Happy 5th Birthday Princess

Five years ago in a land an ocean away a precious little girl who make her entrance into this world. She would not be welcomed into loving arms of a mommy and daddy but would soon be whisked away to the nursery where she would await her transfer to the cold, unloving walls of an orphanage in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine.  There she was sentenced to 3 1/2 years of minimal nutrition, substandard medical care, harsh treatment and days of complete solitude.  No voice to save her. No voice to call out for her mommy and daddy. Her crime: being born of gypsy heritage with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. That's it. Instead of her very life being celebrated she was being punished for the very creation God made her to be. No one would see her value or potential. No one would love her, comfort her, teach her, and protect her. In fact , it would be as if not ONE person would see her. Until February 2011 when Brian and I walked through the doors and into her groupa.

As fast as could Brian and I completed the mandatory tasks of an international adoption. We appeared before the judge who questioned why we would want such a child as her. This was not difficult for us to explain but I am not sure the judge could or even would understand. That's okay because we knew and that's what mattered.
.  I would return just 10 days later to bring our princess home with her aunt Dana. What we discovered was complete shock and disgust.  Carrington was so emaciated and literally beginning to die. The journey home was tense. Please God save carrington was our only focus. Dana took care of Reagan and the luggage and just about everything else while I focused on Carrington. Our arrival home was not marked with visitors , friends, or shouts of hooray because we had to rush to the hospital.

For the next 5 weeks, our frail 10.8 pound little girl would be fighting to live all the while beginning a legacy that would reach people all over this world (thank you Sarah for starting the blog). Many people would write to tell us of their commitment to adopt a child because of carrington. We would learn that 10 children would find families because if Princess' story. Our family drew even closer as we all celebrated each little moment of Carrington's healing. The staff at Cook Children's Hospital beck family to us.

 Then it happened. Carrington would finally be carried through the front doors of her new home safely wrapped in her daddy's arms. She was home and she was safe!

Her body was slow to recover but in the last 18 months she has blossomed. There has never been one soul who could resist the charm and beauty of our princess (and that is why she is the princess of this castle and we are her court). This day marks 5 years of life for her. While I am so saddened by her first few moments on this earth I cannot be angry at her birth mom because Carrington was the first pregnancy her mom decided to carry to term. Although she did not love Carrington for who she is, she did give my angel life.  

And I have had the true joy if watching Carrington grow and now celebrate her birthday. We will have a party for our princess topped  off with friends and family. Carrington has given new meaning to life for our family and it is with that that we will work to find families for as many children as we can. Right alongside great groups of people such as Project Hopeful, CHI, sheltering Wings and Ting Ministries.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY CARRINGTON ANN BURMAN!!!