"it's your birthday! we're gonna party like it's your birthday!"

IIt's my birthday and everybody keeps asking me what I want. No I don't want a song by 50 Cent. But I will take 50 cents from anyone who wants to give it for my son, Vlad. The cost to adopt Vlad is $25,000-$30,000 which sounds crazy when he is an "unwanted" child with special needs. Here is the approximate breakdown of the costs:

ESTIMATED COSTS OF OUR ADOPTION

$2800.00 - Homestudy

$1200.00 - USCIS, i-600a and fingerprinting

$8000.00 - approximate cost of flights

$10,000.00 - facilitator fees

$3000.00- lodging for 4-5 weeks

$1000.00 - food/other supplies for 4-5 weeks

$600.00 - passport for Vlad

$550.00 - visa and medical for Vlad

$2500.00 - transportation in country for 4-5 weeks

$1500.00 - orphanage donation / dossier preparation costs

Whew! A lot of money but every penny becomes one step closer to Vlad having a new life with our family and spending his next birthday with us. So we'll take your 50 cents. And we'll start the party here. :)