Lisa's Story...
My adventure in Cambodia really began 17 years ago when I (Lisa) travelled to Cambodia to bring home a then 11 month old baby boy. His name was Rath Dara, and he was living in the Nutrition Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Determined to bring home a second child, too, I travelled with documents and enough cash to make this possible. I was told that there wouldn't be any "baby girls" available, but if I was willing to accept a 4 or 5 year old, perhaps with a slight physical difficulty, I might be able to find a daughter, too.
Upon arrival in Cambodia after a long and rigorous trip, I was overwhelmed when in addition to introducing me to Brennan Dara, they placed a 5 month old baby girl in my arms. Her name was Rath Kalop and she was about the most pathetic looking little creature I had ever seen.... but what a smile she had! She would become Kaley Ilene.
My time in Cambodia stretched to nearly six weeks. Fortunately, my lifelong friend Marcy had accompanied me on this journey. In 1991, Cambodia was still very much in recovery from the Khmer Rouge period. We stayed in a modest cottage type hotel, travelled on open cyclos around the city, and found a couple of restaurants to eat in. Mostly we hung out in our room, eating ramen noodles, and oddly enough, the ritz crackers & snickers bars that we could buy in one of the small markets. In the photo above, you see me and the kids just a day or so before we finally got to leave Cambodia. They look amazing! Within a few days of getting lots of love and plenty to eat, they were thriving. Now me, on the other hand, I had pinkeye, dysentery, etc., etc.
Ever since we left Cambodia 16 years ago, not a day has gone by that I didn't at least for a moment stop to think about this haunting place. Nowhere else have I experienced such a complete mixture of tragedy and hopefulness. And because we don't have details on Brennan's or Kaley's actual birth families, in my heart I feel like this nation itself, Cambodia, gave me the greatest give that I have ever received in my life... these children.
When I left Cambodia years ago I promised that I would be back.... to show my children their wonderful birthcountry and to show the nannies and government workers and cyclo drivers of Phnom Penh what great young adults "Dara & Kalop" are becoming. In 2005 we made our first trip back. It was a wonderful heartwrenching journey, and once again, I felt like I left a piece of my heart behind and that someday I would return again. This summer Kaley and I will have that opportunity. Brennan will be staying home this time due to his soccer schedule. This time, Marcy will be travelling with us once again, along with our “soulsisters” in Cambodian adoption, Julie & Deb and their daughters Hilary and Leanne. I know without a doubt that it will be a great adventure and that our lives will be enriched because of it. Along the way we will be blogging about the journey and sharing our experiences with you. I hope that you will consider sending a gift of support to help us “send rice send love.” Your gift will make a tremendous difference in the lives of some incredible people.