I take care of Maria since she was born in November 2012. Mary is the fourth child of a mother who is mentally retarded. Her two brothers and sister all died shortly after childbirth.
Maria a few days after its birth in the woods was found where her mother gave birth to her. She was taken to Nkhoma hospital because she was born prematurely and had a very low birth weight. Upon arrival, she was covered in burns from the sun and she was treated immediately for blood poisoning. Together with the grandmother, I took care of Maria. I learned the grandmother how she had to bottle feed and what was the importance of good hygiene. After two months in the hospital Mary left the hospital and went back to her native village, but they often came back because of severe diarrhea, malaria and septicemia sorrow. After 6 months the grandmother asked me to adopt Maria , we have merged to the office of social work in Lilongwe and I officially became the foster mother of Mary.
In November 2014 I started with Maria's official adoption process. I contacted an attorney who prepared my case.
To adopt a child in Malawi, you need permission from the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court closed shortly after my application because of a strike. End of January they opened again and the judge stated in early February a social worker to investigate the matter. A few weeks later the social worker visited my house and Mary's grandmother in her village. He wrote a report and gave it to the judge. In the meantime, I collected all the necessary documents; haircut of my passport, certificate of good conduct, medical approvement, an account of my family background etc. and this resulted in my lawyer.
On Thursday 19 February I went with Mary, Maria's grandmother and the lawyer in the courtroom. The adoption case was scheduled to 8.30 in the morning. The judge decided to approve the adoption well and from that date, of Maria Tirzah Elteren officially my daughter.
Since 2011 get children adopted from Malawi automatically a Dutch passport. Of course there must first have a lot of paperwork to be done, but soon Maria will receive her Dutch passport and Dutch state.
Love,
Nicole
