Our Adoption Journey, Step 6: Getting Matched and the Waiting Child Program

Recently, we were matched with our beautiful boy. The matching process can be a long process, filled with periods of waiting. At our agency, it begins with a form, MCC (Medical Conditions Checklist), that allows us to describe our openness to a child's gender, age and medical conditions from China's Waiting Child Program. The rest of the matching process? Mostly waiting.

What is the Waiting Child Program? Currently in China the large majority of children who can be adopted in the U.S. are part of the Waiting Child Program. These children typically have a medical need. Older (9 yo+) "healthy" children, can also be part of the Waiting Child Program. Children that are part of this program can have a variety of mild to severe conditions, including cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, cleft palate, heart defects, blood disorders, malformed/missing limbs, etc. Many conditions are considered "minor" here in the U.S. and are even treated/repaired before the child is adopted. To learn more, read our agency's description HERE.

Why adopt from the Waiting Child Program? I'll admit, at first it was a little daunting. To know that our challenges would be bigger and tougher than we'd dreamed when we first thought of starting a family. But, slowly, without even realizing it, we not only accepted the idea of raising a child with a medical condition, but we have come to embrace the idea. Recently, our agency asked us why we chose to adopt a child with medical needs. Our answer was simple, yet profound: because a child's medical condition shouldn't prevent him/her from having a forever family.

Do you have to wait to be matched a child by your agency? Yes, and no. There are many different ways to be matched. You can wait to be matched as you complete your paperwork. Many agencies also share children from the "Special Focus" program on their websites. After you have done your initial application, you can request information about these children. Typically, children on the "Special Focus" program are considered to have multiple needs or more significant medical needs.

What about Carter? Is that his real name? Yes, it will be his real name when our adoption is complete. He does have a Chinese name that was given to him by the orphanage. When he becomes our child, we will give him our name. We do plan to keep his Chinese name as a middle name for him, to preserve his identity and heritage as a Chinese American.

Does Carter have a medical condition? Is he "OK"? The short answer: yes and yes. We were matched with Carter about three weeks ago, although we didn't formally accept the referral for about a week. What took so long? We wanted to be prepared for what life will look like when Carter comes home, so we sent his file to medical professionals and did LOADS of research. His condition? Nothing that we are worried about (and neither should you). And nothing that will keep him from leading a normal, healthy life. Instead, pray for our time of transition as Carter learns what it means to have a family and we learn what it means to be parents. And pray our next period of waiting: waiting to bring him home.