Imara Update

Thank you to everyone who is trying to help.  We are still needing a hospital to donate the care for Imara.  We have one hospital seriously considering providing her care, but we need prayers that this hospital will decide to say yes to Imara! (and very quickly)

In case this hospital cannot do it, we are still looking for a hospital who will take Imara's case and provide the care for free or greatly discounted. 

Again, thank you to everyone trying to make a connection for Imara to get her the medical care she needs right away!

We have had a U.S. Senator who has been to Congo himself offer to help support efforts to get Imara the emergent care she needs.  If there are any other Members of Congress that may be willing to help support Imara, that would be wonderful as well.

Additionally, several people would like clarification on whether she is “being adopted” or is eligible to be adopted.  The short answer to this is “No, she is not eligible to be adopted yet”.  The more lengthier answer is that we cannot legally pursue an adoption for her at this time because the full investigation has not been finished in DRC.  We do have a family who is wanting to act as a host family with open hearts toward adoption eventually if she is deemed fully eligible by both governments.  This is a very tricky area when we are talking about medical visas, etc., because they cannot be used to circumvent a legal and full adoption process – medicals visas are temporary in nature and not intended toward adoption.  We have to be fully transparent with both governments and honor the laws of each.  Once she is determined to be eligible for adoption in DRC (which we expect is likely) we would then start the actual process and be fully transparent with both governments.  This is likely to take several months to be determined, so we cannot wait on that to bring her to the US (or try to) at least on a temporary basis to get the care she will need to survive long term.  During the investigative process in DRC it is possible that an extended family member (who was not involved in the torture) could be found and be determined as an appropriate placement for her once she is healed – so everything hinges on the investigation in DRC, which takes time.  It is also vitally important that any family considering an adoption of a traumatized child be fully informed about the child’s medical history and prognosis, as well as psychological impacts that can be permanent.  The right family is out there for Imara – perhaps in DRC or perhaps in the US, but our job right now is to work toward her survival both short and long term.  As we move forward with trying to bring her to the US it is with the understanding that it could be a temporary juncture in her life and may not lead to adoption.