MUSKEGON, Mich. - A family of eight is looking to adopt their seventh child internationally.
After adopting three kids overseas, the Wachters hope to bring home their fourth from China by the end of April.
They have three biological kids and they've adopted three from overseas, and pretty soon they'll get to bring home a seventh child from China they're calling, "Judah."
"I think after three everybody just sort of assumes you're crazy," said Joel Wachter, the father.
Joel and his wife Rabecca adopted their first child from Korea in 2009.
"For us, our hearts have been over seas," said Rabecca. "But I don’t know if I can really pinpoint why that is but that’s where our hearts happen to be."
Today, the Wachters have six beautiful children and they couldn't be happier, but after recognizing the need overseas for children to be adopted, Joel and Rabecca say they couldn't walk away without responding. Now, they're looking to bring home their seventh child from China they're calling Judah. A four-year-old boy with a chronic illness called thalassemia.
"It’s basically a genetic blood disorder where the body can’t produce hemoglobin," said Rabecca. "And it's so severe, he depends on regular blood transfusions."
Due to Judah's health and the current blood shortage in China, the Wachters are expediting his adoption.
Because adopting internationally is so expensive, Joel and Rabecca are raising money on youcaring.com, a free online fundraiser where anyone can give financial support.
They plan on raising $15,000 by the end of April, an ambitious goal but the Wachters know it's worth it.
If you would like to help the Wachters bring "Judah" home, just click the link.
