This is truly a heartbreaking case. My heart goes out to this poor woman.

I have trouble believing that a Family Journey only had two failed adoption cases. I almost got "mixed up with them" when I inquired about a child they had listed. I subsequently found out that Tamara Hillstrom and Sue Hedberg were the only two adoption agency employees that testified at Mary Bonn's trial. Knowing Tamara Hillstrom was linked to Sue Hedberg was more than enough to make me run!

Been there... done that! We feel your pain.
And no, you never stop wondering or loving the child you lost.

I'm very sorry for the pain of all invovled- it's tragic. And also, as an adoptive mother (Guatemala)- I think there is a lot of homework that, if it had been done, may have saved some of this heartbreak. Rule #1 that I learned very quickly with modest research, do not use agency that shows pictures of children before you are in process and have waited til you are next for referral. I went thru 3 agencies- because although the first 2 were among the best, I had concerns that could only be evident as I was along in the process but pre referral. Also, like with any contract, check and recheck references- that's also how I uncovered potential issues. Peace and healing to both mothers (adoptive and birth).kitkat

I'm deeply sorry for the loss of everyone connected to this case and to the corrupt individuals in this case who have perpetrated other crimes. I offer my sympathy to the biological family that was intimdated and to their circumstances that led them to being vulnerable to these crooks. I offer my sympathy to the woman who tried to adopt these 3 children. I hope we can enact laws that severely punish people like this. I hope that we can enact processes that significantly reduce corruption while at the same time allowing adoptions to continue.

Kindest REgards, CHeryl

Adoption agency websites are great facade and I believe many of the same people hid behind the various adoption agencies. I do like the article did not leave China or Russia out. I have relatives who adopted from China who we feel look down upon us because we adopted from Guatemala. I have heard of China having problems as well sometimes in their system. There is no way appropriate adoption reform can ever happen if the states do not regulate the agencies in regard to all countries. It is amazing what the agencies can get away with in this country. So many of us I am sure felt assurance when we saw the word's "state accredited" on an agency's website. We had to do all proving to them, while they had to disclose nothing about the children in writing.

What a terrible heartache for this woman. I count my blessings everyday that our agency (CCI, Oviedo, FL) was so professional.

I think we all need to remember that the news is not unbiased and any story can be spun to positively or negatively. I am a former client of a Family Journey (while the Mary Bonn situation was happening). This was our second Guatemalan adoption so I had experience to benchmark it against. We had a wonderful experience with the agency and Tamara Hillstrom specifically. She conducted herself with the utmost professionalism and integrity. For the record, Tamara never worked for Reaching Arms and immediately halted her professional relationship with Mary Bonn the minute she learned of Mary's illegal actions. She was investigated and found that she was not involved with any of Mary's dealings.
While my heart aches for anyone who loses their refferal, we all sign on with agencies KNOWING the possibility of the birth family coming back is a possibility (a credilble agency tells you this in the first meeting and typically has you sign a contract stating you understand that there are no guarentees (as we did with A Family Journey!). The article states that the mother was coerced into relinquishing the children (not my Tamara, but by the Guatelmalan contact, mind you). If that is true, thank god they are back with their bio mom! I find it unbelieveable that this PAP is still holding out hope that some day they will be hers!
Tamra Hillstrom was also called out for approx 24 different violations from the state. One of those violations included NOT charging her client for fee's in a timely manner (meaning months after the referral!).
One learning I personally took away after reading this aritcle is, not to believe everything you read as there most likely is more to the story then we are being told. So please remember this when you are pointing fingers and calling indivdiuals corrupt. You may not have all the information.

For all those who want to help support the children of Guatemala or have adopted children from Guatemala, please consider giving your heart and support to Ninos del Lago, a non-profit organization 100% run by volunteers dedicated to helping Guatemala's most impoverished children to dare to dream of a future beyond poverty. This educational nature camp helps children to stay in school and succeed in school by offering mentorship and a safe and nurturing place to play and build confidence and self esteem. Even a small token donaton of $5 will go a long way to helping us realize our vision for Guatemala's forgotten children.

We actually adopted through A Family Journey and have nothing but praises for the agency and its director, Tamera Hillstrom. She has a passion for the children and does everything to get the children home to teh best of her ability. we were one of the last families to adopt from Guatemala before they closed their doors to adoption to change their policies to match the Hague treaty. We ran into difficulties with the Guatemalan goverment and Tamera actually flew up an attorney from Guatemala to get the papers signed in time.

One of those violations that the paper quoted was actually becuase of me. We lived in St Cloud at the time and her office is in Minnepolis. It is an hour an half drive. Tamera volutered to drive up to meet us and I gave her a tip with our fees in the same check. I wanted to pay for her gas but because it was in the same check with no paper trail from me saying it was a tip. The agency filed it as over charging. So a gift becomes a violation. Not everything you read is correct. We still owe A Family Journey money for our adoption of our beatiful girl. Not once has Tamera requested. Her words, " Jason when you are able then go ahead and pay. If it is 20 years so be it." You tell me how that is money hungry. Her heart beat is to love children.