Sneak peek: Perilous Journey | Forensic Files

We got married in March of 1999. Ryan enlisted into the army. I've done tours in Kosovo, Iraq, and
Afghanistan. See the reality for children on the street in these different places. And I just wondered to myself
now, where is he? Where is she? What happened to them? I have three incredible little men, the
three boys, Taylor, Cole, and Riley, who I love beyond what I could ever say. It was actually Ryan who came to me. I
was like, I think we should adopt. I just looked at him. I said, I think you're a little bit crazy.
We found our daughters on a waiting child list. When we saw our girls' pictures on that
website, it said contact Sue at Celebrate Children International. Children need to be in families, not in
institutions. What's your name? What is his name? Many of these children would die if it wasn't for adoption. She can
get you the youngest baby really fast. 3 to 6 months before she can go home. If you get a baby home in 5 months, I mean,
you're going to love her. I had no way to find out that this was happening until it happened to me. I
feel that I was taken advantage of. Her incountry representatives are being accused of heinous things. These things
are not okay. We knew that international adoption is challenging. We were naive in how much real trouble there is.
What's life or death? I mean, I've literally seen children die. The line between adoption, which is a beautiful
thing, and child trafficking, which is deplorable, that line is all too fine. I mean, there needs to be a chasm between
the two. I had to figure out how to get my girls home. If we want this to happen, we're just
going to have to go do it ourselves. It's just unreal. I mean, is there anything else that a
person can do to prove to the Congolese government I care about these kids? I love these kids enough to do whatever
it takes to get them home. Whatever it takes.

Heartache, heartbreak and a "48 Hours" journey into the world of international adoptions. Maureen Maher investigates Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Brief Summary

A couple shares their challenging journey of adopting from Congo amid concerns of child trafficking.

Key points

The Reality of Adoption. Adoption can be a beautiful thing, but the line to trafficking is dangerously thin.

Episode highlights

The Reality of AdoptionAdoption can be a beautiful thing, but the line to trafficking is dangerously thin.“The line between adoption and child trafficking is all too fine.”1:55Jan 17, 2014

Episode quotes

Children need to be in families, not in institutions.

Advocating for the importance of family for children.

1:00WatchJan 17, 2014

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