Awaiting the arrival of a new baby is often difficult and when those dreams are shattered because of a decision made by someone else it may be more than someone can bear.

Marvin and Loretta Cook are facing that situation.

They made the decision to adopt a baby from Guatemala and did all the necessary paperwork to make that dream come true.

The process is much the same which must be followed in the United States but it is much easier to adopt a baby in the foreign countries and the Cooks were hoping to raise a child from birth.

“We tried to go through social services but they want you to foster before you can adopt and there is pretty much no chance of getting a baby,” said Loretta Cook.

Friends of the family adopted a little girl from Guatemala and gave the Cooks the necessary information. Within two days the couple had the necessary paper work to begin the long process of adoption from a foreign country.

They received word about six months ago that there was a child for them. Little Sammy was born and nine days later they were looking at pictures of the baby they would someday hold and call their own.

As each step of the adoption process was completed the Cooks have gotten more and more excited to welcome Sammy into their home.

They traveled to Guatemala and met Samuel Jacob Cook in person. Sammy's bed is set up and toys are lined up in the rooms of the home he will one day live in.

The only thing missing is Sammy himself.

And the Cooks face the very real possibility they will never bring him home.

In September the administration of Guatemalan President Oscar Berger' announced their intention of suspending foreign adoption to any county that does not meet the Hague Convention standards as of January 1, 2008.

This suspension includes the adoptions that are already in process and effects some 5,000 children in the country of Guatemala.

If the president's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 children will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely instead of the permanent, safe and loving home that has already been selected for these children.

Sammy is one of those children.

The Cooks had hoped to bring him home before the Christmas holiday but the more realistic goal is after the January 1 cut-off date.

No final decision has been made by the Guatemalan government.

For more information visit :http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.

Reporter

tdunn@gcnewsgazette.com