April 30, Brian’s birthday, dawned bright and clear. Brian rose early and came running downstairs to find his new sister. With tears in my eyes, I told him that she wasn’t here. Sensing my distress, he wrapped his arms around my neck and said, “Don’t worry, Mommy. My party isn’t until this afternoon.”

Feeling the need for some support, I telephoned my husband at work, but he was performing a surgery. “He should be out in about 15 minutes,” his nurse said. “I’ll have him call you.”

When the phone rang, I grabbed it and burst out, “Chuck, I need you to talk to Brian. He’s really expecting a baby sister today.”

After a short silence, a woman’s voice spoke. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Andersen. This isn’t your husband. This is Mrs. Hebel at the Buck Foundation. The orphans have arrived. We have one baby who was turned down by her scheduled parents because she is extremely ill and has a poor prognosis. Would you be interested in meeting her?”

Mrs. Hebel explained that the child had been born prematurely. Though six months old, she weighed only eight pounds. She was malnourished, faced possible blindness and deafness from infections, might never walk because she had been born with spina bifida, vomited frequently, and had ringworm and head lice. Mrs. Hebel said that she had skipped down the list to us because we had indicated we would consider a child with medical problems.

“We will take her,” I said with my heart pounding in my throat.

Mrs. Hebel suggested that perhaps we should wait to make our decision until after my husband had examined the child and seen her medical reports. “She is very tiny, very sick, and not very pretty right now,” she said.

Dear lady, I thought, you just don’t know what has been going on around here.

“Mrs. Hebel,” I said, “that child is our daughter. Her name is to be Anjali, and we will come up to Pennsylvania just as quickly as possible to get her.”

After I spoke to my husband and received his wholehearted approval, I rushed out to find Brian and tell him the news. He was playing on the swing and smiled when he saw me coming. Before I could say anything, he shouted, “You found out we’re getting my sister today, didn’t you! Mommy, I told you so!”

After several childhood surgeries on her back and ears, Anjali is today a healthy 21-year-old who is studying computers. When I reflect on the precious experience of adopting her and the great blessings she has brought into our lives, I feel grateful for the faith of my son. Both of my children have taught me much!

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