CHENGDU, China (CNN)by Kyung Lah -- When the magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province in May, killing nearly 70,000 people, it hit home for Americans Rick and Michele Houston.
Sophie Wei was awaiting adoption when a devastating earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province.
The teachers, who live in Washington state, had been waiting for nearly three years to adopt Sophie Wei. Her orphanage was at the quake's epicenter and the Houstons feared the worst.
"When they said Chengdu, China, I said, 'Oh no,'" Rick said. "Within two weeks, we're supposed to get Sophie, and boom, there it is."
"I thought, 'catastrophe,'" Michele said as she gripped the photograph of the beautiful, smiling girl the orphanage had sent her. "My friends who've been pregnant, they can feel their babies inside of them. For me, I hold onto that photo. I put it everywhere. I just love her, that's all I know."
Just before the quake struck, the Houstons had received the final stamp of approval enabling them to pick up their daughter from the orphanage. But in the aftermath of the tragedy, information about international adoptions slowed to a crawl. Then, the Chinese government told them their adoption would be put on hold indefinitely.
"It's been hard," Michele said. "Sometimes, it's like, is it ever going to happen still?"
CNN traveled to the province just days after the earthquake struck. Based on information supplied by the Houstons, the CNN news crew located the damaged Chengdu orphanage where Sophie Wei lived.
Temporary housing and tents covered the front lawn. But inside, the crew found a healthy and happy Sophie Wei. 
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The girl was pointing to pictures of her American family -- mom, dad and her older sister, Simone, 4, who had been adopted from China a few years ago.
CNN took video of Sophie, happy and safe, and sent the video file to the Houstons, via the Internet.
"Oh my gosh, there's our picture album," exclaimed Michele as she looked at the video. "There's the photos we sent her. She's so beautiful."
"Is that my sister?" Simone asked.
"That's your sister!" Rick responded.
It took the Houstons almost a year to adopt Simone. But the process for adopting Sophie took three times as long and took a toll on the couple. 
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"It's hard to have faith with everything that's gone on," said Michele. "I just hope we can see her soon."
A week after seeing their daughter on video, the Houstons got their wish. China began processing international adoptions again. Rick and Michele traveled to Chengdu just days after the government gave them the green light.
Once they arrived in China, they drove straight to the orphanage. Sophie Wei was waiting and pointed at Michele the moment she saw her mom.
"I can't believe it," said Michele, choking back the tears as she squeezed her daughter. "It feels like, wow. Is this really real?"
For now, the Houstons are relieved their daughter is safe and settling into her new home.
"Our family is complete now," Rick said.
1 comment:
Oh my... that there is the most precious gift to have... you are all stars now... I am having a little sob here... this is all so brilliant... take care
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