Faith: Parents seek to adopt from Macedonia
Faith: Parents seek to adopt from Macedonia
Marketta Gregory12:50 a.m. EST January 22, 2016
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(Photo: Provided)
When Hannah Butler was a girl, she dreamed of starting an orphanage.
Now she and her family have approval to adopt a child from Macedonia and are waiting for the phone call that tells them to book their tickets and bring their child home.
“I’ve always wanted to take care of people who need me, the people who are often overlooked,” said Butler, who along with her husband Joe, has three children ages 8, 6 and 5.
The Butlers, who live in Ontario, Wayne County, first tried to adopt domestically but made no progress. When they began to consider an international adoption, doors opened.
A report from the U.S. Department of State shows 6,441 incoming international adoptions in 2014 — including 293 in the state of New York. Only three other states had more adoptions that year: Texas, 440; California, 402; and Florida, 298.
Typically, families don’t know which child they will be matched with but, since the Butlers are prepared specifically for a child with Down syndrome and medical needs, they are fairly certain they know the child who will soon sleep in the crib in their home.
“Adoption is just so about giving children the opportunity for a life, the opportunity for family,” said Butler, edging closer to her dream every day. “This has been a special journey for me.”
Hannah, a stay-at-home mom, and Joe, a teacher, started doing odd jobs to pay for home studies and translators and other fees. They’ve sold T-shirts and cookies, cleaned houses and offered babysitting.
Hannah’s mom, who adopted a child from South Africa last year, even sells eggs from her chickens and gives the Butlers money for adoption expenses. Now, they are down to raising $6,000 to $7,000 more, mainly for the expense of traveling and staying in Macedonia for three months.
"We’ll bring our children with us because three months is too long to leave them,” said Butler, who is homeschooling her children so they won’t fall behind during the trip.
They hope a family carnival fundraiser on Saturday at Pieters Family Life Center will help.
It’s that kind of dedication and willingness to work hard for their family that makes the Butlers the right family for their child, said Rachel Palmesano, who has been lifelong friends with Butler.
“When I learned that Hannah could not have any more biological children, my heart broke for her,” Palmesano said. “If you ever saw her and Joe with their kids, you would know that they were meant to be parents. They are the type of parents you strive to be like.”
If you go
What: Nintendo-themed Family Carnival that will raise funds to adopt a child from Macedonia.
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30.
Where: Pieters Family Life Center, 1025 Commons Way in Henrietta.
Activities: Reptile show, bounce house, balloon animals, face painting and temporary tattoos, auctions and raffles, live music, crafts and a play area for kids.
Snacks: Healthy options, as well as cotton candy, cookies and gourmet cupcakes.
Cost: Nominal fee for food, otherwise donations accepted. “I have three kids and it’s nice to go enjoy an activity and not break the bank,” said Hannah Butler, whose family hopes to adopt another child. “Besides when you leave it open for donations, even if people can’t give a lot it still all adds up.”
To learn more: Visit the Butler family’s blog at thentherewas6.blogspot.com.
To donate: To make a tax-deductible donation, go toreecesrainbow.org/80399/sponsorbutler-2.
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