There are so many stories in the media that focus on the challenges of adoption, or adoptions "gone bad" or just plain sad adoption stories, so I thought I would share this feel good transracial adoption story that I saw on Yahoo titled "GI saves Iraqi boy in long-shot adoption".

I am not a big fan of the title of the story, and I cringe internally when I hear adoption likened to "saving" a child, and yet in this story it is hard to argue that the boys life was very much saved through his adoption.

In a nutshell, Captain Scott Southworth of Wisconsin met his future son when he was deployed to one of the most dangerous areas of Baghdad and his military police unit visited a Mother Teresa orphanage, which was home to approximately 20 disabled Iraqi children. The children were found by the soldiers "naked and emaciated on cement floors in their urine and feces. Swarms of flies covered some. Others were tied to the outside of their cribs."

Ala'a was nine years old and living with cerebral palsy. He weighed a mere 55lbs and had to drag himself along the floor to get around. Ala'a's body suffered from the effects of cerebral palsy but his mind was unaffected. Despite that, his future was bleak, as a move to a government-run facility was imminent.

And despite the fact that Captain Southworth was single, had no parenting experience and was in the middle of running for district attorney, he decided to try and adopt Ala'a. Iraqi law does not allow for international adoption and there were many other challenges and roadblocks in the way, but Ala'a kept the faith that his "Baba" would come for him, and with his own faith and the support of family and friends, Captain Southworth was able to make it happen.

It really is a beautiful story of parent and child finding each other, and of how well things can turn out, even when something doesn't seem "realistic" or even possible in the beginning. It is a beautiful story of unconditional love, determination and a successful transracial adoption.

Getting his son home was an incredibly blessing to Captain Southworth, and yet he could not forget the other children in the orphanage. He and others are now working to try and find new homes for the other disabled Iraqi children who were living with Ala'a. You can read more about that here.

The Department of State's information still states that international adoption of Iraqi children by U.S. citizens is not possible. You can read more about that here.

This story really struck home to me and reminded me of just how many children there are out there in the world living in horrible conditions, just waiting for someone to discover them, want them and love them.