Interest In Haiti Adoptions Skyrockets

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The plight of Haiti's children has touched people all over the world and a Tulsa international adoption agency says they've seen a spike in calls from potential parents.

Dillion International says typically it handles about a dozen adoptions from Haiti. In the last week, they have had more than 1,000 inquiries about adopting children from the devastated country.

Tear-streaked, little faces of despair are calling to would-be parents all over the world.

Rebecca Hackworth works for Dillon International, which specializes in international adoption and she has a special place in her heart for Haiti.

"My girls came home in 85," Hackworth said.

She became a mom to two Haitian girls, one now has a little girl of their own.

Hackworth looks at her family and says she understands why people see adoption as a way to help.

"The children that may be newly orphaned from this tragedy, It's going to take a while to know whether they're truly orphaned or if they have just been separated from their families," Hackworth said.

Oklahomans Randy and Kathy Presley adopted 17 year-old Eliana from Haiti.

They were in the process of adopting Eliana's brother, Christopher, when the earthquake struck.

"You just wonder what's going through the mind of a little four year old, so much trauma, so much heartache, too young to see what they've seen," Kathy said.

The Presley's say four-year-old Christopher is okay but they do not know where he is staying.

They are not sure when they will be able to get him out of the country with Haiti's legal system in shambles.

"Hold on, hold on, we're not quitting," Kathy said. "If its two years, its two years … we're still going to be there, we're not giving up."

Rebecca Hackworth says persistence is going to be necessary. Adopting Haitian children may be harder and could take longer.

"If adoption is in your heart; start. There's lot of kids. There are over a hundred million children orphaned in the world. So, Haiti isn't the only country where there's need," Hackworth said.

Rebecca Hackworth says the Haitian and U.S. governments are trying to process emergency passports and visas for adoptive families but she says Dillon's last Haiti adoption took 26 months.