As Kidsave celebrates its 25th anniversary, we are speaking with Kidsave alumni—many who have families of their own now—retired staff, friends, dedicated volunteers, and families formed through Kidsave across the years as we celebrate 25 years of love and family.
Kristina discovered the unexpected joy of motherhood through her adoption of Flor and Rosmery. She had never considered becoming a parent, but her experiences working as an immigration lawyer with displaced children and families inspired her to make a difference.
Initially, she was still uncertain about adoption. She decided hosting a child might be a good stepping stone before committing to full-time foster care. Although the child she hosted in 2018 couldn't be adopted, Kristina felt a longing to become a mother awaken within her.
Soon after, Kidsave's Summer Miracles program introduced her to Flor, a caring teenage girl from Colombia who became her first adopted daughter. Kristina recalls that while just a year before, she'd never thought she'd be a parent, the moment she connected with Flor, she knew in her heart that she wanted to adopt her.
While some folks are hesitant to adopt older kids, Kristina had no such reservations. “Flor and I had so much in common, we just understood each other,” she says. Kristina decided to take a plunge that may have surprised some, but that she knew in her heart to be right.
“I was never more sure of any decision in my life,” Kristina says. The connection was immediate, and their relationship flourished over the years. In 2019, their dream came true when Kristina adopted Flor. A few years later, when Flor told Kristina she wanted to have a sister, Kristina didn't hesitate at the idea.
Through Kidsave's Summer Miracles program, they met Rosmery, another teenage girl from Colombia two years younger than Flor. Like Flor, Rosmery was looking for a family and wanted to have an older sister. Kristina and Flor drove from New York to Washington, D.C., to meet Rosmery. After their time together, they decided to welcome Rosmery into their family, and she was adopted in 2023.
Kristina appreciates how much her daughters are similar but different and how much they bring joy and fun into the family. She also recognizes how much they've needed one another. Now Flor and Rosmery are experiencing life as sisters, they can share and confide in the same cultural ties, backgrounds, and experiences that have shaped who they are. Kristina enjoys witnessing the bond that the two of them have developed.
Kristina has always been attuned to what her daughters need to thrive in their new environment. She firmly commits to maintaining her daughters' cultural ties and connections to their Colombian roots, particularly by incorporating Colombian culture into their lives through language, music, and food. The Colombian tradition of Dia de las Velitas is an essential celebration for Kristina's family, as is Kristina's incorporation of her parents and grandparents into the traditions. When Flor started going to school, Kristina enrolled her in an international school, recognizing it was important for Flor to be around other Spanish-speaking children and children from diverse backgrounds.
Kristina encourages others not to shy away from adopting older children. “I love being a mom,” she says. “[It's the] biggest surprise of my life.”
The importance of understanding the child's perspective and their consent to decide for themselves that they want to be adopted was very important to Kristina. She deeply values her family, knowing that the girls had chosen the life they wanted to have together and that they find great joy in one another's presence every day.
Kristina is very grateful for how much her daughters have given her a new perspective and improved her life. Kristina wants others considering adoption to know that what helped her the most was getting rid of preconceived notions about parenting teenagers and embracing the uniqueness of each child's journey. She emphasizes that each kid needs a safe foundation to grow and learn what it's like to have a family.
In Kristina's words: “You just need to realize that even though they're older, they still really need you. Be open to the experience and know that it will be different from what you expect, but it will also be beautiful and rewarding in ways you can't even imagine.”
About Summer Miracles
Our Summer Miracles program gives older orphans who are overseas a chance at a family. The Summer Miracles program provides older kids with no possibility of reunification – and little likelihood of adoption in their home country because of their age – the opportunity to stay in the U.S. for five weeks in the summer (three weeks in the winter). While here, the kids stay with host families, learn about American culture, create lifelong memories, and connect with potential forever families. Book a call with our team to learn more.
Kidsave's 25th Anniversary
Join us as we celebrate our 25th anniversary at the Kidsave Miracles Gala! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. Are you a Kidsave family who wants to share your story? Learn how here.
