Family Adopts Boy Born Without Arms and Legs, Announces Bethany Christian Services

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Adoption Month, Bethany Christian Services is recognizing the Holmes family, who recently adopted a 10-month-old boy without arms and legs. The Holmes family brought Ezekiel Daniel (Zeke) home from Colombia in September. The adoption was facilitated by Bethany Christian Services.

Janie VanDyke, Special Needs Children Coordinator at Bethany, recalls Charlotte Holmes being very interested in adopting Zeke when she first contacted Bethany. "Charlotte was open to accepting Zeke unconditionally," Janie said. The Holmes family "met" Zeke through an e-mail. "I read the e-mail about the infant who was referred to as 'baby Daniel' and then I saw his picture," said Charlotte Holmes. "At that moment, I knew that he was to be our son." The Holmes family gave "baby Daniel" his name, Ezekiel Daniel, when the adoption was finalized.

The Holmes family received a grant for $10,000 from Brittany's Hope Foundation to help cover the costs of Zeke's adoption. Brittany's Hope is a non-profit foundation dedicated to aiding and facilitating adoptions of special children from around the world. In addition to facilitating the grant from Brittany's Hope, Bethany Christian Services also awarded a Caring Connections grant to cover the remaining costs of the adoption. "Bethany made sure that all obstacles were removed so that we could bring our precious gift from God home where he belonged," Charlotte said.

"Zeke is thriving in our family and amazes us daily by finding new ways to do things that people with arms and legs take for granted," Charlotte said. Charlotte and Gregory Holmes have also adopted two girls, Anna, age 4, from Guatemala, and Jasmine, age 4, from China. Jasmine was born with spina bifida.

With offices in 30 states, Bethany has a wide network to recruit families for a special needs adoption. "Our staff members are really motivated to place children with special needs," said Bill Blacquiere, Chief Operating Officer for Bethany. In 2004, Bethany placed 121 children with special needs into loving homes.

Bethany Christian Services is a Christ-centered, not-for-profit, pro-life, adoption and family services agency with over 75 locations in 32 states and ministries in over a dozen countries. Bethany is the largest adoption agency in the country with 1,840 placements in 2004. In addition to adoption services, Bethany provides birthparent counseling, family counseling, foster care programs, refugee services, and an infertility ministry called Stepping Stones. Bethany was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

Source: Bethany Christian Services