After Nova
Dao and Duan continued to live with the Headleys as their foster children until April, 1996. During that time, the girls decided to choose "American" names. Dao chose Katie; Duan, Julie.
A New Family
When the Headleys decided not to adopt Katie and Julie, the agency having legal custody of the twins began a national search for a pre-adoptive home. The search finally narrowed to us. My wife and I had experience with both Asian and special needs children. Living in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we were also close to Children's' Hospital of Philadelphia where the separation had occurred.
To provide a transition from the Headleys, we began to take Katie and Julie home with us for weekend visits in April, 1996. In June, the girls came to live with us permanently. Our home then consisted of six children (three birth and three foster), my wife, and me.
The girls were adopted into our family in February of 1997. The girls made the adjustment to new siblings very well. Attachment to us as parents was a slow, but steady process. Their foster family visit semi-annually.
We felt that transitioning from one family to another would be an excellent time to have Katie and Julie learn to take over their own personal care, e.g., cathing, colostomy bags, asthma treatments. This also has been a slow and steady process with Katie and Julie growing up very nicely in responsibility. They now have age appropriate independence.
Our family currently consists of three birth children (ages 17, 14, and 12), the twins (age 14), an adopted special needs five year-old, and a special needs foster child (age 13).
Physical Condition
Kate and Julie have semi-annual appointments at Shriners' Hospital in Philadelphia. Julie, who received the "third" leg, has a prosthesis from the knee down. It is fitted regularly; she goes through one a year. Katie was fitted with a "bucket" prosthesis with an artificial leg. She manipulated it very well, but chose to rely on her crutches to navigate. Both girls are physically active and especially enjoy swimming and roller blading.
The twins, still considered medically fragile, are involved with multiple specialists to keep "all systems go." Their medical care is now entrusted to Temple Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. Even with their complications, Katie and Julie hit the playground running every day as active, enthusiastic, normal fourteen-year-olds. Their bike riding, swimming, and roller blading, are vital parts of life.
One unexpected complication the girls have encountered is a lack of physical growth. Endocrine studies have been done in the hopes of securing growth hormone for the girls. The trial, unfortunately, wasn't successful. Katie and Julie are fourteen years old and 42 inches tall.
In August of 2001, Julie had an 8 1/2 hours surgery for bladder augmentation at Temple Children's Hospital. She recovered well.
Other Notes
In September, 2004, both girls began seventh grade. Julie attends a private school; Katie, the local public middle school. Both are hard workers academically, and receive solid report cards. Katie (a.k.a. "K.T.) is active in Girl Scouts, and Julie is still an avid soccer player.
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