KYRGYZSTAN (WJHL) — A Greene County family can finally bring their newly adopted daughter to the United States after a long struggle with the adoption process. The Foulks family has spent months trying to bring home a little girl, Nora, who has been in desperate need of surgery.

Gary and Christie Foulks said they were feeling very discouraged with the visa process for their adopted daughter–until a Facebook post by Christie got the attention it needed from Northeast Tennessee legislators.

The Foulks landed in Kyrgyzstan in January to finalize their adoption of Nora. But after a thirty-day hold period, their adoption was appealed because of “a lack of significant evidence for the birth mother’s termination of rights.”

That was just the beginning of their trouble.

The director of the orphanage in Kyrgyzstan and The Foulks’ in-country coordinator flew to Moscow to get consent from Nora’s birth mother.

The birth mother approved.

“And then after we received that, we took that to the appeal hearing and then they granted the adoption,” Christie Foulks said.

The Foulks were finally able to pick Nora up from her orphanage on March 20. Eight days later, they had their visa interview and were told they could pick the visa up on April 1. Then, it changed to the next day. After that, an issue arose with Nora being born in Russia, but her birth mother was a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

“On her birth certificate in court, they had granted that we could change her birthplace to Tokmok,” Christie said. “Otherwise, we would have had to travel to Russia to get a birth certificate and re-adopt her.”

That option was not feasible for the Foulks, as Nora has a heart condition that her pediatrician says needs immediate attention.

“She needs a life-saving surgery. And she [pediatrician] told them in court that if Nora had to wait much longer to get her surgery, that she would die.”

Nora also has down syndrome and her growth has been significantly stunted more from her heart condition.

“It’s to the point where Nora is four-years-old and she only wears like an 18 to 24 months clothes. She wears a size infant for shoes.”

The Foulks emailed the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services every day trying to get the issue fixed but kept getting replies about needing more guidance.

“So I kept, you know, trying to push it in that way, ‘hey, you know, her health has been affected, we don’t have time to wait, let’s get this expedited.’ And nobody would listen.”

That’s when Christie took to Facebook Sunday to see if anyone knew how to help. The post got the attention of Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger and Sen. Bill Hagerty.

“So they were just very on top of their game and within two days, we had her visa.”

The Foulks said they were very grateful to now finally be approved to bring their daughter home.

“It feels like a wonderful gift, a gift. She is such a, I don’t know, like a little trooper. She’s so fun. She’s so happy. Just a loving little girl and just such a gift to our family.”

The Foulks will be back home on Sunday. Then, they are taking Nora to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville to get her surgery set up.

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger sent News Channel 11 the following statement:

“When the Foulks family reached out to our office, they were in a desperate situation — stuck overseas, fighting to bring their adopted daughter home so she could receive the life-saving care she urgently needed. As we do for any of our constituents in need, my team and I went to work immediately.

“We worked closely with President Trump’s team — specifically his Special Assistant, Jordan Cox — to cut through the red tape and move this case forward. Thanks to their unwavering support, we were able to help bring Nora home where she belongs.

“It’s in moments like these that I thank God for the strength and perseverance of families like the Foulks — and for leaders who are willing to step up and do the right thing. I’ll never stop fighting for our families — no matter where in the world they need us.”

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger

Christie Foulks advises others who want to adopt from overseas to vet their adoption agency.

“Our agency did not have our back with our appeal, our agency did not have our back with the visa process. They just pretty much walked off and left.”

News Channel 11 reached out the Foulks’ agent at World Links International Adoption Agency with questions, but have not received a response.

The Foulks family also has a GoFundMe set up for financial assistance with Nora’s heart surgery.