ZHENGZHOU, China (Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, 5:50 p.m.) – Pam and I sat on an overstuffed couch inside the fifth-floor Civil Affairs office in Zhengzhou, not too far from the Crowne Plaza where we just checked in minutes earlier.
The door opened and in walked Matthew.
He arrived, accompanied by his caretaker, Tina from Amazing Hands group home in Beijing, and clad thickly in two pairs of pants, a T-shirt, a thick sweater and a heavy coat.
He surveyed the room, walked around briefly and then stood silent staring at me and Pam.
We walked over to Matthew, hopped on to the carpeted floor, motioned for him and it began: More than two hours of ear-banging, blood-curdling, non-stop crying.
Actually, this was much more than crying. It was sobbing. Hard heavy, gasping sobbing. The kind that you used to do as a kid when something bad happened or you were suddenly frightened.
It’s been a little over than two hours since Matthew Wu Di entered our lives. And, as was the case with our daughter, Camryn, nothing will ever be the same.
Echo, a representative from Holt International Children’s Services in Eugene, Ore., and our escort here in Zhangzhou, just stopped by our room with a survival package: A few diapers, a sippy cup, milk and a few other things.
Now, it’s time for dinner. As soon as we take Matthew to eat, I’ll return with more. Until then, enjoy these first photos with Matthew, Pam and me. And check back later for a photo slide show.
Copyright 2008 by Terry R. Cassreino. Al rights reserved.
Happy Gotcha Day 2012 my little man!
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