American couple Lauren and Harrison Smith had been in the process of adopting a child from China, when news of China ending international adoptions came as a shock to them. The couple had already created family traditions for their son, Benaiah, who they had been matched with in 2019. However, their plans were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent ban on international adoptions by China.
The ban on international adoptions marked the end of a 35-year program that saw around 160,000 Chinese children adopted by foreign parents. Many children, including those with disabilities and special needs, had found homes through this program. Concerns are now raised about the fate of the over 50,000 children living in state orphanages in China, as well as those who had been matched with prospective parents before the ban was announced.
Families like the Smiths and the Contants, who were in the middle of the adoption process, are devastated by the news. The uncertainty surrounding the future of these adoptions has left many families in limbo. Despite efforts by some governments to intervene on behalf of affected couples, details about the fate of these children remain unclear.
The emotional toll on the children who were matched with prospective families but may not be able to be adopted is also a cause for concern. The Smiths, in particular, are hoping that their son, Benaiah, knows that he is loved and missed, despite the obstacles preventing them from bringing him home. The future of these families and children remains uncertain as they navigate this unexpected turn of events.
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