Two Families Forever Bonded
Contributed by: David HuntDecember 30, 2001, and the Heatons were back at DFW airport. This time they weren't leaving, but there to greet the Hunts home from their second trip. The flight from London to Dallas is nine hours, approximately the number of hours of sleep enjoyed by the couple since the train left for Moscow, five days before. The elevator door opened to the terminal where the Heatons and others were waiting, and the most memorable five minutes in the couples' lives began. Vladdy was tired and confused and knew nothing of his new world. His Mama and Papa spoke funny, and they hadn't stayed in one place for more than two nights since they met. Then, in a flutter, a voice screamed out "Vladdy!" It was a familiar voice. It was Trey. He was sprinting toward Vladdy in a mad rush. The boys lunged at each other and hugged for what must have seemed like a split second but in reality it was five full minutes. The relief and comfort of seeing each other left the boys giddy. Understanding just a little of what the boys were going through wrenched the hearts of everyone in the room and left no one tearless.
As promised, the couples met dutifully every month so the boys could play and grow together. At the reunion in June, the Hunts had some news. They were moving to Dallas. The boys could now be together as often as they wanted, and with both Kari and Ruth Ellen working from home, there was opportunity for many get-togethers.
One night, as David and Bill were taking care of the boys, sort of a girls-night out, Kari noticed Ruth Ellen's watch. It was adorned with charms. "How beautiful and creative," Kari exclaimed. The charms were attached to the watchband, like a charm bracelet. As the two discussed Ruth Ellen's charms one by one, it was noted that there really aren't any charms designed to reflect the joys of motherhood. The two set out secretly to find each other a mother's charm to give to the other as a gift. They each searched and found nothing related to adoptive mothers. Thus, the idea was born. They had decided that it would be a smart idea to design charms that helped mothers retake their journey through their motherhood, and to cater to adoptive mothers, which was a subject near and dear to their hearts.
The new business is flourishing. As a special "thanks" to the agency for bringing the families together, and for reuniting the boys a half of a world away, their company,
A Mother's Charm, has committed to donate 10% of all profits to the organization for as long as they are in business. As part of their commitment to all children in the world who have been placed for adoption,
A Mother's Charm has devised a series of seminars to help prospective parents to fulfill their dreams of adopting, just as the Hunts and Heatons did. The seminars will focus on important topics such as financing alternatives, understanding the medical and psychological reports of an adopted child, becoming familiar with the culture from which the child comes - whether domestic or international - and support for those parents already raising an adopted child.
It's doubtful that either of the couples could have envisioned the joy they have experienced with their sons, but because they have gone through it together, the journey is just that much more special. At the heart of everything is the friendship of two boys who loved each other enough that they would not be separated.
This story, although unique, is no more special or wonderful than the thousands of other adoption stories lived each year by families around the world. Kari and Ruth Ellen encourage other families to submit their inspiring stories to be shared in their monthly newsletter by emailing them to
newsletter@motherscharm.com.
~ David Hunt
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