So, I've heard yet another rumor about Oksana. One of my friends in New York, who is trying to adopt two girls from Oksana's orphanage was told, by her kids, that Oksana was adopted by a Ukrainian family and was leaving the orphanage.
Now, I've heard this rumor a dozen times before, and its never turned out to be true. But there is still that kernal of anxiety in my heart about it. The fact is, Ukraine is unpredictable and there is a slim change it is true.
But, there is more of a chance that it is not true. #1. You can't always believe a 10 year old's word about something like this - they could be fibbing, it could be a misunderstanding etc.
Also, the woman helping all of us with the kids registration for adoption confirmed that Oksana's parents rights were never terminated, and she was never registered for adoption. The only possibilities are: its foster home program, or her birth mother was found and has taken her.
Ukrainians don't adopt older kids. Almost never. I think its less than 1% of the time Ukrainians actually adopt domestically do they choose a kid over 2 years old, and most of those times its a biological relative (their niece or nephew etc).
We also confirmed at the SDA when we were there adopting Marina and Katya that Oksana was not registered. Ukrainians can't adopt the kids either if they aren't registered for adoption. That is what the 14 months is for - for domestic adoptions only. Once that 14 months is up, then the kid can be adopted internationally.
Also, the director, the regional inspector and the SDA are all aware of our efforts to adopt Oksana. I know they can't "stop" a ukrainian family from adopting the kids, but they do have a say, and usually once the ukrainian family knows that the kid is going to America, they back off. Same with the foster homes. Once the foster group finds out that the kid is going to America soon, they take them off the list.
So, I'm at a loss, and I am praying desperately that this just another misunderstanding and rumor. With so many people aware of our efforts, I don't see why someone would allow an adoption or foster home to go through for Oksana. Oksana is also aware and wrote us a letter just a few weeks ago, calling me Mama Melissa and telling me to hurry up her documents so she could come live with us. The kid has to agree to an adoption or foster home placement, so I don't thik Oksana would agree either, and she can be quite the handful when she doesn't want to do something!
So please, pray for our family and for Oksana that the situation will turn out the way it is supposed to. In my biased opinion that means Oksana being part of our family, as any placement in Ukraine will not give her the opprotunity to reach her full potential as living in America would.
