Tulsa woman refuses to give up attempt to adopt Pakistani girl
Tulsa woman refuses to give up attempt to adopt Pakistani girl
Nancy Baney holds Marina Grace, the Pakistani child Baney is trying to adopt. Baney has been in Islamabad, Pakistan, for nearly 250 days trying to get the adoption process cleared. Courtesy By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer
Published: 9/18/2011 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 9/18/2011 8:03 AM
Crime, disease, bureaucracy and job loss have complicated Tulsan Nancy Baney's attempts to bring Marina Grace - a Pakistani child she thinks of as her daughter - to a U.S. home the child has never seen.
"God has brought us through some very difficult times, and I know he will continue to show us the steps needed to bring Gracy home," Baney said from Islamabad.
Baney adopted a son from Russia in 2004, and in 2005 she decided to adopt a second child, a daughter. After four years of waiting in the Russian program, her international adoption agency suggested a new country program - Pakistan.
The agency presented Baney with the profile of a 10-day-old baby girl whose mother had died in childbirth and whose father was unable to raise her.
"When I received the picture of Marina, I just knew she was meant to be a part of our family," Baney said.
In September 2009, Baney traveled to Pakistan and held the 3-month-old girl for the first time.
Shortly afterward, a Pakistani court granted Baney legal guardianship of Marina Grace, and she started the U.S. immigration process, but just before her final interview she was called to the U.S. embassy with facilitators for the Pakistani adoption agency.
At the embassy she was told the girl's birth certificate and the birth mother's death certificate were fraudulent documents.
U.S. officials had discovered the alleged birth parents had been hired by the adoption agency to pose as the birth family. When the officials traveled to the birthplace, the alleged birth mother answered the door, very much alive. Officers from Pakistan's Federal Investigative Agency - the FIA - arrested the two adoption agency facilitators at the embassy. Two more people would be arrested and jailed two weeks later.
Baney's adoption was the first child-trafficking case caught through the U.S. embassy in Pakistan.
"We were the first child-trafficking adoption case. And, you do feel betrayed by adoption agencies and individuals you are supposed to be able to trust," Baney said. "When the embassy officials told me, I dropped to the floor. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't believe it."
"The next thing that I was told, FIA was going to be removing Gracy from my custody," she said. "Having my child taken from my arms is the most horrendous experience I've ever been through."
She was given 30 minutes to say goodbye before the child was taken away to an orphanage. They wouldn't be allowed to see each other for 16 months.
Pakistani officials ultimately cleared Baney of any involvement in the child trafficking and found Marina's authentic birth parents, who signed affidavits stating they were uninterested in being reunited with their biological child.
Late last year, Baney was given the chance to renew the adoption process, to start over with a new guardianship application, and she took it.
In January she returned to Islamabad, and again she was granted legal guardianship by the Pakistani courts.
Her reunion with Marina Grace was filled with joy. Gracy had grown remarkably. She was not talking, but she was walking tentatively. She was clearly very ill, burning with fever and suffering from scabies, malnutrition and severe bronchitis.
"She didn't remember me, and she didn't smile," but despite all of that Baney said she recognized her little girl immediately.
"Those big brown eyes - they were all I saw. My heart just leapt because she was so much my child," Baney said. "It was just a beautiful, beautiful experience. It was almost like she had come back from the dead to me."
But Baney soon faced two new hurdles.
A Pakistani physician determined the toddler had hydrocephalus - a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid that causes the brain to swell - and she was severely tongue tied.
While surgery on the little girl's tongue has helped free her speech, she needs a consultation with a pediatric neurologist in the United States to determine the best next step for her hydrocephalic condition, which does not seem to have slowed her mental development so far.
But Baney can't get the child to a U.S. doctor because U.S. immigration officials have denied Marina Grace's immigrant visa.
A call to the U.S. State Department for comment was referred to a department website, which says, "In order to adopt a child from Pakistan, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her back to the United States."
The website also says "a child can be considered an orphan if it has no parents; has been deserted or abandoned; or if the surviving parent is unable to care for the child and has, in writing, irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption."
Both of Marina Grace's birth parents are alive but have signed affidavits documenting that they have abandoned the child. If she isn't adopted by Baney, she would be returned to an orphanage.
Baney's immigration attorneys say she is being held to a higher standard than other Pakistan adoption cases - perhaps because the child-trafficking case was the first one ever uncovered by the U.S. embassy.
"The decision is extremely simplistic and clearly discounts the evidence provided," said Grace Kennedy, an attorney working for Baney. "I'm absolutely disgusted with that decision. If the case were denied on its merits, then fine, but they are not even considering the evidence here."
Baney has decided to appeal the decision, a process that could last two years.
She also is applying for a nonimmigrant medical visa, an unsure process, in part because of the earlier immigration attempt. That would allow Marina Grace to come to the U.S. temporarily to be treated.
But, for now, Baney remains more than 6,000 miles from home with a child she loves and won't abandon and no clear answers.
She has been in Islamabad for nearly 250 days.
During that time, her family leave time ran out, she lost her job and her 8-year-old son has spent the better part of a year in the care of a relative, only seeing his mother on twice-a-day Skype visits.
"This certainly put me in a new area of having to rely on my faith," Baney said. "I have to do that every day."
She said she feels a calling to deal with the challenges she has been allotted, complete the adoption of Marina Grace and bring her to the United States.
"I know that I'm supposed to be here," she said. "I'm supposed to be here for Gracy."
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Timeline of events
2009
June 7: Marina Grace born in Gorja, Pakistan.
Sept. 19: Baney travels to Islamabad, Pakistan.
Sept. 21: Baney holds Marina Grace for the first time.
Oct. 14: U.S. embassy officials tell Baney that key records for Marina Grace are forged and both the child's parents are still alive. Two Pakistanis are arrested.
Oct. 15: Baney returns to Tulsa.
2010
April: Pakistani officials clear Baney of child-trafficking issues.
October: Marina Grace's family makes it clear they do not want to be reunited with the child.
November: Baney gets green light on second adoption attempt.
2011
Jan. 11: Baney again leaves for Pakistan.
Jan. 24: Baney takes custody of Marina Grace.
January: Pakistani doctor notes that Marina Grace's head circumference is out of line with her body size, leading to a suspicion of hydrocephalus, which is later confirmed with a CT scan.
May: Marina Grace diagnosed with a tied tongue.
July 16: U.S. officials notify Baney of intent to deny immigration visa for Marina Grace.
July 20: Surgery performed on Marina Grace's tongue.
Aug. 9: Baney loses her job after she failed to return to work from family leave.
Original Print Headline: Tulsan still fighting to adopt girl
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Wayne Greene 918-581-8308
wayne.greene@tulsaworld.com
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer
Copyright 2011 World Publishing Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Reader Comments 28 Total
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Show: Newest First Learn About Our Comment Policy
Report Commentblindshoe (6 hours ago)
where does she work, O i wonder where did she used to work, would like to call them
Report CommentRon Ballew (2 hours ago)
A company cannot keep a job open for an employee that abondons that job. They need an employee to do work, or that job would not exist in the first place.
Even the Federal government will not hold a job open for you indefinitely.
Report CommentPopeye (5 hours ago)
Get a puppy...
Report Commentnot normal (2 hours ago)
Popeye- even for you, that's cold!
Report Commentken7 (5 hours ago)
Maybe she should be home raising her son.... just my thought
Report Commentfka (4 hours ago)
My thoughts also.
Report Commentcybercitizen (4 hours ago)
It is critical that you vet any adoption agency. It's had enough if they are honest.
Report Commentrockfan (4 hours ago)
Hope it all works out.
Report Commentadoptionmom2 (4 hours ago)
Adopting a child from the US or foreign is always a trying adventure for parents. Unless you've wanted a child but have been unable to have your own naturally, you have no right to judge this woman.
Report CommentAlyssa'sMom (3 hours ago)
Nancy was the first to lose her child in Pakistan, I was the second. I can tell you the moment they remove your child from your arms, the pain is horrific. Nancy has been a pillar of strength, but now she needs all of us. Please do what you can to help her. Ken, what would that teach her son? That children are forgetable? That we can turn our backs on them? Popeye, I pray no child is ever unfortunate enough to have you as a parent. A loving parent will do whatever it takes to keep their child safe, happy and healthy. Nancy is the perfect example of this.
Report CommentPopeye (3 hours ago)
My many children, and grand-children will beg to differ, Alyssa'sMom.
The above article says far more than the words within it convey. The headlines today read "DHS...". I believe Oklahoma is ranked #5 nationally in DHS needs/demands. Why go to Pakistan or Asia for a child? We have our own to care for...
Have a nice day.
Report Commentnot normal (2 hours ago)
Popeye- congratulations on your many children and grandchildren. I still say your comment is cold hearted hard hearted and crassly judgemental.
Report Commentpatriot12 (3 hours ago)
Go to Mexico and come across the river like everyone other illegal and human trafficker does.
How can our government give her a hard time when they completely ignore illegal immigration? What a stupid world we live in..
Report CommentProud Muslim (3 hours ago)
I'm praying for the both of you, mother and daughter. May God restore Marina's health and help Ms. Baney in her adoption efforts.
Report Commentgadfly (2 hours ago)
Is this adopted child going to be raised a Muslim?
And, if not, why not?
She was born an atheist?
Her parents were Muslims.
So forcing her to become a Christian
Would be child abuse.
Report CommentThunder196 (2 hours ago)
Mixed feelings about this story. I understand how she continues to fight for this child. I also wonder if she is looking out for the best interest of her son.
Report CommentBarney Doyle (2 hours ago)
In the words of a wise old man; "Get a puppy ... "
Report Commentnot normal (2 hours ago)
Barney- cold,cold,cold!
Report CommentI'm Reliable (2 hours ago)
Why can't she adopt an American child? Too many foreigners here already!
Report CommentRon Ballew (2 hours ago)
It is difficult to adopt a child in the USA. Once, DHS get hold of a child it will not give it up. Giving up a child would affect its funding, so they hold on to them.
So, would be parents have to go to foreign countries to adopt children. Usually, these children have medical problems.
In foreign countries you are expected to bribe government officials to get any thing done. That is why you use local agents. You can pretend you are paying the local agent a fee, while he does the bribing for you.
Obviously, she is not bribing the right government agents, or she would have her child by now.
Report CommentRon Ballew (2 hours ago)
Ask Angelia how to adopt a foreign child.
Report CommentRon Ballew (2 hours ago)
Pakistan is our friend. Ask the President to get your child for you.
Report Commentnot normal (2 hours ago)
To all you wise people, we are talking about the life of a child here. Politics unfortunately come into play when you try to adopt from another country. Should Nancy abandon this child? Seems as though Marina has already had enough abandonment in her young life. If this was your child, would you abandon her and come back to your life here and forget she exists? That seems to be what some of you are trying to say. My heart breaks for the situation Nancy and Marina are in because regardless of what she does now someone ends up suffering the consequences of her actions.
Report CommentProud Muslim (2 hours ago)
Well said not normal. I always try to see the best in others, but the heartlessness of some here shocks and disgusts me.
Report Commentalternative teacher (2 hours ago)
My parents adopted two children through the Dillion International. It was amazing! I had tons of brothers and sisters. We had this huge family and my parents decided to add to it.