I will give you the short version of the story here but please read and look at the pictures below for the long version of the story even though it is in Russian with Google Translate to help tell it.
Since I knew that there was no way Natasha would be home for her Birthday or Christmas again this year, I was determined to send some sort of gift to her.
I thought long and hard about what I should send. It couldn't be too heavy because shipping is very expensive and it had to be somewhat practical because she lives in an orphanage where everything is shared.
I found a blog where two teenage girls make silly hats to raise money for orphans and fell in love with the idea. I also wanted to send a dress for the New Year Celebration since she would not be home to wear it for Christmas.
Friends volunteered to purchase a hat because I needed to get 10 of them for the group and pay for shipping too. I am so grateful to those who helped purchase the hats.
My next problem was I was running out of time to get them shipped.
The girls made the hats super fast and I asked for opinions on FB for the best way to ship them.
That is when Maria told me there was no way they would make it by Natasha's birthday as they would get stuck in customs. I was sick thinking about missing her birthday and Christmas once again.
That is when Maria got this brilliant idea. She would put out a request on FB and ask if anyone was traveling from the US to Moscow anytime before Christmas. She said she would figure out how to get them to St. Petersburg after that and she would ask the director of the orphanage permission to do a news story on it.
What happened next amazed me. So many Russian citizens coming forward to help but not until after Christmas. My heart was broken as I was desperate to get them there by Christmas.
The little hats and dress went on a very exciting journey. I overnighted them from Southern California to Northern California where a man I had never met or talked to put them in his suitcase to fly with him to Warsaw Poland. There was a lady having a meeting with people from Moscow there. I am told the hats then got on a plane with another person in Poland to fly to Moscow. From there Maria picked them up and found someone to take them on the train from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
The journalist took them to the orphanage on December 24th and the story of their time with the children is written below.
I will never forget the kindness of strangers who helped make my Christmas one of the best I have ever had. To see the smile on the children's faces and to know they received extra attention that day is a gift that I will never forget.
Maybe one day someone will write the tale of the Christmas Hats to remind the world there is still peace on earth and goodwill toward men. You just have to know where to look for it even in a crazy international adoption ban.
Google translation below
Without mom
Exactly one year ago, on December 28, Vladimir Putin signed "antisirotsky law." Because of this law a little Lera, which could become a happy girl, still lives in an orphanage. Chance that someone will love her as an American love Katrina, no
Of course, eight-Leray elegant dress could easily buy in St. Petersburg. And then Katrina Morris would not have to look absolutely crazy opportunity - from California to Washington, from Washington to Warsaw, from Warsaw to Moscow, from Moscow to St. Petersburg - only managed to gift for Christmas. But she wanted to choose a dress blond girl, her invalid daughter. Incidentally, burgundy dress with a red belt, which flew to the orphanage just in time, sitting on the Leray as if they were together with Katrina tried on him. And American bought ten funny knitted hats - Lerin girlfriends. (Correspondents "New" became the last link in an operation codenamed "caps." We met at the Moscow station parcel and had to take her to an orphanage Leray.)
Summer 2012. Katrina with Leroy sit on the swing and still have no idea what awaits them
The new dress with a red strap Lera could not stop looking at yourself
Operation "Riding Hood" was successful. Gifts for Lera, Christina, Myra and other kids flew from California to St. Petersburg. Photos from this festival, we sent back to California Katrina Morris
Katrina
Katrina Read this page in facebook is impossible without tears. In November 2012 it is still fun to share with friends stories about what they tons of paper with her husband had collected. "I hate flying, I do not like foreign food and unknown places. But there's my daughter "- she writes, not knowing how it would be. Leroux expected not only Katrina and Stephen, but their four children: three sons and a teenage stepdaughter.
Couple wants to call a girl Natasha. "She has a birthday on December 19 and she looks like a Christmas baby. And its adoption would be for her as a new birth, "- writes Katrina.
In December, everything changes. Duma has already passed a law of Dima Yakovlev third reading, but Putin has not yet signed it. December 27 Katrina meets friends who are trying to encourage her: "Miracles do happen, but this is unlikely. All we can do now is pray that we will be allowed to complete the adoption. "
Prayers have not helped. The next day, December 28, Russian President signs "antisirotsky law." "It hurts like hell when I understand that I may never see her again and she'll never know love, family."
But Katrina did not give up. She collects signatures, appeals to U.S. senators, asking them to pray to Obama, that though he got through to his Russian colleagues.
It liaises with children's home in St. Petersburg, where he lives Lera, and devotes her poetry: "I do not want to be someone, who go so easily. I will not abandon you. " A year later, on the eve of Lerin birthday, she is still waiting for the little girl, although he understood that more than likely never see her again.
"I would love Russian family that would take Natasha, but we were told - its chances of adoption are extremely small . She was lucky though because it is in a very good location "- sadly she says.
House Lera Down syndrome, so she lives in a boarding number 1 for children with intellectual disabilities.Despite the heavy title, this is a very beautiful house. We come during quiet hours, and while the kids are asleep, director Valery Asikritov leads us beautifully renovated building, shows a huge decorated Christmas Tree in the auditorium where caregivers rehearse matinee: in everyday clothes dancing call Santa Claus and dance in a circle. "This is what we now went over when dance led, and tomorrow there will be children in wheelchairs and everything will be different," - explains Maiden. The house smells delicious food and comfort. Everyone we meet in the hallways, smiling. Valery, of course, proud and renovated, and the tree, and excellent food, which is prepared his team. But he is a very kind person, so admits a good family children still better. A year wanting to take Leroux among Russians was not found. "History Lera - exception. No potential parents of these children do not. In all the years that I've been working only in the 90s, Americans adopted a boy. And a year and a half ago, the woman took the two custody "- says Valentina Popova, Deputy Director. After Lera and her friends not only Down syndrome, but the mass of comorbidities - the eight-year Natasha optic atrophy (because of poor eyesight she feels the interlocutor), in a five-year Worlds bowel problems, she was silent, smiling and occasionally grabs his tummy . of the two hundred pupils home one hundred thirty orphans with living parents. And in turn, according to Valentina Popova, worth almost another forty children. Most often single mothers ask them to pick up in a boarding school, because I do not have time to work and care for the child. They could visit the children, taking them on vacation, but in almost all group Lera - refuseniks. To the World, for example, occasionally comes grandmother, mother and father of the girl refused.
Lera Quiet time ends and running towards us Lera. She hugs everyone asks her to wander, leads visitors along. Seeing the dress, it immediately puts. Long walks through all caps and selects one for a photo shoot - boys with stripe «S», which means "Superman." She likes to be the center of attention, like to chat, meet people, like to be beautiful. Lera stubborn fighting and endlessly amusing. If she wants to her circled or used on the hands, it will stand any competition from others wanting to discourage, but soar. Nadezhda, educator, says that in March, they will put the fairy tale "The Fox, Rabbit and Rooster." Roles have been distributed. As children barely speak (only certain syllables and short words "yes" or "no"), all the characters, including the Spring and Sunny will play through movement. Fox will perform the role of a girl from another group - she says. Leray got the role of the Cockerel, which helps drive Zaika Fox. Christina came to us she silently puts on one of the caps, sees a piece of paper, a pencil requests, sits on the carpet and begins to draw. Nadezhda says Christina calm but very touchy, "Whatever you say, immediately sponge puff up." In Worlds very beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. The world loves it when she is being held in his arms. Adult she looks very intently. As long and calmly looks at his reflection in the large Christmas tree toys. "They need to feel that they are loved. That's all, "- says the educator. To get from the rooms to the assembly hall, you have to climb to the second floor. Of the girls with the teacher leaves the elevator, part goes peshochkom. Christina, a tiny, with short hair, in a pink dress, lying one of the first. Girl in front of her light can not overcome the last four stage. Christine rushes to her for help. Light from helping proudly refuses, saying that myself. Assembly hall Sasha shoe drops. Lera immediately rushes to her and starts to pull on her shoes. dancing girls, photographed in hats, playing with white balls similar to snow. And each is trying to draw attention to themselves. They repeat the movement for you, touch you again and ask them to wander.
Finals getting dark, we go to court.Before us is a swing on which a half years ago Leroy sat with his invalid mother and father. Then she had a huge blue bow tied. No snow, only withered grass circle. The decor is reminiscent of a children's summer camp, only sad. "In the camp you know that two weeks back home. And here you will not get home ... never "- sighs colleague.
Of course, eight-Leray elegant dress could easily buy in St. Petersburg. And then Katrina Morris would not have to look absolutely crazy opportunity - from California to Washington, from Washington to Warsaw, from Warsaw to Moscow, from Moscow to St. Petersburg - only managed to gift for Christmas. But she wanted to choose a dress blond girl, her invalid daughter. Incidentally, burgundy dress with a red belt, which flew to the orphanage just in time, sitting on the Leray as if they were together with Katrina tried on him. And American bought ten funny knitted hats - Lerin girlfriends. (Correspondents "New" became the last link in an operation codenamed "caps." We met at the Moscow station parcel and had to take her to an orphanage Leray.)
Katrina
Katrina Read this page in facebook is impossible without tears. In November 2012 it is still fun to share with friends stories about what they tons of paper with her husband had collected. "I hate flying, I do not like foreign food and unknown places. But there's my daughter "- she writes, not knowing how it would be. Leroux expected not only Katrina and Stephen, but their four children: three sons and a teenage stepdaughter.
Couple wants to call a girl Natasha. "She has a birthday on December 19 and she looks like a Christmas baby. And its adoption would be for her as a new birth, "- writes Katrina.
In December, everything changes. Duma has already passed a law of Dima Yakovlev third reading, but Putin has not yet signed it. December 27 Katrina meets friends who are trying to encourage her: "Miracles do happen, but this is unlikely. All we can do now is pray that we will be allowed to complete the adoption. "
Prayers have not helped. The next day, December 28, Russian President signs "antisirotsky law." "It hurts like hell when I understand that I may never see her again and she'll never know love, family."
But Katrina did not give up. She collects signatures, appeals to U.S. senators, asking them to pray to Obama, that though he got through to his Russian colleagues.
It liaises with children's home in St. Petersburg, where he lives Lera, and devotes her poetry: "I do not want to be someone, who go so easily. I will not abandon you. " A year later, on the eve of Lerin birthday, she is still waiting for the little girl, although he understood that more than likely never see her again.
"I would love Russian family that would take Natasha, but we were told - its chances of adoption are extremely small . She was lucky though because it is in a very good location "- sadly she says.
House Lera Down syndrome, so she lives in a boarding number 1 for children with intellectual disabilities.Despite the heavy title, this is a very beautiful house. We come during quiet hours, and while the kids are asleep, director Valery Asikritov leads us beautifully renovated building, shows a huge decorated Christmas Tree in the auditorium where caregivers rehearse matinee: in everyday clothes dancing call Santa Claus and dance in a circle. "This is what we now went over when dance led, and tomorrow there will be children in wheelchairs and everything will be different," - explains Maiden. The house smells delicious food and comfort. Everyone we meet in the hallways, smiling. Valery, of course, proud and renovated, and the tree, and excellent food, which is prepared his team. But he is a very kind person, so admits a good family children still better. A year wanting to take Leroux among Russians was not found. "History Lera - exception. No potential parents of these children do not. In all the years that I've been working only in the 90s, Americans adopted a boy. And a year and a half ago, the woman took the two custody "- says Valentina Popova, Deputy Director. After Lera and her friends not only Down syndrome, but the mass of comorbidities - the eight-year Natasha optic atrophy (because of poor eyesight she feels the interlocutor), in a five-year Worlds bowel problems, she was silent, smiling and occasionally grabs his tummy . of the two hundred pupils home one hundred thirty orphans with living parents. And in turn, according to Valentina Popova, worth almost another forty children. Most often single mothers ask them to pick up in a boarding school, because I do not have time to work and care for the child. They could visit the children, taking them on vacation, but in almost all group Lera - refuseniks. To the World, for example, occasionally comes grandmother, mother and father of the girl refused.
Lera Quiet time ends and running towards us Lera. She hugs everyone asks her to wander, leads visitors along. Seeing the dress, it immediately puts. Long walks through all caps and selects one for a photo shoot - boys with stripe «S», which means "Superman." She likes to be the center of attention, like to chat, meet people, like to be beautiful. Lera stubborn fighting and endlessly amusing. If she wants to her circled or used on the hands, it will stand any competition from others wanting to discourage, but soar. Nadezhda, educator, says that in March, they will put the fairy tale "The Fox, Rabbit and Rooster." Roles have been distributed. As children barely speak (only certain syllables and short words "yes" or "no"), all the characters, including the Spring and Sunny will play through movement. Fox will perform the role of a girl from another group - she says. Leray got the role of the Cockerel, which helps drive Zaika Fox. Christina came to us she silently puts on one of the caps, sees a piece of paper, a pencil requests, sits on the carpet and begins to draw. Nadezhda says Christina calm but very touchy, "Whatever you say, immediately sponge puff up." In Worlds very beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. The world loves it when she is being held in his arms. Adult she looks very intently. As long and calmly looks at his reflection in the large Christmas tree toys. "They need to feel that they are loved. That's all, "- says the educator. To get from the rooms to the assembly hall, you have to climb to the second floor. Of the girls with the teacher leaves the elevator, part goes peshochkom. Christina, a tiny, with short hair, in a pink dress, lying one of the first. Girl in front of her light can not overcome the last four stage. Christine rushes to her for help. Light from helping proudly refuses, saying that myself. Assembly hall Sasha shoe drops. Lera immediately rushes to her and starts to pull on her shoes. dancing girls, photographed in hats, playing with white balls similar to snow. And each is trying to draw attention to themselves. They repeat the movement for you, touch you again and ask them to wander.
Finals getting dark, we go to court.Before us is a swing on which a half years ago Leroy sat with his invalid mother and father. Then she had a huge blue bow tied. No snow, only withered grass circle. The decor is reminiscent of a children's summer camp, only sad. "In the camp you know that two weeks back home. And here you will not get home ... never "- sighs colleague.
