We all remember that devastating earthquake in Haiti six months ago. It left an enormous toll of destruction, but it also gave hundreds of Haitian children new lives in America, children who were in the process of being adopted by American parents. Six months may not seem like a long time, but NBC’s Ron Allen shows us what a remarkable difference those children and their parents are making in each other’s lives.
The Wilsons of Nashville are a much bigger and, they say, happier family, with two new daughters, Tia, who’s five, and Naika, seven, both adopted from Haiti in the weeks after the earthquake.
“It has been a journey,” says Missy Wilson, an adoptive mother. “It has had its great, great days. It has had its very difficult days.”
Right after the earthquake, Mike Wilson raced to Haiti to rescue Tia and Naika.
Under a special humanitarian program, he was allowed to bring Tia out a couple of weeks later. But Naika, who the Wilsons decided to adopt after learning she was Tia’s best friend, had to stay behind. Her case was further down the list. That moment, Wilson says, left a deep emotional scar.
“The image of Naika crying just is still burned in my heart,” says Mike Wilson.
WATCH THIS VIDEO ON HAITIAN CHILDREN ADJUSTING TO AMERICAN LIFE
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When Naika finally arrived, she didn’t trust the Wilsons, they say, afraid she might be abandoned again. That’s not the end of their story, and it’s just one of many. About 1100 Haitian children came to the US in the weeks and months after the earthquake.
Some of those children attended a unique reunion recently in St. Louis with their parents. All have been adopted from the same Haitian orphanage, several just after the quake. The Sheltons adopted Patricia and Philippe.
“I think our son looks, physically, two years older than when he came home,” says Dawn Shelton.
The Rouvieres say Elijah now understands they’re not the same as the adults at his orphanage.
“He’s come so far as he knows us, mommy, daddy,” says Craig Rouviere.
Meanwhile, in Nashville, the Wilsons say just as the school year ended Naika gave them something they’ve always wanted.
“She attempted to write her last name as Wilson,” Mike added. And she at that point said, ‘I want to be a part of this family.’ Our family is complete at this moment.”
It’s often said parents save orphaned children, but these moms and dads will tell you the children give as much.