Family adopts a son they've never met

A two year old boy from Eastern Europe will soon call Grand Junction home. The Schmitt family has committed to adopting lance through Reeces's Rainbow, an organization for orphans with Down Syndrome and special needs.     

"We have a really short video that I watch over and over and over," Melissa Schmitt said.

Lance was abandoned by his mother after birth. He has severe Cerebral Palsy and he may never be able to walk or talk because of the neglect.   

"At this point he can't sit up or roll over or he can't even hold his head up and a lot that is because he hasn't ever been given the opportunity," Schmidt said.  

Melissa Schmitt says her three biological children already talk about him like he's family. There's no doubt in her mind that they found their families missing piece.      

"A lot of people question can you love another child who's not your biologically yours like you love your own child and I think when you see that one who's special to you,” she said. “There's no difference."

That mother's love has forced her to look into where her son will be coming from and the orphanage overseas.  

"There's children there who are like 10 years old and weigh ten pounds because they've been neglected," Schmitt said.         

Adoption was something the Schmitt’s had always talked about, and when they saw Lance they knew it was right. But they only had a week to commit before his file would be sent back to Europe and he'd never be adopted. 

"If what he's going through right now was happening to one of my kids I’d stop at nothing to help them,” Schmitt said. “And I view him as one of my children and I will stop at nothing to help him."

The Schmitt's are hoping to go see Lance in May. They'll spend a week in Europe finalizing the adoption, and if all goes as planned, they'll bring him home a year from now.

To follow the Schmitt's adoption process click here.