The story of Suki, 22, a Taiwanese-born girl adopted by the Henk family in the Netherlands via a Dutch adoption service, is featured in Cathwel Service’s new film Families Destined to Meet 2, released yesterday.
The documentary shows the human potential for resilience in the face of adversity, and encourages the viewer to respect all life.
Cathwel Service president Bishop Huang Jaw-ming (黃兆明) said the documentary included many other children like Suki, who were adopted by foreign families due to the previously unwelcoming environment in Taiwan for physically and mentally handicapped people.
Photo: Chen Ping-hung, Taipei Times
The documentary not only shows how the adopted children have grown up, but also invited their biological families to tell their stories of why the children were put up for adoption, Huang said.
The Henks yesterday said that they had first seen Suki — then eight months old — when they asked about adoption services in the Netherlands, adding that they knew she was born with deformities to her arms.
The Henks said they did not hesitate or question God’s plan, and raised Suki as a normal child after completing the adoption.
The family admitted to having been surprised when Suki said she wanted to leave the family to go to university in Haiti, and Suki’s adopted father described his reaction as “being speechless and slack-jawed for the longest of time.”
Henk said he was truly proud of Suki for making the decision.
For normal people, the act of eating is considered normal, but for Suki, it is a chore, Henk said, adding that he was constantly amazed by the creative ways Suki came up with to perform actions that he took for granted.
Appearing at a press conference for the documentary’s premiere, Suki answered questions with a big smile, saying that her condition had not affected her growth and that it was even a source of her competitiveness, as she does not like to give up easily because of her handicap.
Cathwel Service cheif executive Wang Chang-hui (王長慧) said that the majority of the children taken in by the service were not orphans, but rather children whose parents had their own difficulties in life.
“We try to arrange an environment conducive for stable growth for the children, but the service could always use more help from society,” Wang said.
Suki has also sought to meet members of her biological family during her visit to Taiwan.
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