“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.”
This ancient Chinese proverb is what keeps Katie Meyers and her family strong through their long process of adoption. Although the adoption has not been complete yet, they live with hope for the future.
For Meyers, English teacher, adoption was not always on her radar. Meyers and her husband, Bill, had fertility problems after their first child Maddie, a current fourth grader at North Glendale.
After doing research and with help of others who have adopted, Meyers came across Children’s Hope International, a St. Louis- based organization which helps with adoptions overseas. After reading Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans, Meyers and her family fell in love with the culture and committed to adopting from there. With 96 percent of Chinese adoptions being girls this added to the excitement of Maddie having a younger sister. Confident they would adopt a girl, they have picked out the name Wendy.
Eventually, the time came to put power to the plan. With all of the excitement, however, came a lot of work. In 2006 the Meyers had to fill out countless papers, write autobiographies, give health examinations, go through home studies and send photos. They even had to have family members and Maddie’s teachers write recommendations, and parenting reports. Although daunting at times, the family did everything necessary to complete the process.
Finally, Oct. 10, 2006, Meyers received a login account from the Chinese government, meaning her family was in the adoption system, and this was a way to keep track of the process. Whenever Meyers receives an email update, she goes to her chart and highlights the progress. Although the entire process has taken much longer than ever expected, Meyers still keeps a positive attitude.
“No matter what difficulties we have been through, it’s nothing like the parents who give up kids because of the one -child policy,” Meyers said. “There is a little girl waiting for us, and we don’t want to let ourselves down, but we don’t want to let her down, by giving up.”
Unrelated to the adoption process, Meyers went on an educational tour of China for three weeks. This deepened her love and fascination of the culture. She met local families who were aware of her situation, and were grateful and accommodating.
Meyers said her family is in the process for the long haul, and refer to this, at times, frustrating process, as their ‘labor pains.’ Once the adoption is complete, all previous struggles will be forgotten she said. Even though the Meyers keep spirits hopeful, there is a chance the adoption processes will take so long that it eliminates Meyers and her husband out of the age limit, ultimately preventing the adoption. This experience has not only taught Meyers and her husband, but her Maddie as well.
“She’s frustrated,” Meyers said. “It’s teaching her that life is not as always easy as you think.”
But when the call finally comes, they are ready, and all three of them will go to China for the six- to eight week finalization process.
“I will be the crazy lady screaming in the West building,” Meyers said of that hopeful day.
Although Meyers believes the baby they could potentially be adopting might not even be born yet, she and her family has one message: to just hang in there and that they are coming.
“I feel like the luckiest person in the world,” Meyers said. “I get to experience being a parent in both ways biologically and through adoption. No matter what, my child is my child.”
