Max & Sergei's Story

Everyone is interested in Max and Sergei's story, wondering why they are in an orphanage and what happened to their parents? We don't have all the details, just enough to break my heart. Max and Sergei lived with their Mother until her death three years ago. The boys then went to live with their Aunt, who passed away a year and a half later. There was no other family and no father in the picture and so they entered the orphanage in Mariupol, Ukraine where they have been living for the last year and a half.

Children in Ukraine are not eligible for adoption if a relative calls, visits or writes to them within a 365 day period. These boys have been in the orphanage with no contacts from anyone since they arrived. They are alone.

Kevin and I met Sergei when we responded to an article in our little Draper newspaper about a group who was looking for host families for a group of orphans who were coming over from the Ukraine. We had no intention of adopting but we thought we could help by hosting. At only 5 years old Max is considered to young to travel so we only had Sergei with us for the three weeks. We took Sergei all over the state in an effort to help him meet people who were potential adoptive parents but by the time Sergei left we realized we were meant to be his family. We appreciate your help, support and prayers and we make this journey to complete our family.