[CZKid26]

Hi. Finally decided to join the forum. My name is Derek. My wife is Robin. Guess you know her as dolcilady. just wanted to say hi.

Derek

[DolciLady]

Hey, Baby. Bout time you stopped lurking and joined us here at the funny farm! :-)

Robin

[lsworan]

Welcome!!! I wish we had alot of activity right now to post for you; however, as you are aware things are slow for Panama right now.

Stay strong through the process. I am sure there is a light (child) at the end of the tunnel.

Lauri

[JUF]

Hi Lauri,
Don't you have a court date coming up?! Are you traveling soon?
Hope you (and everyone) gets good news soon!
Julie

[lsworan]

We thought the court date for us was June 9th, but that has turned out to be the court date for the Termination of Parental Rights. (mis-communication- don't have all details yet) So, this information I have right now is that the TPR is still on track as of today for June 9th and our court date will be scheduled after that date. We are told that this is typically a quick process from TPR to the final court date; however, we have not been given any definite timeframes. So, we don't at this point know when our court date is or when we will travel. I'll keep you updated on the process.

We did get an updated picture of our son. Don't know if the pictures make it easier or harder??? He has grown alot since we were there in March.....

We are hanging in there and hope the end of the process is near.

Lauri
Dossier 6/03
Translationed for DNA 7/03
Referral 8/03
First trip 3/04
TPR scheduled June 9th 2004
Final court date ????

[TanyaB]

Laurie,
I am a little confused about your situation. I hope you don't mind my question. I thought when you went in March that was for the TPR hearing, if it wasn't TPR than what was it? I am only asking because it is "believed" that our son has not had his TPR yet. He was born in a city about nine hours drive, one hour plane ride from Panama City. First time this area has done an adoption from my understanding, so we are making the assumption that if it is taking an adoption in Panama City a long time, than we are in for a very very very long road. We are very nervous about the situation we have been placed in. Our son was not yet two in a half at referral and will be three in Sept. We only have one picture from January, that is so great you get updates and new pictures. I must agree it would be hard seeing the pictures too. I really think everyone planning on adopting from Panama should really think about how long it takes to get a child and really think about that when they get a referral. We love our son very much and he will always be ours, but it gets hard thinking he is getting older in an orphanage and his language is developing more and more each day, which is great if you know Spanish, but truly attachment is a concern for anyone as a child ages. I guess it just isn't an easy situation for anyone waiting. All we can do is place it in God's hands and pray it all works out.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers and we hope you travel soon.
Tanya

[lsworan]

We are still not sure what happened in March and have not received any details on the mis-communication. While we were there in March, we were told that everything went fine for the court date.

Here is what I do know. Our attorney was not present for the TPR and is not allowed to be present for the TPR. The courts/DNA take care of this process. I know the mother did not show up in March, but at the time, I thought everything was ok without her. The mother was contacted and signed all documents in April - I believe that was probably to ensure she was formally notified to show up for the next court date. We did not find out that the Jun 9th court date was for the TPR unti May. It took at least a full week for us to digest and accept that we would not be going in June.

So, now we are waiting for the court date next week and praying that the courts will issue another court date very quickly. Our agency is making a plea to the judge on exactly what you said: The process has taken such a long time and this little boy has spent almost his whole first year of life in an orphanage. Hopefully, the judge will allow our court date to be immediately. We also don't know at this point whether we will be required to be there for the court date. During the plea, our attorney will find out if our attendance is required.

Hopefully because your son is not in Panama City, they may be able to move the court faster. I am hoping with the DNA director now and the new one coming in that things will be a little more organized.

We'll let you know as soon as we know something on our situation.

Lauri

[TanyaB]

Lauri,
Thanks for the info. I would be very surprised if you had to go for any court dates. From what the families at Faith Int. have stated on the board they don't have to travel till all courts are complete and just the embassy stuff is left, and that makes the trip about two weeks or less. We are hoping for that From what I understand the POA allows this to happen. We are getting really really nervous about time frames, because again their has been word on the forum before about an adoption taking place in Colon that took 18 months because adoption was new to that area. Our son has been in the system for at least 8 months now and that 8 months from our understanding is only to get TPR which we believe isn't done yet. At least that is what we "think" no definates with this. I think it has hit us in April once we reached our 12 month mark for waiting in this adoption process that we don't have our son and not one person can say he will be home soon. This is hard to understand and except. I am thankful I have this forum and all of you to talk to, because I know you all understand. Thank you
Laurie, good luck and I will pray you travel soon.
Tanya

[lsworan]

Waiting is truly the worse part of this process. Information is so difficult to obtain, and the information given out is not always accurate. I wish that I could tell you going to Panama personally would get you the information that you need, but the truth is that you might not get any more accurate information while you are there. We have ask if the DNA could take our documents to court during the TPR and see if they can review them then. (Trying to move the process faster). We were told that it is not done that way. Everything there is very compartmentalized and has to be done in a specific order. I understand that, just wish it would move faster.

I agree the forum has been a lifeline in this process. It has helped having information on the adoptions already processed and what is going on with those of us waiting.

Hang in there everyone!!! One day we will all be posting our complete adoption journey and providing encouragement to those that are selecting Panama. (Maybe the process will be so improved, that no one will need to be encouraged to chose Panama.)

[lsworan]

We were notified that the Termination of Parental Rights hearing was held today and the biological mother did show up. Her legal rights were terminated. The court documents will be ready within 2 weeks and will be delivered to DNA. Then DNA requests the final court date for us. Don't have a clue how long this piece of the process will take or whether we have to be in court for the next date. We hope to find all that information out in the next few weeks.

We will keep you posted.....

Lauri
Dossier submitted to Agency June 2003
Translated dossier submitted July 2003
Referral received August 2003
First visit March 2004
TPR complete June 2004