Posted: January 16, 2011

Haitian orphan finds home in Moore County

Moore County couple adopts Haitian child

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WHISPERING PINES, N.C. — A young survivor of the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti has found a happy home with his adopted family in Moore County.

Then 19-month-old Jefferson was living at the House of Angels Orphanage in Tabarre, Haiti, when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit on Jan. 12, 2010. His orphanage was badly damaged, but he survived.

Jefferson had already been selected for adoption by Amie Fraley, of Whispering Pines, and her husband, Chris, but he was still months away from coming to the United States.

The Fraleys pushed to speed up the adoption to bring him home.

"We knew everyone was safe after the earthquake, but you were hearing about the weather and the looters that were happening," Fraley said.

Next month, Jefferson will have been with the Fraleys, along with their two biological children and an adopted daughter from China, for a year.

His adoptive mother said he has the same interests as any boy – tractors, baseball and trains. He is going through the same changes as any toddler.

"He is working on potty training and the normal stuff 2-year-olds do," Fraley said.

In Haiti, his old orphanage hasn't been completely rebuilt yet.

"It's heartbreaking to think if he was still there," Fraley said.

His adoptive mother said that she looks forward to one day telling Jefferson the story of how he came to his American family.

"He had a family who was here and so excited to get him, and we were happy he was able to make it out of such a sad and dangerous situation," Fraley said.

Reporter: Adam Owens
Photographer: Greg Hutchinson
Web Editor: Anne Johnson

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11 Comments

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Latest Comments

Everyone on this post is pretty selfish and morally wrong. A child is a child no matter the ethnicity or where ever the child comes from. An american child is no different than a child from africa, asia, middle east. It really shouldn't matter. What should matter is that the child is taken care of and loved just like a child that your naturally birthed. I'm sorry but you should take a step back and look at the comments you make.

wavesofmercy7
January 18, 2011 2:25 p.m.

How many of you have adopted American children?

imsirius
January 18, 2011 1:09 p.m.

Its sad but our American children need the same qualities as those brought here. I hear all the time about this child or that child. Sad to be US born and alone.

2alegal
January 17, 2011 5:21 p.m.

HALEIBC, I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. THERE ARE SO MANY KIDS HERE THAT NEED FAMILIES AND YET THEY HAVE TO GO TO THERE COUNTRIES. IT COMES ACROSS TO ME AS TOKEN BABIES LIKE A FASHION TREND....

delilahk2000
January 17, 2011 4:09 p.m.

Thank you, Gingerlynn, for precisely capturing my experience as an applicant for adoption before our two were born. Many adoption agencies have VERY restrictive, non-adoption oriented practices and tendencies in their policies. They are pro-birth mother, keeping children in places where they may or may not experience a chance at life. We know; we tried. I wish haleibc all the best in her observations; she is right. You can't get an American orphan unless someone chooses to literally GIVE you their child, frequently out of desperation. We found Oklahoma to have the most "adoptive parent friendly" policies. Appreciate the wizened thoughts in this blog!

AF Flight Nurse
January 17, 2011 1:41 p.m.

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