After 2 years, Mosinee couple adopts second child from India
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After 2 years, Mosinee couple adopts second child from India
By Robert Mentzer • Wausau Daily Herald • January 6, 2009
MOSINEE -- Nearly two years after starting the process for an international adoption, and paying thousands of dollars in agency and country fees, Todd and Michele Borski are caring for their son, 11-month-old Dreyden.
"We've been blessed," Michele Borski said.
The Borskis' son, born in India, is one of 17,438 children adopted from other countries by U.S. citizens in 2008, and one of 308 children adopted from India, according to the U.S. State Department's Office of Children's Issues.
International adoption has been declining since a peak in 2004, when nearly 23,000 children were adopted from abroad, according to the department.
The Borskis had previously adopted a daughter, now 4, from the same Calcutta orphanage. But Todd Borski said they did not have an advantage from having gone through the process -- which includes financial and background checks, fingerprinting and "home study" by a social worker. They had to go through each step again, even fingerprinting.
Having two children of Indian origin, Todd Borski said he feels an obligation to teach them about their heritage as they grow up. That's a commitment that Dillon International, the organization that coordinated the adoptions, emphasizes to prospective parents.
"It's a responsibility they have to commit to," said Tami Davidson, the co-director of Dillon International's India adoption program. Davidson said when international adoption was just beginning, sometimes parents ignored the child's cultural heritage.
"When those kids got older, there was a sense of loss," she said.
Todd Borski described the scene in Calcutta as especially exotic, with a crush of vehicles, people and animals out in the streets.
"You worry a little bit about how (the adoption) is going to go once you get there," he said. "But we knew what we had to do."
When they finally returned home with Dreyden, arriving at Central Wisconsin Airport on Christmas Eve, Michele said she also was thinking of her daughter, Ahlyana.
"We were so anxious to see her," she said. She said Ahlyana burst into tears as soon as she saw them.
"She just came running," she said.
By Robert Mentzer • Wausau Daily Herald • January 6, 2009
MOSINEE -- Nearly two years after starting the process for an international adoption, and paying thousands of dollars in agency and country fees, Todd and Michele Borski are caring for their son, 11-month-old Dreyden.
"We've been blessed," Michele Borski said.
The Borskis' son, born in India, is one of 17,438 children adopted from other countries by U.S. citizens in 2008, and one of 308 children adopted from India, according to the U.S. State Department's Office of Children's Issues.
International adoption has been declining since a peak in 2004, when nearly 23,000 children were adopted from abroad, according to the department.
The Borskis had previously adopted a daughter, now 4, from the same Calcutta orphanage. But Todd Borski said they did not have an advantage from having gone through the process -- which includes financial and background checks, fingerprinting and "home study" by a social worker. They had to go through each step again, even fingerprinting.
Having two children of Indian origin, Todd Borski said he feels an obligation to teach them about their heritage as they grow up. That's a commitment that Dillon International, the organization that coordinated the adoptions, emphasizes to prospective parents.
"It's a responsibility they have to commit to," said Tami Davidson, the co-director of Dillon International's India adoption program. Davidson said when international adoption was just beginning, sometimes parents ignored the child's cultural heritage.
"When those kids got older, there was a sense of loss," she said.
Todd Borski described the scene in Calcutta as especially exotic, with a crush of vehicles, people and animals out in the streets.
"You worry a little bit about how (the adoption) is going to go once you get there," he said. "But we knew what we had to do."
When they finally returned home with Dreyden, arriving at Central Wisconsin Airport on Christmas Eve, Michele said she also was thinking of her daughter, Ahlyana.
"We were so anxious to see her," she said. She said Ahlyana burst into tears as soon as she saw them.
"She just came running," she said.
2009 Jan 6