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By RENITA FENNICK renitaf@leader.net
Tuesday, March 04, 2003 Page: 9A
Ear tube surgery is one of the most common childhood operations in the United
States. It takes just a few minutes, often is performed on an outpatient basis
and usually does the trick: eliminates chronic ear infection and restores
hearing temporarily lost due to fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Sounds simple enough – but if a Dallas couple hadn’t fallen in love with
two Russian orphans a few years ago, 5-year-old Alyosha may have been destined
to a life of deafness.
Alyosha is the fourth Russian orphan to be adopted by Bill and Gina
Ackerman. When the child arrived in the United States, he was suffering from
hearing loss due to the numerous ear infections he endured in the Russian
orphanage. He was also born with a cleft palate, a defect in the roof of the
mouth.
Alyosha underwent surgery to repair the cleft palate and insert the ear
tubes at Hershey Medical Center two weeks ago, said Bill Jones, vice president
and chief operating officer of Volunteers of America-Pennsylvania.
“The doctor said the boy must have had such a high tolerance for pain and
would’ve had an earache his entire life,” Jones said. “Within five years,
there was a high likelihood he would have been deaf if it wasn’t addressed.”
Instead, the child, the youngest of four siblings adopted by the Ackermans,
is adapting well to his new home.
And that is what Jones calls a miracle.
“If that boy was still in Russia, he would graduate from the orphanage
system at age 16, probably might be deaf with a hole in the roof of his
mouth,” Jones said. “He would’ve been cast aside as a defective child. And,
these are operations that are done almost routinely in America.
“Here he is in America, with siblings and family who love him, a faith
community that supports and encourages him. His life is forever changed.”
Volunteers of America is looking for more miracles like that one and is
venturing into a partnership with Kidsave International, a Washington,
D.C.-based non-profit child-welfare organization.
It’s a pilot program and involves a six-week summer program in which
Russian orphans ages 5-13 travel to the United States to stay with host
families.
It’s not an adoption program, though in 95 percent of the cases, the
children are adopted by the American families that opened their homes to them,
said Jones. Families that decide to take the next step – and make the bond a
permanent one – work with international adoption agencies that are independent
of Kidsave.
The Ackermans started off by hosting two Russian sisters a few years ago
and eventually adopted them, a younger brother and Alyosha.
The Pennsylvania chapter, based in Wilkes-Barre, hopes to bring 10 children
to the region. The cost for the summer visit is $5,000 per child which covers
transportation, paperwork and the expenses related to bringing an adult
chaperone/translator with the children.
“We had 24 inquiries already so we believe we’ll be able to meet the need
for host families,” Jones said. “Our challenge is the fund raising.”
Kidsave International is committed to contributing $2,000 for every child;
the remainder of the tab is picked up by the host family.
“For some, that’s no problem,” Jones said. “Others will struggle and that’s
why we’re trying to raise some money.”
A look at the stark statistics facing the approximately 15,000 orphans who
come of age in Russia each year makes Jones passionate about the program. In
1997: one-third eventually lived on the streets; one-fifth ended up committing
crimes; and 10 percent didn’t reach their 17th birthday because they committed
suicide.
“Compared to these statistics and looking at the track record for adoption,
life will be much better for them because of this program,” Jones said.
“That’s why we call it summer miracles. And, there are more miracles waiting
to happen.”
Previously, host programs for Russian children were organized by
individuals or churches. Volunteers of America is getting involved, Jones
said, because the program is a worthy one.
In turn, he believes, Volunteers of America brings credibility to the
process.
“We’re able to develop some partnerships that … a good group of
volunteers maybe couldn’t do on their own.”
The local organization is working with the social services department at
College Misericordia, Dallas, and some churches, including Huntsville
Christian Church, where the Ackermans are members.
Jones is proud his organization is getting involved in the program. Proof
of its worthiness is found in an 11-minute videotape he keeps in his office.
“It shows the kids getting off the plane and they’re huddled and scared.
Over the course of the next six weeks, we see them laughing, playing, running,
swimming. By the end, you can’t tear the children away from the host family,
they hug each other so tightly.
“It’s probably the most compelling thing I’ve ever been part of.”
HOW TO HELP
Volunteers of America-Pennsylvania is accepting donations to help defray
costs of its Summer Miracles program that brings Russian orphans to the United
States for a six-week visit.
Send donations to:
Volunteers of America-Pennsylvania
130 E. Division St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706
Anyone interested in learning more about the program or applying to be a
host family may call 825-5261.