"It is not just for the adoptive families to benefit from the adoption. Typically parents who go through all the ups and downs of any adoption process don't do it for the refund. The issue is to remove part of the most significant obstacle or deterrent that many otherwise willing families find when thinking about adoption: the financial one. All children need a home--and there are families eager to welcome children of all ages and with the most severe physical and / or developmental challenges. There are even families willing to adopt children who are terminally ill so that those little ones will at least know earthly love before being called to the eternal one. There are children dying from poverty, malnutrition, lack of proper medical care, and neglect. Ironically, in most cases their lives could be saved if rescued on time. The adoption tax credit is not a reward to those who adopted already. It's a little "break" to allow them to provide more things for their newly adopted child--but, most importantly, it means the possibility to do what most families feel like doing after the child or children being adopted are home: to adopt again. Moreover, for other families that are also willing but not so ready to take the huge leap of faith that it entails, it means the possibility to finally doing it--finally saving the life of a child. No, don't feel badly thinking that you're doing it for your own interest. First of all, you're doing it for your children who may need equipment not provided by insurance, or a larger house, or who make it necessary for you to reduce your working hours. But, ultimately, you're not doing it for you or for any other family you may be related to or friends with: you're doing it for the children!!!You're doing it for children who are literally dying or near death due to poverty, malnutrition, lack of proper medical care, and neglect. Those are children who could live and bloom if only given that chance. There are families willing to adopt children of any age and with the most severe physical and developmental challenges. There is no "unwanted" child. The only problem is the cost--not to support the children in daily life, but to be able to get them home. Please call or e-mail your representative and both your senators today. Don't delay--or it may be too late. Please do it--not for you, not for someone else you know--but for those children who are totally unknown, forgotten, rejected now. . . but who have the right to be loved, the right to be taken care of, the right to be known. Thank you. God bless," Lillian Godone-Maresca
