was that when we arrived we
visited the MOE and were given the name and birthdate of a child.
We then went to the orphanage to visit that child. We met with the
doctor and heard medical information then had a visit with the
child. One of the reasons we liked the experience was that our
doctor had serious concerns about the first child we saw relating to
FAS. We were able to tell them we decided to turn her down, and
immediately we were given another referral - this child we chose to
adopt. The experience really isn't much different from the way it
works for most people - except you receive your information once you
are over there, and if you choose to turn down a referral you
immediately can see another child. This is how it worked for us,
you would have to check with the agency to make sure it's the same in your region. It's not like they put you in a room with a bunch of
children and ask you to pick. You basically do receive a referral
but it's once you arrive at the MOE. Not having done it the other
way, I can't really say what the con's would be. Not to mention it
sounds like you would get to go right away, and that's not bad
either! The only recommendation I would have if you choose to do
this, is to make sure your guide knows when you arrive exactly what
you are looking for (ie: girl under 12 months or whatever you are
choosing). This way they won't try to give you a child that isn't
what you are looking for. We wanted two children under the age of 3
and we have already adopted a 2 year old boy and are leaving next
week for a 1 year old girl. Hopefully that helps, if you have any
other questions feel free to email me.
Amy H.
1. How much actual cash will we need to take with us on the first trip
to Russia? Should we be requesting "fresh" bills now?
$3k for foreign fee and general souvenir cash plus perdeim for food
Your hotel in moscow is covered for 2 days In country travel is covered
Housing in Volgograd is covered
2. You will receive your travel packet (tomorrow or Monday) which will
help you prepare. Trip one is simple as far as what to pack and what you
need to prepare.
Post a Comment