A Journey Overseas
Emma Poole

Emotions flooding through:
		 scrambling mind and at peace
Just excitingly waiting
		 to hold you in my arms
Feeling immense love, joy, and bliss
		 for the day I can finally meet you
The day is coming closer
		 Tossing and turning all night
I am worrying and doubting
		 about your transition.
I see happy visions
		 of two sisters playing
We are finally here in China
		 13.5 grueling hours later.
Every girl I see
		 Reminds me of you
Exhaustion and excitement
		 hits for what’s to come

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Here I come baby girl!
		 The day is finally here
We are on the road
		 To retrieve you
Cannot believe
		 This is happening
The day has come and gone
		 I am a mother of two
You are a lovely baby
		 with a sweet disposition
With two top and bottom teeth,
		 You are beautiful my darling
Tears rush down my face
		 You scare us to death.
Seeing you having seizures
		 Makes me feel sick
It breaks my heart to see
		 You are not doing too well

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Many seizures follow
		 I see your eyes rolling back
Continuously jerking and shaking
		 Mouth foaming and teeth clenching
We found ourselves in a hospital,
		 It is primitive, smelly, and unsanitary.
Doctors wanting to admit,
		 But this place is scaring me
Hopeful to go to an American Clinic
		 In the capital city.
Doctors cautiously discharge us
		 As we quickly make a dash.
Hoping you can hang in there
		 You’re simply exhausted
Current medications are unresponsive
		 And no morning flights to the capital;
In spite of it all,
		 It’s unknown if you can make it…
Back at the hospital,
		 A place with frightful sights
Sleeping and seizing nonstop
		 For the past 17 hours
So weak, tired, and helpless
		 Many tears flow down.
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Up on the patients’ ward
		 With the American Clinic out of reach
Seeing backlash from many
		 Not believing you are mine
Fearful for the worst to come,
		 We suddenly saw small miracles
A man reassuring us about you,
		 And saying to not cry.
He was there to help
		 And so, he does
A sobbing mother, a relieved father
		 Profusely thanking him for the help
After a week of tears and nerves,
		 We are coming home
Your personality is coming out
		 With smiles and laughter
It seems like a distant memory
		 For only to turn into trouble from there.

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