Winnipeg woman embarks on Kazakhstan adoption odyssey

Last Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009 | 9:53 AM CT Comments28Recommend17

CBC News

Lindsay Drummond is taking a huge gamble but she hopes the payout will make her a mom.

"I'm incredibly nervous," the special education teacher said. "I've been waiting for this for so long and now that it's here, I'm incredibly nervous."

The Winnipeg woman, 28, has booked time off to go half-way around the world with a a lot of money sewn into her pants. She's hoping to adopt a baby girl from Kazakhstan, the formerly communist nation ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Drummond's biggest fear?

"That they're not going to let me have a child — that they're going to say no," she said.

It's a very real possibility. Friends of hers have tried adopting from the central Asian nation, but have come home childless — and thousands of dollars poorer.

Drummond's mom Diane Drummond is worried at the prospect, but remains supportive of her daughter.

"That's Lindsay. She's always been like that — she gets her mind set on something. I just wish she could've done it in Canada, rather than go around the world."

Despite her concern, Diane can't hide her excitement.

"I'm thrilled," she said. "This will be our first grandchild."

Drummond did try to adopt in Canada, but she is single and has been told adopted children mostly go to married couples. She could have a baby naturally but she doesn't want to wait for the right man to come along.

"I could wait, but for what? What am I waiting for?" she said. "The chance that I might get married? The chance that might lead to biological children? I just opted to stop waiting."

So she turned to an agency in Winnipeg, UAS Eastern European Adoptions, that specializes in adoptions of children from overseas.

Kazakhstan — which got worldwide exposure thanks to British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's goofy movie character, Borat — has an adoption process that is years shorter than other countries — and Kazakhstan accepts singles.

But just four days before her trip, there's cause for alarm.

Her adoption fees have skyrocketed to well over $31,000 from about $24,000 — and that doesn't include airfare and other travel expenses.

Drummond said the Winnipeg adoption agency told her there was nothing it could do because the Kazakh agency controls the process.

"The attitude was basically … 'You pay it or you don't go.' And I asked why was this fee added? And they said, 'To expedite the process and because you're only going to do it in one trip.'"

And she has to pay those fees in cash, U.S. currency. So Drummond has sewed extra pockets into her pants for it all.

There are more rules: The money cannot be bent; cannot have markings on it, and cannot have been used. The Kazakh agency has also asked for crisp new dollars, said Drummond, who is ready and willing to do it.

"I want my baby," she said.

With that, she took her chances and flew off alone in October 2008. Well, not entirely alone. She was equipped with a special CBC video camera and has recorded her journey, documenting a world of corruption, frustration and tough choices.

CBC.ca will publish those stories throughout the week.