HANNAH'S HEART: HOPE TO STAY
Alex is an orphan from Russia. And he wants to be adopted by Ed and Robin Foster. Alex has been through a number of nicknames during his time in the USA, but he has settled on "Alex" because that's what "Dad" prefers to call him. His full Russian name is Alexsey Olegovich Kharlamov, and his full American name will be Alexey Kharl Foster. Thanks to The Hope Project (read more), he was brought to the States to receive medical help, familial care, and spiritual teaching.
Special medical needs
Alex has arthrogryposis (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita), a muscle disorder that causes multiple joint contractures (limitation in the range of motion of a joint) at birth. When Dean and Cindy Hesselgrave arranged to bring him to the States, his legs were nonfunctional. In January of 2007, he had bilateral through-the-knee amputations at the Shriners Hospital in South Carolina. The procedure should reduce the likelihood of future wound problems and will also help Alex be more functional in his wheelchair. Recently, a generous company gave Alex a top-of-the-line TiLite wheelchair (lightweight titanium).
Remarkable timing and circumstances
Because the doctor who initially evaluated Alex did not think much could be done for him, Alex was not originally selected to be part of the Hope Program. His name became "accidentally" (miraculously) attached to the photo of another child who had been selected to come. If a sovereign God had not intervened, Alex would still be in Russia without the hope of the Gospel or a Christian family. We believe the Lord specifically chose this child and brought him to the USA for a reason – very possibly to be adopted by this loving, Christian family.
Since May 2007, Alex has been able to live with his new American family at their home in Rockford, Illinois. You can click here to view an album of family photos taken during his time with the Fosters in the past year.
Who Alex really is
Amber Bixby, translator for The Hope Project, says this about Alex:When you first see 11-year-old [Alex], it is probably not his handicap that you will first notice, but his big beautiful smile!! [Alex’s] smile is a reflection of his personality. He is a fun-loving and very accommodating child. He responds quickly to love and has a very grateful spirit for anything that is done for him. He loves to give and loves to see others happy.
[Alex’s] hobbies include playing ball and drawing. God has given him a special talent to draw and he often draws scenes of the things going on around him or his thoughts about his present circumstances. He is spontaneous and non-pretentious. He is kind to others without a thought of what he might get in return. His shortcomings are always followed by a genuine “I’m sorry!” He is truly a blessing to work with and be around.
Ed and Robin Foster live in Rockford, Illinois, as do six of their other seven children (Joel—soon to be married in May '08, Nancy, twins Kelly and Clara, and twins Tyler and Travis). The Fosters' oldest daughter Sarah is in college in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Fosters first heard of Alex when Bob Bixby, their pastor, mentioned Alex's situation and the Hope Project. As members of Morning Star Baptist Church, the Fosters had been praying in general about others' adoptions, and had already been prayerfully considering one of their own. As prayer was requested and they learned more about Alex's needs, the Fosters became more and more convinced that the Lord would have them adopt Alex. Since he was able to come to live with them in the spring of 2007, Alex has become "just like family" at Morning Star, as well.
On March 11, 2008, Ed and Robin Foster have a court date in Russia. They are poised now to follow through with the finalization of Alex's adoption. This has been a long and extremely expensive journey for them, and they have worked sacrificially together to help see this adoption completed. Many wonderful individuals and groups have helped over the last year, covering the costs to bring Alex to the USA and helping him get medical care and the equipment he needed. Adoption is expensive, and we ask that you would prayerfully consider donating financially or through Mileage Plus (United/Star Alliance) awards mileage to help them finance the flights to Russia and to alleviate some of the burden of other expenses they have been bearing during this process.
Bringing orphans into Christian homes is an investment both for now and for eternity. Hannah's Heart exists to help adoptive families by raising awareness and facilitating donations. We consider this an ideal opportunity to invest in Alex's life, both materially and spiritually. If you share our burden to help Alex become a part of the Foster family, please pray for them, and please prayerfully consider a tax-deductible donation to help them cover adoption expenses.
Hannah's Heart was originally the brainchild and burden of the single adults fellowship in Morning Star Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois. It is yet another project-in-progress of Global Grace Missions, Morning Star's disaster relief and missions arm. Hannah's Heart has already helped facilitate donations for three other families. You can learn more about the beginnings and motives of Hannah's Heart here.