Claire Ling
(Chang Ling)
Chinese Translation: (Chang) often, common (Ling) elegant, clever

Born: April 26, 1998
Adoption Day: March 22, 1999
Adoption Agency: Children's Home Society of Minnesota

Parent: Melissa

"Referral Picture"

This color referral picture was received by me on 1-20-99, after the referral packets for my group were lost (twice!!) in the mail from China to the US.   It was the worst two weeks of waiting in my life.  I received a grainy fax copy of the photo on 1-17-99 and cried over how beautiful she was.

 

"First Day"

This picture was taken by my father on 3-22-99 at the Civil Affairs government office in Changsha, minutes after I had first gotten to hold Claire Ling.  She was so perfect.  The scene itself was both chaotic and joyful, since we had interpreters, orphanage workers, babies, and nine families in a very small room.  Claire was content to let me hold her (no crying), and began to show some real smiles once we arrived back at the hotel that afternoon.

"Happy Baby"

This picture was taken on 4-2-99, Claire's first day in her new home in the US.   I was still recuperating from jet lag, but she was curious and friendly in exploring her new environment and greeting our visitors.

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Email sent back home on 3-26-99
From the Grand Sun City Hotel in Changsha

Greetings to all of you! I am so thrilled to give you some news about my new daughter Claire. She has stolen my heart in every way. She is beautiful and charming and smart. I can’t believe the new things she is learning every day. I received her on Monday [3-22-99]. We (9 families) went to a government office building where we were met by workers from the orphanage and the babies. The babies and caregivers had traveled all night the previous evening to arrive in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province. I got to hold her right away. She was alert and interested in me and my father and a toy we brought. She didn’t cry. She still doesn’t have much hair, if you remember my referral picture. I got to talk with her caregiver. I could tell that the caregivers were attached to her and would miss her. Claire had a big smile whenever the spoke to her. We stayed in the office for about an hour and then went to a notary office to sign paperwork. Then the official process here in the province was about completed.

When we got her back to the hotel, we got her changed. She was wrapped in three layers-—I understand that the orphanages usually don’t have heat [like many buildings in China]. She initially had some difficulty turning over, but she rolls all the time now. She appears to be very healthy overall. She weighs 19 pounds and looks a bit chubby. She is very verbal and babbles and coos all the time. She has already become attached to me. She cries a little when I leave the room. When she arrived, she did have a cough, and it appears that she does have a respiratory infection. Another family had some antibiotic that I have given her. It is hard to find western trained doctors here. It is a struggle to help her get enough rest and enough fluids. She starts to cough when she lays down, and that keeps her awake. So, I’m not getting a lot of rest, either. I am anxious to get her home so she can finish getting healthy.

On Sunday [3-28-99], we move on to Guangzhou to complete the paperwork process for the US Consulate and Immigration. We are staying at the White Swan Hotel, which is supposed to be very nice. (I am very pleased with the hotel here in Changsha, too. It’s hard to believe that you can’t drink the water here when the accomodations are so beautiful.) I think Guangzhou will be a good diversion for us. I have been reluctant to take Claire out since it has been cool and rainy here. And there are no shops within walking distance, so we have mostly stayed around the hotel. In Guangzhou, there is a lot to do within walking distance of the hotel, and hopefully she will be feeling better, too. It should also be warmer there.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. It has been a good support to me in my sleep-deprived state!

--Melissa