Before and After
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| Left: Hunter in the orphanage the day the Amelungs met and adopted him. Right: Hunter today. |
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| Left: Daria right after she came home at one year old. Right: Daria today. |
In July 2000, Brett and Laurie Amelung adopted Hunter and Daria from Russia. Hunter was 20 months old. Laurie says, "In addition to his cleft lip and palate he was severely malnourished. When we picked him up at the orphanage he weighed about 14 pounds. I think the most shocking thing to us was that he still 'swam' in a size one diaper and I could circle the top of his thigh with my thumb and middle finger and have my fingers touch! He was very, very tiny. If I remember correctly, he gained about one pound per week when he first came home. Today, he is nearly 8 and will be starting second grade in the next several weeks. He is a good student and a delightful little boy who just loves to help around the house."
Daria was 12 months old. Laurie says, "She was also tiny — about 11 pounds at a year old. Her cleft was obviously wider than Hunter's, but that didn't stop her from grinning from ear to ear. She was a happy baby and has bounced back quickly from all her surgeries. Today, she is 7 and will begin first grade this month. She has been reading for the last year, loves school and continues to be a wonderful little girl."
Laurie would be happy to talk to any prospective adoptive parents about adopting a special needs child. She comments, "While there have been some difficulties, many surgeries, numerous therapy sessions and countless doctor visits with the kids, our biggest 'challenges' have been the fact that our kids are normal, ornery, funny, delightful, naughty, fabulous kids."
In addition to Hunter and Daria, the family has two other children who were special needs adoptions. Hannah and Noah were both born missing an ear. Brett and Laurie have seven children: Christopher, 18; Ryan, 16; Chase, 13; Hannah, 9; Noah, 9; Hunter, 7; and Daria, 7.
