In 2007, as their graduation gift, we flew Jeanette and Irene to Russia to find their birthfamilies. For several months they had been wondering about their past, so we felt it was time to give them this opportunity. How amazing it was for both of them to experience thier first families together. After all, as toddlers, they knew each other from the same neighborhood. They shared a room for many years in the same orphanage, then were adopted into our family to become sisters. To go back together only bonded them even more. They stayed with Olga Spachil, who has been their angel since they were little. Olga helped them in the orphanage, and then facilitated their adoptions. She is my hero.
Irene went to her neighborhood and found her old house to be almost completely crumbled. Unfortunately, there was no one left alive in her family. All had died due to alcohol...her mother, her aunt, and her grandparents. There was only one woman left...her grandfather's sister who lived across the field. Irene remembers her as one who gave her and Dennis shelter when her mother would drink. "Grandma" was what she called her. The old woman knew Irene right away. She was well into her 80's and lived in the same shack she had always lived in for years...no electricity, no water, no heat. Her windows were boarded up because of theives breaking in to steal her meager monthly allowance. She took Irene to the cemetery where her mother was buried. It was very difficult, but Irene finally had the chance to talk with her mother at the grave and say the things she needed to say. Irene purchased some food and supplies for her great aunt and gave her the gifts that were intended for her mom. It was very sad for my girl, but she finally recieved the knowledge that she had been looking for about her mom. It's amazing that over the last couple of years, Irene has had nightmares about her mom being dead...and she actually died in December of 2005 at the age of 37.
Jeanette went to her old house at the address that she had obtained from the orphanage from a letter from a brother that she never knew. Upon arriving, she knocked at the door, only to find no one home. She went next door, and to her surprise, met her mother's sister. The woman remembered her and told her that her brother did not live in the house....her FATHER lived there...but he was very sick with tuberculosis for the last two months in the hospital. Her aunt accompanied her to the hospital, and she surprise- visited her father. After 16 years, he knew her right away, and said "My daughter" and hugged her immediately. They visited outside on a bench for two hours. He was very weak, but kind and honest with her. He told her "I've been a fool. I never took you out of the orphanage or visited you. I've been a terrible father, and I'm sorry." She said "Dad, it's okay, I was adopted, and I have a great life in America now. I am really okay." He told her that he would not be alive very much longer, and she can have his house when he dies. She told him that she didn't need it. She asked about her brother, he told her that she had three...with three different fathers. They spoke of personal family situations and of the loss of her mother. She shared that she had left a photo album of her and her new family with the aunt. Then, the nurse told them that they had to say goodbye. He told her he loved her. She told him she loved him...and to please write. She drove back to Krasnodar (three hours away) and he checked himself out of the hospital the next day. He immediately went to the aunt's house, got the photo album, and carried it throughout his village showing everyone his "beautiful daughter who lives in America" for two days. The next day, he collapsed, and died on the street.
We all agree that God's timing is perfect. Both of my precious daughters were able to experience what they needed to on this trip. I am thankful that they got some sense of closure. I am so amazed at their ability to just be forgiving and not live in resentment. They gave their families a beautiful gift in letting them know that they were well and that they cared. Now, they can move on with their lives and be the best they can be without wondering what might have been. These two have blessed me so and taught me so much about living. I love and cherish them deeply.