After adopting a boy in Ukraine, an American couple returns home
A couple from Texas, USA, returned from a war-torn Ukraine a few days ago after overcoming numerous obstacles — with a son they had hoped to adopt for over a year. Americans were warned to leave Ukraine as soon as possible as tensions increased; one Texas couple returned with their adoptive son, Ruslan.
Ruslan’s portrait was posted on Instagram a year ago, and Kelci and Theron Jagge fell in love with him right away. In Eastern Ukraine, he was in an orphanage. Cerebral palsy was his birth defect. Kelci explained to FOX 4:
“We saw his picture before we even decided to adopt, we were like, ‘The time is now. There’s no better time.”
The couple’s return to America was becoming a challenge as the adoption was finalized in a tense Ukraine. Their 4-year-old son developed pneumonia at this point and required medical attention. The couple rushed with their son after receiving an email from the US consulate.
Theron declared:
“We were racing against time at this point. We were not able to get a visa for him finalized until after hours the Friday before the embassy was evacuated. So, he got the last visa that the embassy issued before the evacuation.”
The pair was still stopped at the airport after Ruslan’s visa process was completed. Kelci explained to FOX 4:
“I told them, ‘Look at our son. He’s going to die if you make us wait 30 days. He will not survive 30 days.’ And they didn’t seem to mind.”
In order to get their ailing son back to America, the couple hired a lawyer. They were finally able to return to Texas. According to FOX 4, Theron said:
“It was all the Lord. It was all God. Little things happened along the way that opened up the doors to get us home.”
The couple has returned to San Antonio, and Ruslan is undergoing medical treatment in the ICU. Kelsi also said about the other children still in Ruslan’s orphanage:
“I know a lot of people look at us like, ‘Why are you going there? You are crazy.’ Well, if that’s your child and your child was stranded in a war zone you would do anything to get them out.”
