Rosy Garcia and Andres Sosa are proud parents of two five-year-old boys, Santiago and Jordan. But becoming a complete family was no easy task, as for the past two years they have been struggling to adopt Jordan — their nephew with a rare form of epilepsy — from Colombia.
Jordan was living in Colombia until about a week ago when he finally came to Canada. Prior to that, he had been living in foster care because his mother is a drug addict who could no longer care for him and he has no father.
According to Garcia, Jordan has had a very traumatic life. She told Global News Jordan may have been exposed to drugs while her sister was pregnant with him and after he was born.
READ MORE: Mississauga couple desperately trying to adopt nephew from Colombia
Jordan also has a rare form of epilepsy called Status Epilepticus, where the person can suffer multiple seizures in one episode that can last anywhere from five to 30 minutes long.
Late last year, Jordan had an episode that lasted almost 40 minutes and was hospitalized for more than a week.
“It was so, so strong. They say maybe he could have been paralyzed on one side of his body, but we are lucky with him for now,” Garcia said.
WATCH: Tue, Dec 8: A Mississauga couple is desperately trying to adopt their nephew from Colombia. The young boy suffers from a rare form of epilepsy and as Angie Seth reports, his aunt and uncle are concerned that if he does not get proper medical treatment then his health could take a turn for the worse.
Status Epilepticus affects only a small portion of the population and between 10 and 30 per cent of those who have it die within 30 days of a major episode.
While in Colombia, Jordan was receiving some medical treatment but it was minimal.
“The doctors say everyday it can get more aggressive and the epilepsy can get more strong and damage his brain,” Garcia said, adding that Status Epilepticus runs in his family.
Two of her sisters suffer from it and one died in 2007 after having a massive epileptic seizure. To save Jordan and to give him a better life, the couple began the adoption process in November 2014.
In Ontario, adoptions from outside of the country require the country to have a representative agency available in Canada to work as a go between with the two countries.
Colombia does not have agency representation in Canada and as a result, Jordan’s adoption to Canada was put on hold.
However, according to the family’s lawyer, who spoke to Global News in December of last year, due to the urgency of Jordan’s case because of his illness an alternate agreement was made.
Overall the process was long and extremely expensive, but Garcia and Sosa say it was well worth it.
“Yes we are at least $10,000 in debt but it will get paid off and he is now with us,” Sosa said. “It is like a huge weight is off our shoulders.”
Now that Jordan is in Canada, the hope is his OHIP will be processed quickly so he can be seen by a specialist who can properly diagnose his condition and provide treatment.
Jordan is currently taking medication but Garcia says it makes him very hyper and causes his hands to shake at times.
It will be a long road ahead for Jordan as he slowly adjusts to his new home.
Garcia said Jordan does not eat well, is malnourished, has anger issues and appears to have some developmental concerns including difficulty with his speech at times.
But she says they will work on things together as a family and overall he is a happy, loving boy.
“He is just so cute and sweet,” she said.
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