Bankruptcy spurs flight to find child

Bankruptcy spurs flight to find child

July 18, 2009

MEREDITH MACLEOD

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR

(Jul 18, 2009)

Mike Carmody feels as if he was robbed of the beautiful moment of seeing his new son for the first time.

But he's one of the lucky ones.

The Dundas resident and his wife are among about half a dozen local families caught up in the bankruptcy of Kids Link International Adoption Agency based in Cambridge.

The company, which runs Imagine Adoption, went into receivership this week. Up to 400 Canadian families are listed as unsecured creditors for as much as $20,000 in Imagine's bankruptcy documents.

The receivership was prompted when volunteer directors of the agency noted questionable expenses for senior staff, including leases for luxury vehicles and bills for renovations done on a private home.

Carmody says his blood ran cold when he heard of the bankruptcy. The couple feared what it would mean to the adoption of their seven-month-old son Denver. The Carmodys have already adopted the baby through the Ethiopian courts but were awaiting the Canadian passport and visa documents to bring him home. He was being cared for in a transition home run by Imagine in Addis Ababa, with some 40 children matched to Canadian parents.

Karen immediately booked a flight, even though Canadian officials asked families to stay home.

"It was just that parenting instinct. He's our son," said Mike.

When Karen arrived, she demanded to be given Denver, though the family hasn't been through the final stage of a monitored visit with the child. She was allowed to take the baby and has now been given his visa and passport.

Mike credits MP David Sweet's office and Canada's Foreign Affairs for making it all happen quickly.

But he's emotional about what he's missed staying home to care for the couple's other three children.

"I was robbed of that moment as a dad of seeing him for the first time. It's a magical time."

The Carmodys have special memories of meeting their now three-year-old daughter Samara, whom they adopted from China.

Unlike domestic adoptions in Canada where prospective parents can search for a child themselves, overseas adoptions must be handled by a licensed agency. They charge fees for pre- and post-adoption services and the entire process can cost about $25,000 or more, depending on the country.

Tracy Crewson of Waterdown is anxiously awaiting passport and visa approval for her daughter Rebekkah, 18 months. She said she and husband Steve feel blessed that their adoption from Ethiopia has already been approved, after paying between $10,000 and $12,000 to Imagine.

One area couple is awaiting a court date while three others have yet to be linked to a child by Imagine, she said. "Three families are grieving and mourning. Our hearts go out to them."

Crewson says her family had a "wonderful experience with Imagine.... We never doubted their integrity or their capability."

International adoptions are fraught with uncertainty, says Kerry Vandergrift, executive director of Beginnings Counselling and Adoption Services of Ontario. The Hamilton non-profit does domestic adoptions only.

This is the first time she's ever heard of an adoption agency going bankrupt. Usually problems emerge on the international side, she said.

People go abroad because there are too few children domestically.

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