[mcconnee]

I am hoping you can help us. My husband and I went halfway through a home study with an agency that specialized in adoptions from China, when in the middle of the process, during the physical exam, we found out that my husband had testicular cancer. It was in the very early stages and all was removed in surgery- he has a clean bill of health from his dr at the 6 month mark, but we were told that China prohibits cancer survivors from adopting for 5 years. We had chosen China because they had higher upper age limits than other countries (I am 49 and my husband is 43) but we were open to any country that would have us!



So we have started over, and have had the good fortune of meeting a woman who runs a very small orphanage in Liberia who would be very happy to help us adopt from them. However, I have been told that Massachusetts is an Agency-only state, and that even though we have found the place we want to adopt from, and have even looked at pictures of children we would love to bring home, we still have to work with an agency. I know we need an agency for home study and post placement, but if we do our own paperwork and find our own kids, can we just work with an agency for the home study and follow up? If so, would any agency be willing to help us adopt children from this orphanage in Liberia? I have not found any agencies in Massachusetts who work with Liberian orphans. Is it possible to use an agency that is not in Massachusetts?

Any advice you have will be very much appreciated!

[saranbr]

This has NOTHING to do with Liberia-- but have you considerred Guatemala? I know their age restrictions are very lax though I'm not sure of medical conditions. They are a bit more expensive, but a wonderful culture and beautiful children. We are currently on our second from there after seriously considering Ethiopia or Liberia.

[Colorbind love]

There are 2 licensed adoption agencies placing children in Liberia. I would not recommend working with a facilitator when MA has been very upfront that they don't allow facilitators.