HAITI RELIEF
WATCH VIDEOS ON HAITI RELIEF
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 3-year-old orphan from the quake-ravaged shores of Haiti got her first glimpse of her new family Monday.
It was a day that Katie Hansley told Abc6-Fox28 News’ Alexis Wiley she feared might never arrive. Hansley’s entire family stood by her as she welcomed 3-year-old Gracie at the Port Columbus International Airport.
Hansley says she spent the last two years working to adopt the young girl. But, with the final stages of the adoption underway, Mother Nature interrupted and could have halted this mother-to-be’s plans to provide Gracie with a home.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake left Haiti’s infrastructure in turmoil and ruins. Hansley called the last few weeks a literal nightmare, being told at one point that she didn’t have the correct paperwork and that Gracie could be taken to a refugee camp.
Now, with Gracie in her arms, Hansley says her family has quite a bit to look forward to.
“I just hope and pray she finally knows the love of a family and God is just blessing her ...he saved her life.
Although Hansley is not officially able to adopt Gracie yet, she does have temporary custody of the girl. The adoption process, Hansley says, could take years to complete.
It was a day that Katie Hansley told Abc6-Fox28 News’ Alexis Wiley she feared might never arrive. Hansley’s entire family stood by her as she welcomed 3-year-old Gracie at the Port Columbus International Airport.
Hansley says she spent the last two years working to adopt the young girl. But, with the final stages of the adoption underway, Mother Nature interrupted and could have halted this mother-to-be’s plans to provide Gracie with a home.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake left Haiti’s infrastructure in turmoil and ruins. Hansley called the last few weeks a literal nightmare, being told at one point that she didn’t have the correct paperwork and that Gracie could be taken to a refugee camp.
Now, with Gracie in her arms, Hansley says her family has quite a bit to look forward to.
“I just hope and pray she finally knows the love of a family and God is just blessing her ...he saved her life.
Although Hansley is not officially able to adopt Gracie yet, she does have temporary custody of the girl. The adoption process, Hansley says, could take years to complete.
Posted: Monday, January 25 2010, 06:55:03 PM