Saying Goodbye
Little Ruffito
Yesterday, baby Ruffo left the Orphanage. (See Baby Josue and Baby Ruffo leave the Orphanage.) Ruffito, as the family calls him, is being adopted by a Mexican family. I talked with Erika yesterday, before he left. She told me how she had spent extra time just holding him. The other family members were doing the same, giving him love and holding him, even as he slept. When it was time for him to leave, Erika drove him into Ensenada. She wanted to meet his new parents.
It is hard to explain how painful this can be, but I understand a little. When I was a teenager, my parents brought in a 5-month old girl to adopt. Angela was a vivacious, energetic baby who had just gotten out of a body cast after being in it for two months. She had healed from multiple broken bones, from abuse. Her caseworker assured us that when all the paperwork was ready we could adopt her. The head pediatrician from Children’s Hospital said no judge would send her back to an abusive home like that.
Two and a half years later, to our shock, a judge decided to send her back to her parents. It was hard for my whole family; I was devastated. She was my little sister, and I was old enough to care for her like a mom. During that time I felt as if there were a large dark, heavy blanket pressing down on me. I felt unable to breathe due to my grief.
A social worker later told us that because we loved Angela like we thought she was going to stay with us, we gave her a permanent love, a love without reservations. The social worker said it gave her the best start that she could have in life.
By loving baby Ruffo and baby Josue so deeply, the Espinozas gave a true blessing to the families that adopted them. At a critical time in these babies’ lives and development, they were loved and cherished deeply. That love will help them the rest of their lives.