How One Family in America Fulfilled A Dying Mother’s Wish in Ethiopia
TsehaiNY.com Staff
Published October 13, 2008
On a fall afternoon, the Fried’s residence, which is adorned by both American and Ethiopian flags in front, is busy with last minute preparations. On this particular day the children are getting ready to go back to school. Their oldest son, Desalegne, a freshman in high school is missing and with good reason.
Desalegne, who couldn’t imagine playing on a real turf field with uniforms and cleats in Ethiopia, has just made the Junior Varsity team and is at practice. “Being part of that soccer team is a dream come true for my son,” says Randi. She describes being full of joy in seeing him take pleasure in soccer and being on the team but that joy is also combined with guilt. “My heart still aches when I think how much my kids have lost. My heart absolutely aches when I think of how much his mother and father would enjoy watching their son score a goal at practice. It should be them feeling the overwhelming joy and pride,” she explains. Nevertheless, Randi speaks of her family of seven as a gift, one they make the most of. “We trust that this is what was meant to be even if we don't understand it. We look different than most families and we draw attention, I know, but we deeply respect and love each other,” she says. “We’re committed to doing what we need to do to give our kids the tools and skills they'll need to go off into the world healthy, strong, wise, caring adults, to follow their dreams and build their families,” she adds.
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| The Fried 7 posing for pictures in front of their home. Photo Credit: Friedstyle |
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“Habesha Hearts”
Justin and Randi have been married for over ten years and live a rich life raising five children. Randi, who grew up in a large family, has always believed there is strength in numbers and adoption was something she and her husband always talked about. Although she states they have found “unexpected enrichment and joy” in deciding to adopt, she is quick to point out, “it’s not for everybody.” Justin and Randi, who have a biological son, Kyle, first adopted an American child born with Down syndrome, Chloe. After adopting Chloe, they decided to adopt children from Ethiopia.
On her Blog, Randi expressively writes that since adopting Ethiopian children, she and her husband, Justin, have discovered that they “…have habesha hearts!”
Rebka and Hana, biological sisters, were adopted by Justin and Randi. It took several months to process documents and obtain the right USCIS approval to bring their new daughters to America. “The first year adjusting to life with four kids in our family was very hard,” says Randi. Being orphaned after having lost both parents, the girls found it difficult to adjust to the American life. “The girls had very clear memories of their parents and they missed them terribly…they also missed Ethiopia and streets filled with familiar neighbors, smells, and sights,” she adds. Being away from what was so familiar to them at their young age kept them sobbing at night and so did being away from their big brother back in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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