A family in Ohio learned that the biological mother of a little girl they adopted had been ‘tricked.’
Jessica and Adam Davis had four beautiful children of their own, but with the ability to have another, they decided they would adopt, giving another child a better chance in life. Jessica said;
“For us, adopting was about sharing our abundance – our family, love and home with a child who lacked these basic necessities.”
According to a CNN investigation, the Davis’ travelled to Uganda in April 2015, where they saw little Namata in an orphanage about four hours from the village she used to live. There were no toys, and little hope of a successful future.
After thorough research and “ensuring a proper and ethical adoption,” they adopted the little girl taking her home with them to the US where she would become a part of the Davis family.
Kids for sale: “My mom was tricked.” Part 2 of @randikayeCNN‘s exclusive investigation airs tonight, 9 ET https://t.co/PbU2Z9mx0x pic.twitter.com/hRU44eyNIN
— CNN (@CNN) October 14, 2017
After about six months, little Namata’s English began to improve and what she shared with her American mum and dad was rather alarming.
She kept talking about her biological mother and how her mother would walk her to school each day. The Davis’ say they had been told by the European Adoption Consultants that Namata’s father was dead and that her mother didn’t want her – which left her open to abuse.
Mum Jessica contacted the US State Department telling them what was happening and speaking to CNN, Jessica Davis said;
“I told them it sounds like she has a mother out there that really loves her, and possibly a father.
“We had somehow participated in taking a child from a loving family.”
Reunite Uganda, an organisation run by a woman named Keren Riley, managed to find little Namata’s biological mother after Jessica contacted her. They organised a video reunion between mum in Uganda and Namata in Ohio.
When her American mum asks why Namata is so excited, the tot is seen smiling and giggling as she exclaims;
“Because I get to talk to my mom!”
Through this encounter Namata would learn that her mother was tricked, as she was told the Davis family were merely sponsoring her daughter’s education in America, not adopting her. Jessica says those in Uganda “forged paperwork and placed Namata in an orphanage.” And her mother was “powerless to stop the wheels that were turning.”
After uncovering what had happened, dad Adam brought little Namata back to her mother in Uganda as the family couldn’t afford for both parents to go. Jessica said;
“She could not wait to be reunited with her family and we were very careful not to steal her joy. I witnessed this part of the journey through video calls and pictures and it was beautiful. Painfully beautiful.
Jessica also said that after months of uncovering details of their particular case, she says it is “not uncommon within international adoption.”
