Family Loses Fight to Bring Daughter Home
By: Tyler Thomason
Updated: January 22, 2013
We just want to do everything we can to bring her home."
An empty bedroom.
An incomplete photograph.
A missing branch from this Bella Vista family tree.
Your heart just drops because we were so close."
Jason and Kendra Skaggs were less than 30 days away from bringing their adopted daughter, 5-year-old Polina Joy Skaggs, home from Russia.
"We told her on December 23, the day we went to court, that we would be back in 30 days to get her," Kendra says.
A 30-day waiting period the family had to undergo following their court approval.
However, nearly a week into that waiting period, just days ago, new Russian law confirmed their worst fears.
"It turns out that when they say the children who had been approved by court, they're talking about children who had already undergone a 30-day waiting period after the court process was over," Kendra says.
A crushing blow for a family who had already made accommodations for their new daughter.
They even purchased a new van to help cater to Polina's needs as she lives with "Spina Bifida," a physical disability.
"We already feel like she's a part of our family already and that's what makes it so gut wrenching and difficult to let go of that," Jason says.
"It gets harder every day," Kendra adds.
"It's kind of like going through a grieving process but you can't go all the way through it because you can't let go yet."
For the Skaggs, the fight is far from over.
"There's a human rights organization in Russia that has told us their lawyers will work on our behalf, so that would be the next step if there's no diplomatic ending," Kendra says.
She knows it's all in God's plan, she just hopes that plan someday includes Polina playing in her Bella Vista bedroom that awaits her celebrated arrival.
Keep up with the family's blog.
CLICK HERE for our earlier report on this family's story.
Keep up with the family's blog.
CLICK HERE for our earlier report on this family's story.
