Fisher Creek couple adopts two Siberian youngsters

By Rose Hooper

"Dakota will be happily playing and all of a sudden he'll just let out a piercing sound of delight. To me, it's what pure joy sounds like. It's almost like he's been kept quiet for so long and suddenly he is free to express himself," said new mom Kelly Perkins of Sylva's Fisher Creek community. With Dakota, age 4, and Kelly is sister Veronica, age 6. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper

But when Kelly saw a picture of 3-year-old Greisha clinging to his older sister, Vera, 5, she could feel the obvious love between the two youngsters and their need to be together.

So much for Kelly's idea of adopting a single infant. She was hooked on this special brother and sister in a remote Siberian orphanage.

When the Perkins thought about adoption, they knew they wanted to look internationally - for two reasons. First, the need of these children is so great. Orphanages, especially in Russia, are truly poverty stricken, and children's rate of adoption is poor, they knew. Second, the Russian parent(s) must give up all rights to the child(ren) before they can be adopted by American parents. That way, years from now the biological parent cannot try to reclaim the child.

"I just couldn't bear the thought of that," Kelly said. "When I got the children, I wanted to know that they would belong to Allen and me forever."

One of Dakota's favorite "chores" is to brush his mom's hair. He and his sister, Veronica, easily entertain each other, playing well together, Kelly Perkins of Sylva's Fisher Creek community said about her two newly adopted children. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper

Finally, Allen and Kelly and Kelly's mother, Yvonne Wells, made their first trip to Siberia in September of last year.

"Moscow is beautiful, but I think all of Russia's wealth must be in that city alone. Everywhere else we went was so bleak and devastated," said Kelly.

But even more beautiful than Moscow were the young, eager faces of Greisha and Vera.

"In their pictures, Vera looked like she has blond hair. But turns out, it's red just like mine," said a surprised Kelly. "In fact, my mom said Vera looks just like I did when I was a little girl! I came back and looked at my baby pictures, and you know, she's right. When Vera even looked at my baby pictures, she said, 'That's Vera.' Now, isn't that amazing?"

The initial visit to the orphanage was to meet Vera and Greisha and verify in person that those were the children of their choice.

At the Siberian orphanage, Allen and Kelly Perkins of Sylva prepare Vera and her younger brother, Greisha, for their trip to the United States for a new life - and new names, Veronica and Dakota Gregory.

Then it was back to the states for the parents while legal hurdles had to be cleared in Siberia. When the couple returned to Siberia in November, they had to appear in court.

"The children's mother showed up and that was a little difficult for me," Kelly admitted. The couple remained in Siberia for three weeks before everything was finalized, returning to the states on Dec. 6 accompanied by two youngsters with a new life and a new identity.

Thousands of miles away from home, in the frozen, forsaken place, Allen and Kelly's hearts were warmed by these Siberian youngsters.

- Herald photo by Rose Hooper

"Allen and I both like the name Gregory, which is pretty similar to Greisha, so we named him Dakota Gregory, and we call Vera, Veronica, which is also pretty similar," said Kelly.

"The first week was a little tough for them. Initially, they were shy and they didn't know our language, so communicating was a little shaky. We used a lot of sign language.

"They weren't real sure about our food either. Mostly, they were used to eating vegetables, which is good. They do eat everything on their plate, though, and we discovered right away that they love ice cream. I don't think they'd ever had any before."

Not used to being an instant parent of two active youngsters, Allen, with some reservations, asked Kelly one night, "Do you think we could take them out to dinner?"

"They were so well behaved when we went out to eat, I think Allen and I both were amazed," Kelly said.

Because they didn't have much at the orphanage, it doesn't take much to amuse the two children. "They are pretty good at amusing themselves; they especially like bubbles and can spend hours playing with them. Running water fascinates them," said new mom Kelly. "And they both love to answer the telephone."

Watching them play, Kelly noted, "Veronica thinks about things before she acts, but not Dakota. He just plunges in there and takes his chances.

"Dakota will be happily playing and all of a sudden he'll just let out a piercing sound of delight. To me, it's what pure joy sounds like. It's almost like he's been kept quiet for so long and suddenly he is free to express himself."

In four months, the four different personalities have meshed into an instant family. With obvious affection and respect, Dakota and Veronica readily call their parents, "Mamma and Daddy." The Perkins could be on a poster representing the All American Family.

"I thought I would be frazzled, being an instant mother of two... and two lively ones, at that. But I don't feel that way at all. I really feel comfortable in this new role," said Kelly, who agrees that time off from work (Community First Mortgage) helped smooth the transition. Allen owns a carpentry business.

"I'm so proud of what they've done," said grandmother Mary Ann Lengyel. "Allen and Kelly have taken on a big responsibility, but they've got a lot of love to share. I know they will make wonderful parents."

Kelly said, "If you are a parent thinking about adopting on an international level, I will be glad to talk with you and answer any questions you might have.

"The biggest hurdles are paperwork and time. It seemed to take forever. From the time we selected the children, to the time we brought them home, was a year. During that year all I could think of was how much they were growing and how I couldn't see it happen. I wanted them with me right away."

Money shouldn't be a factor in considering adoption, the Perkins agree. That's not to say it isn't expensive. It is. "But there are agencies out there that help fund international adoptions for parents," they said.

"The adoption agency contributes sizeable donations to the orphanage, so the money doesn't just go for Veronica and Dakota. It's helping out those children left behind, buying them diapers, blankets and food, and that makes Allen and me feel good," Kelly said.

Back to Archive: 04/05/01.