VIKA for the Booker family — UT

Meet Shalee and Dustin Booker. They live in Farmington Utah with their two beautiful daughters, Kaiya (7) and Ryan (20 months). Kaiya has Down Syndrome.  They would tell you that If you have never heard the Down Syndrome saying “Angels are made of 47 pieces” that you could take their word for it when they tell you it is a very true statement. She is an Angel. A very beautiful, loving and stubborn Angel They are involved with the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation and participate in the Buddy Walk every year. The Buddy Walk is a one mile walk and a day full of festivities to raise awareness for DS and funds for the foundation. This year, September 10th to be exact, their lives changed in a very significant way. They discovered they were missing a member of their family.

At the Buddy Walk Shalee noticed an Easy Up tent covered in balloons and full of tables that were covered in photographs. After this tent caught her eye for the hundredth time, she wondered over with her daughters to see what was so exciting. This is where she was introduced to Reece’s Rainbow. She was learning about how in other countries, when a child is born with special needs, most are placed in over populated orphanages. They are not always properly cared for and very rarely have anything (toys, clothes, etc.) that belong to them. Their heads are shaved and they are sometimes left in bed, often by force, when an orphanage is understaffed. These few things are the most minor problems these children face in this situation. When they reach a certain age, typically 5-7, they are removed from the orphanages and placed in adult metal institutions where 90% die within the first year of their transfer. After hearing all of this and looking over the dozens and dozens of photographs of “available” children, she and Dustin decided right then and there that they wanted to help. They excepted the fact that they can’t save them all… But that they can and will save one.

They are prepared for this long and emotional journey, and know  it will all be worth it to see Vika take her first step on American soil as a Booker.

5/22/12—DOSSIER SUBMITTED 

Follow the Booker family’s adoption journey on their blog