Progress?

We have finally made a small step towards completing Angie's adoption.  Next month, we are invited to go before a committee who will determine whether our family is the best adoptive placement for Angie.  We are being asked to "play up" (in the words of DHS) our roles in her medical treatments and in her life.  Really?

First, I appreciate that the state of Oregon has specific steps they must take before they can approve an adoptive placement. Many of the steps are in place because of the past mistakes the agency has made with horrible outcomes.  However, I do not think it should be necessary to "play up" our relationship or our importance to Angie's well-being.  We are her family.  Seven years have not proven our commitment to her?

So, I guess I need to plan how I will convince the committee that our family is committed.  Should I mention the major fight we initiated when the people in Salem wanted to place a DNR order for Angie, deeming that her life was no longer worth saving? Or the process of finding a doctor who would perform the surgery that eventually saved her life?  The battle with the insurance company to pay for the astronomical cost? What about the 2457 days that she has lived as a member of our family so far?  Most importantly, Angie wants to be adopted and understands the meaning of adoption.  We are the only family she has ever known.  Certainly that counts for something?

We will, of course, play the game.  What else can we do?  On January 13th, we will go before a committee of DHS employees from another county (to avoid bias towards us!) and we will plead our case.  The committee will have three days to make a decision. Until then, we will pray.  What else can we do?