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Adopt a child with a rare disease

The Ragusos wanted to grow their family and give a child needing parents a warm and safe home.  When they adopted their sweet daughter Juliana from China, they did not know she had a rare disease until several months later.  They only knew she had bilateral arm and leg malformations.  

“We learned about her condition months after we brought her home.  She has an ultra-rare congenital metabolic bone condition called Hypophosphatsia,” says Becky, Juliana’s mom.   

Juliana with her big sister after coming home from China.

Rare Disease Day is celebrated globally on the last day of February each year, which is also the rarest day on the calendar.  According to the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD), people celebrate Rare Disease Day to bring awareness to rare diseases and the issues patients and their families face.   

Many CCAI families have adopted children with rare diseases.   

According to raredisease.org, any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US is considered “rare.”  25-30 million Americans live with a rare disease, and 350 million people are affected worldwide.  Rare diseases impact people of all ages and all walks of life.  Indeed, rare diseases are not so rare!  

According to medlineplus.gov, Hypophosphatasia weakens and softens the bones, causing skeletal abnormalities similar to another childhood bone disorder called rickets.  Affected infants have short limbs, an abnormally shaped chest, and soft skull bones.  

Juliana’s disease impacts every system in her body, from the bones to the skin.  She has had six surgeries: Achilles lengthening, two double tibial osteotomies, one repair of a fracture and a broken plate, and tonsil & adenoidectomy.  Her bones heal very slowly.  Juliana’s last surgery was in 2020, and she still has a fibula that has not entirely healed.  On March 15, she is having her hardware removed (except for one fibula plate).  That will be three plates and 15 screws.  To cope with the upcoming surgery and educate her peers, Juliana will share her story with the entire 4th grade before the surgery.  Way to go, Juliana!   

Juliana recovering from surgery.

Like many families raising children with rare diseases, the Raguso family’s biggest challenge is learning about and understanding it. 

“We take her to as many patient meetings as we can.  That is essential for her to know she isn’t alone,” says Becky.  Moreover, traveling on vacation can be tricky because her injectable medication must always be refrigerated.  

The Ragusos believe their second daughter Juliana is their missing link in completing their family.  “She is pure joy.  She has taught us how to relish life and give it all we have.  Juliana is our very own superhero.” They have learned to read food labels, decode them, and give injections.  Most importantly, they’ve learned how to advocate best for their daughter to find the leading doctors.  Juliana has become their teacher.  

Juliana’s disease maintenance requires 12 injections a week.  “Injecting my baby is not fun, but we do it six days a week so she can grow stronger and stronger.  At school, she can self-select out of physical activities.  She is in a wheelchair now and again, and they always accommodate her.  Her friends slow down for her.  She has learned to advocate for herself,” says Becky.   

The Ragusos feel that Juliana’s rare disease is manageable. 

It was touch-and-go initially while they lined up doctors, but once treatments were in place, disease management became follow-up appointments and medicine delivery.  According to Becky, “We do our best to keep everything routine.  Juliana is full of light and joy; it feels pretty easy.  My burden is that this disease is tough for her.  Yes, she is a happy child, but it’s easy to see the toll this takes on her body and life.  That hurts me, but it’s harder for her.  That’s something parents need to remember.  It’s not about us; it’s about our children.”   

At CCAI, we believe that every child deserves a loving family!  If you want to learn more about adopting children with medical needs, like Juliana, please email us at mail@ccaifamily. 

Recent posts

GiGi Pleet

Adoption Program Specialist

GiGi Pleet joined CCAI in 2014 as our China Applications Specialist. She rejoined the team in 2022 after taking a few years off to spend time with her family.  GiGi and her husband have adopted three beautiful daughters from China who are the joy and purpose of their lives.  GiGi is passionate about adoption and furthering CCAI’s mission to find loving parents and permanent homes for as many children as possible and to continue reaching out to children left behind.  When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her girls in the beautiful mountains of Colorado or on an adventure to a new, faraway place.
 
Joined CCAI:  Originally 2014 – 2020, rejoined 2022
 
Bucket List Item:  To see all Seven Wonders of the World 

Contact Information

gigi@ccaifamily.org

(303) 850-9998 ext. 300

Emily Straut

The Park Administrative Assistant

Emily was adopted through CCAI in 2002!  Having always admired the ways that the organization continued to support families even after adoption, she began working at The Park last year because she wanted to be more involved in the adoption community and according to her, “It’s been a blast so far!”

Emily is majoring in environmental science at MSU Denver and hopes to help mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. In her free time, she like to practice guitar, play video games, watch movies, and spend time with her friends and family. 

Bucket List: Visit every province in China!

Contact Information

emily@theparkcommunity.org

(303) 221-6688 ext. 170

CO Team Line 4

Ivy Buchanan

The Park Adoptee Program Coordinator

Ivy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Production Design for Film and Theater with a minor in Studio Art. She had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England and Florence, Italy. After graduating, while visiting an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal she had a moment of realization and knew she wanted to work in the adoption community. After some prior experience in post-adoption and nonprofit management, she came to The Park and is really enjoying focusing on and being involved with offering lifelong support for adoptees and the adoption community.

Ivy was adopted from Kazakhstan at 18-months old and is proud of her adoptee identity and her adoptive family. She is passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing people in the adoption community and helping adoptees celebrate their identities. Her lifelong best friend was adopted from China through CCAI. 

In her free time, she enjoys making art (she is working on a series of sculptural paintings of poached animal species), trying new food, catching up with friends, reading, and being with family. She loves to travel whenever possible.

Joined CCAI: 2023

Top Bucket List Items:

  • A trail ride through “Middle Earth” in New Zealand
  • Volunteering for a few weeks at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
  • Sleeping in a hammock on a beach

Contact Information

ivy@theparkcommunity.org

(303) 221-6688 ext. 205

CO Team Line 1

Colorado Expenses

ExpenseAmountPmt MethodPay ToDue
Application Fee$250Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIApplication submission
Child Abuse Record Search$35/FamilyCheckCO Dept of Human ServiceApplication submission
IAAME Monitoring & Oversight Fee$500Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAI (Sent to IAAME)After App Approval
First Program Fee (Includes Home Study)$5,700Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIAfter App Approval
CBI/FBI Fingerprint Search$39.50 per personMoney OrderColorado Bureau of InvestigationAfter App Approval
USCIS Filing & Fingerprinting$775 plus $85/adultCheck/Money OrderUS Dept. of Homeland SecurityUpon I-800A submission
Dossier PreparationApprox. $450-$900Check/Money OrderSecretary of State(s), Chinese Consulate(s)As preparing Dossier
Second Program Fee$5,050Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIDossier Submission
CCCWA Fee$1,270Check/ACH WithdrawalCCCWA via CCAIDossier Submission
Third Program Fee$5,500Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
CCCWA Post Adoption Translation Fee$300Check/ACH WithdrawalCCCWA via CCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Court Validation Deposit$200CheckCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Post Adoption Deposit (Refundable)$450Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Visa to enter China$140 (plus courier fee)Check/Credit CardChinese Consulate via a courier/travel agencyApproximately one month before travel to China
US Domestic & International Airfare$1,000 – $2,000 per traveler (adopted child over 2 requires full ticket)Credit CardA travel agency/airline of your choice

Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure

In China Travel & AccommodationsApprox. $4,000-$4,400 for two adultsACH WithdrawalCCAI (wired to China)Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure
Adoption Registration and Notarization$800 – $1,000CashLocal government in ChinaIn China
Orphanage Donation(Voluntary)Cash or WireOrphanageIn China
Child’s Passport$100-$150CashLocal passport agencyIn China
Food$700 – $800 per coupleCash/Credit CardHotel(s), restaurant(s)In China
Child Physical & Photo$130-$150CashClinicIn Guangzhou, China
Child U.S. Entry Visa$325Cash or CheckU.S. ConsulateIn China
Court Validation Fee$167CheckCounty CourtAfter U.S. Return
Child’s Colorado Birth Certificate$37.75CheckColorado Vital Statistics OfficeAfter U.S. Return
Lutheran Family Services$250CheckLutheran Family Services via CCAIWhen Home Study is approved by CCAI