Visit to Billa Vserka

Yesterday we were able to see Artem and meet with the social worker. It was a long day, 7:00 to 5:30. Things seem to go well, but we didn’t get as much paperwork done as Roma our translator wanted because of the upcoming holiday. Businesses close early and the director wasn’t in. The holiday is a national day for women. It is tradition to give flowers and it must be big business as the flower shops and stands were swamped. Everywhere people were carrying flowers and each place we went there were bouquets already received. We took flowers to the hoity toity social worker. She was dressed to kill, nothing like we would consider appropriate for work attire. We also took flowers to the orphanage, the women that work there seem very nice and caring. The facility seems to be run well.

We told the SW about the facility in our town and how the residents there are very much a part of the community. She said she had been to a conference in Kiev where a black woman spoke, she couldn’t remember her name, she told them how people with disabilities were supported in the US. The SW said Ukrainian government will not help them. She did also ask if we wanted the children to do experiments on them. Roma said people hear these stories and the average person has no idea of the process to adopt and believes it to be true. I don’t think the SW believed, but she did ask.

We brought a toy telephone for Artem and it was the perfect toy for him. It really held his attention, he figured out the buttons and held it to one ear and then the other listening. The caregiver for his groupa said he can dress himself with help, eats regular table food, understands what they say to him, and is cooperative. He really seems to be very curious and quick to learn. We can see how this will be good for Vlad and think they'll get along very well, they will keep us busy for sure.