Monday, June 26, 2006

Family Adopts 6 siblings from Russia

Last night, Dateline reported on the Salems--a Franconia Township, PA couple who decided to adopt fraternal twin babies from Russia. After learning that the children had 4 older siblings, twin boys and twin girls, still in Russia, they decided to find the children, go back, and adopt them as well.

The remaining siblings had been recently taken away from their biological parents and subsequently separated, the girls going to an orphanage and the boys going to a "boarding school" without running water. All four children were living in deplorable conditions in Russia.

The Salems traveled to Russia to meet the children and tell them that they were wanted, loved and would be adopted and taken to America. The courts approved the adoption after the most reticent of the children, Sergei, stood up and told the judge: "I wanna be with my brothers and sisters. I want this mommy and daddy."”

The entire transcript of the program is here.

Needless to say, the Salems are in a tight financial situation since the adoption. To help the Salem family, a fund has been set up.

Salem Twins New Hope Fund
c/o Commerce Bank
325 Main Street
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 888-751-9000
For Further Information e-mail: Salemtwins@verizon.net

There is also a fund to help orphanages in Russia:

Pskov Orphan Lifeline Fund
c/o Commerce Bank
325 Main Street
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 888-751-9000

Please consider donating to these worthy causes.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome story!

Staying in Balance said...

It is!!

Jennifer said...

I saw that episode. That couple is truly a blessing to those children and the world. I wish there was more caring people like them.

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