My favorite notes, whether snail mail or email, are from former families from my pediatric practice. I have been a doctor since 1982 when I took my Hippocratic oath, and since then, I have collected memories and kept hard copies of some of these contacts. A lot of the notes are about school milestones and success after challenges. Others are sent around the holidays with photos of the children growing to be strong and healthy. Just last evening, I received a photo journal of two siblings, who were adopted from Kazakhstan and whose parents love to create memories through travel logs. I have enjoyed these and other journals like them for decades.
Most recently I received a note by mail from Abinet Huff, who just turned six years old and was adopted from Ethiopia at 18 months of age. He now has a sister, Hanna, also from Ethiopia. It seems that he has a future in philanthropy.
Note from his mother, Maureen:
Hi there. Abinet give away 1/3 of what he receives for birthdays, etc. I'm not sure how he racked up so much money, but I love that he wants it to go to WWO! Take care, Maureen Huff.
Note (handwritten) from Abinet Huff:
DEAR DR.
ARONSON THANK YOU FOR HELPING KIDS
IN ETHIOPIA
HERE IS SOME
MONEY LOVE
ABINET
This was accompanied by a check for $42.00.
We have a fund raising program at my organization, Worldwide Orphans, called "Count me In." This involves people running marathons, rowing long distances, climbing mountains i.e. Kilimanjaro, and donating a portion of gifts from weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, birthday parties, etc.
I believe that Abinet Huff now has joined the ranks of our favorite "Count me Inners" at WWO who give their hearts, souls, and bodies in some cases, for the kids left behind all over the world.
Thanks to Abinet and the rest of you generous and hardy friends.
Maureen Huff is the parent of Abinet and Hanna Huff, both adopted from Ethiopia. She wrote an essay in Dr. Aronson's new book, Carried in Our Hearts: The Gift of Adoption, Inspiring Stories of Families Created Across Continents, to be published on Mother's Day, May 12, 2013.