Nanette (my wife) and I (Vern Garrett) are the parents of nine children and soon to be ten when our young Andrew arrives from Ukraine hopefully within this year of 2006.  Two of our nine children came to us from Ukraine.  Nanette had interestingly strong feelings about adopting a child many years ago, and it took a while before Vern felt those same feelings.  After a rather long wait by Nanette and some good personal experiences, I was excited and unified with her about the thoughts of adopting a child.  The process of adopting seemed challenging at times, but the end result was very much worth the work.  After about a year of getting our application done, we traveled to Ukraine and met our beautiful little daughter Emily Yana (8 years old).  Unbeknownst to us, Emily had a sister that was away from the school while we were there, and we departed from the school with our new little daughter one day previous to the return of her older sister Elizabeth Svetlana.  To say the least, Elizabeth was quite sorrowful upon the realization of her little sister’s departure.  Not only because she was gone, but because she knew she may never see her again.  We learned more of Elizabeth as Emily began to share with us in her beginning months in America.  Getting to know Elizabeth more through our little Emily, we began to have feelings that these sisters should not be apart. 

            I was in the process of helping a couple with their adoption as a friend.  Upon their departure to Ukraine, they offered to keep in touch with us during their adoption trip.  They advised us when in Ukraine, that ironically, they were traveling to the same boarding school as ours, and as such would be happy to interact with Emily’s sister and send us a picture when they arrived.  That said, the picture arrived via e mail and almost immediately we began our journey to bring Elizabeth(14) into our home also. 

            One of the most remarkable human experiences my wife and I have ever experienced was the reunion of these two girls at the international airport.  It was like a sister had come back to life for Elizabeth.  A moment that we as a family will never forget. 

            That moment along with others helped us to know, that we had engaged ourselves in something that we couldn’t turn our backs on.  We had been in the schools where these children without family and home are living.  Looking into their eyes, and seeing their desire for family is something we couldn’t put out of our minds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            From this very shortened version of our story, one can grasp the beginnings of the Save A Child Foundation.  We are now giving much or our lives in trying to assist and encourage families to reach out and help these many homeless children.   It is a commitment that is big, we know.  But, it is a commitment that will change your life and especially the lives of the children you adopt, in a way that is indescribable.  We are now looking forward to having Andrew join us as soon as possible. 

            We hope that by sharing this story, it will encourage you to create your own story.