We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Ukraine Orphan - Avetisyan
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Orphan Finds New Home and Hope in America
TEASER: A Maryland mother and father travel to Ukraine amid war to pick up their adoptive daughter
PUBLISHED AT: 06/15/2022 at 9:25am
DATES:
BYLINE: Anush Avetisyan
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Brunswick, Maryland
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dmytri Shakhov
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE; MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:55
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:))
((INTRO:))
[[Phil and Kristie Graves are a U.S.couple from Maryland and parents of three biological children and an adopted girl with special needs from Armenia. Recently, they decided to adopt a six-year-old girl with special needs from Ukraine. But that was before the Russian invasion. Anush Avetisyan has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
This is Bridget, or Brizzy, as her new American family calls her. Brizzy was born at 25 weeks via surrogate in Ukraine to biologically American parents, who decided they did not want her. She has special needs: cerebral palsy and club feet. Brizzy can't walk. Her new parents, Phil and Kristie Graves from Maryland, adopted her from Ukraine.
The couple have three biological kids and an adopted daughter, Elliana from Armenia, who has spina bifida.
But despite the challenges of their already large family, in January 2021, Phil and Kristie made the decision to adopt another girl.
Just like with Elliana, they saw Bridget’s picture on an international adoption website,
((Mandatory courtesy: Reece’s Rainbow))
and they just knew.
What they didn’t know was how they were going to pay for another child.
((End courtesy))
((Phil Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Father))
“So, I went on Facebook and said, ‘Hey, we're going to adopt, but we need to raise $8,000 to start the process. And within a week, we had $8,000.”
((NARRATOR))
In the end, the couple raised over $40,000.
In late February
((Mandatory courtesy: Phil Graves))
2022, they were supposed to have a date when they could bring Brizzy home to the U.S. But then, the Russians invaded.
((End courtesy))
((Phil Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Father))
“There's really nothing to do. So, we were just waiting. And then one day in mid-April I got a message from Marina saying the judge will have court.”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory courtesy: Phil Graves))
This meant Phil and Kristie could fly to Ukraine — which they did immediately.
((End courtesy))
((Phil Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Father))
“The best way I can explain it is if you're a parent and your child is in trouble, you just do what you have to do.”
((NARRATOR))
The couple arrived in Kyiv and then traveled to Zaporizhzhia for the adoption hearing and finally picked up Brizzy in Lviv where she had been evacuated
((Mandatory courtesy: Phil Graves))
for safety reasons.
((End courtesy))
((Kristie Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Mother))
“Once we got into Poland and we were no longer in harm's way … I felt this total relief, like I just felt like God carried us, he got us through…”
((NARRATOR))
Brizzy’s new family are beyond happy, though there are still challenges to overcome. For instance, a lot of communication is happening through Google translate, and they’re all learning a new language. Also, they plan to get her special corrective glasses and do what they can to give her the ability to walk.
((Kristie Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Mother))
“We're going to get her foot surgery scheduled for August. And the doctor said he was ninety nine percent sure she will walk.”
((Phil Graves, Bridget’s Adoptive Father))
“People say to me, ‘How's Brizzy doing?’ And I say, ‘She's melting in like warm butter on hot bread. She's got a really bright future!”
((NATS)) ((Brizzy dances and sings))
((For Anush Avetisyan in Brunswick, Maryland, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 15, 2022 09:52 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
