[HopeAndTrust]

Help! Hello to anyone out there that can help me. Has anyone had experience with completing the adoption process in Ethiopia despite a history of cancer???

Although I've read through posts and have had countless conversations and email correspondence with people about international adoption in general, this is my first time posting here about my specific question. So please forgive me if I sound lost.

My husband and I feel lead to adopt from Ethiopia and have done so much research in what to expect. We have our home study agency and placing agency both in place, but have yet to actually become clients. This is due to the risk in involved with the possibility of a judge not approving an adoption for us after all the money is spent and we have invested so much emotionally.

The placing agency has done their footwork and "pre-approved" us and said that their lead person in Ethiopia said that although there is a risk of a judge looking at the home study (which I've been told they rarely do), that they could then ask for further information or could just flat out refuse the adoption. That scares the pants off of me! Our person at the placing agency has stressed that she would not accept us as a client if she felt the risk were great for failure, but repeats that there are no guarantees. I trust this agency- did my homework on them and feel comfortable with them. It's the Ethiopian government that posses a risk.

By the way, my husband's cancer was thyroid cancer just over a year ago- was treated (had surgery and radiation) and is completely clear now, has been all year. Thyroid cancer is highly treatable and rarely fatal. Although this is not a cancer to worry about in the US, I've been told that the word "cancer" in Ethiopia (and other countries) can be enough to have the judge stop reading right then and there.

So I guess what I'm really looking for, is if anyone has any stories where they actually completed an adoption from Ethiopia even if they had health issues (cancer specifically) or if they had a failed adoption due to health either? I know, I know, I know that each case is individual and that there are no guarantees, but it sure would be helpful to hear of anyone that has had an experience with this good or bad. Thank you so much! I hope there is someone out there that can help me. Sorry for the LONG post.