[klk88]

We finally got our medicals on our two kids interpreted and we found out a few surprising things we were not told before hand or while we were in Russia. I even asked some pretty specific questions and still nothing was told. Hmmmm, it is nothing that would cause us not to adopt but we would have liked to have known. Of course, we are taking all our medicals, pictures and video to an IA doctor so that will be helpful. Did any of you recieve scary info on your medical and it turned out okay?

[ncdoppler]

Personally, nothing scary on our end. But I think it is pretty common to get "Scary" reports. I'm sure everything will work out! Good luck!!

Nichole

[RBSVARCHER]

I took our son's medicals and searched the internet trying to find the words that were used. Basically, the scary words meant nothing - and did not exist.....

We depended alot on our IA Dr. but prayed God's will. David came home and after his IA Dr. check up we were told we brought home gold from Chita!

My suggestion is let your heart guide you, your IA Dr's advice be well taken, and allow God to choose your child for you, He's never made a mistake!

Susan Archer
B'ham AL

[ddahl]

Received fair to good medicals. Received thumbs up from IA doctor. Recieved grave news in Russia at the MOE. Received a different report entirely at the baby home. Bottom line knoe in your heart what you are prepared to deal with. Its a series of calculated risks and the gains can be huge. Our recruit was beyond our expectation in every way!

[klk88]

Thanks for the encouragement. Bottom line, we've held them, played with them, laughed with them and fallen head over heels in love with them. We are prepared for what God has in store for us. Sometimes I sure do think that God thinks we can handle a lot more than I think we can I guess He is the expert. I just feel blessed that we live in a country that if they need medical intervention, we have the most wonderful doctors to care for them. We have an appointment with our IA on Friday, so that should help a lot.

[RBSVARCHER]

Then, it sounds like your heart has already made the decision, you are just anticipating the rest! Everything will be just fine, chill out and enjoy this time....it's like the last of your pregnancy - alot of emotions, up hills and down hills, but I promise - in the end it will be worth it all, and in time you would have forgotten all of this. I had forgotten the internet search for words that did not exist until I was writing you.

I had heard some medical terms had to be placed on the child's records so they could be adopted internationally.

Susan

[KimOH]

Our son's advanced medical was virtually free of all the scary diagnoses that you hear are so often on Russian children's reports. When we talked to the baby home director, we found out a few other things, but nothing too scary. However, when we were back in Moscow for the embassy medical evaluation, the western-trained American doctor looked at the untranslated russian report. He said "heart defect?" and "It says here he was recommended to be moved to a facility for mentally handicapped children." Then he said "Hogwash!"

It was scary though. We've had him thoroughly checked out once we came home though and have no concerns. It's been nearly four years now. No sign of even the slightest heart problem and the kid is "sharp as a tack."

It's a really scary prospect though and, in hindsight, I'm glad we didn't receive that info any earlier or we would have flipped out!!!

kim

[skling69]

We did not get the actual translated medical until we had been home with our son for 2 months. It is probably better to see the children before the medical information, it saves a lot of screaming and running the other way. After I was able to find most of the medical terms on the internet I decided to forego even sending them to the IA Doc. BMom had inflamation or infection at birth, small at birth, cried when touched, they actually have a term that means the child cries when moved around.

[randytenn]

One of the things to remember, also, is that it is often questioned by judges why an orphanage could not get a healthy child adopted by a Russian family. So, they list "everything" that they can think of that could possibly be wrong with a child to support the international adoption. This can often work in our favor, as it "can" lead to the 10 day waiting period being waived.

[KeroRocks]

We actually had stuff that was completely untrue on our son's medical. They said he would never walk because of a hip problem. He has no hip problems and runs and dances and walks perfectly. There were also a couple "problems" listed that weren't even words, We looked and asked everyone what these words meant, turns out they were made up. Nice Eh?

Don't believe medicals...

[kimpob]

Our daughter's medicals said she had 2 heart defects - both requiring surgery. The IA doctor doubted she had either of these since everything else was so good and she was on target for HC, weight, height and her motor skills.

When we got her home neither of them were true. She checked out fine here by a pediatric cardiologist.

[Shay]

I hope all goes well with the AI doc, keep us posted!

[klk88]

Thank you all for the encouragement. For obvious reasons, I can't go into detail about what I found out but I just wanted to say what you all posted and had to say helped A LOT. We have our IA appointment Friday, so hopefully that will answer most of my questions. I tell you, I don't think I could have done this without this board. You guys are terrific!