January 9, 2007




Before any internationally adopted child can obtain a United States visa, they must go to an approved doctor who will fill out a medical exam form on the child. Thankfully in China, everyone who is adopting goes to one location here on Shamian Island. In Haiti for Micheline's adoption you had to hunt down the office of one of 3 or 4 approved doctors. Our hotel here is literally not more than one city block away, so it was very convenient.

Jeff, Caleb and I all got up very early to be at the medical office as soon as they opened. Raymond came and met us for breakfast and had a breakfast coupon for the hotel's buffet, so I hope that breakfast is at least one perk of his job.

We hurried over to the medical office by 7:45 only to find a line already forming out front. Raymond, however, was able to usher us in a side door and we went in ahead of all the Chinese adults who were waiting outside. At first I felt guilty that we were going ahead of people already waiting, but then I found out that the exams for adopted children are processed in a different room anyway, so we weren't really cutting in line.

Being able to hurry in was a godsend because our consulate appointment for Caleb's visa was at 9:30 and Raymond had to take a taxi and then a subway over to the consulate to be there on time. When we adopted Ben, we had to be at the consulate appointment, but they have changed the procedure and now only your guide goes.

Unfortunately, the U.S. consulate is no longer here on the island, so Raymond had to take off before the medical exam was finished. Normally they don't allow the appt without all of the medical information, but we called and explained the situation and they will let him come back for the medical information as long as he has all of the paperwork for it back to the consulate by noon. Sounds like an insanely busy morning for our guide.

The doctors and nurses were very kind and gentle as they checked Caleb's hearing, vision, height, weight, listened to his heart, took his blood pressure and temperature, and looked in his ears, nose and down his throat. It felt like a typical American physical exam minus the humiliating gown!




Caleb had to get 3 shots and was less than amused, but he took it like a trooper. Apparently, the waiver for saying you will do the shots in America is only applicable to children under 10, so he was stuck (pun intended) getting an MMR, a Varicella (chicken pox) and a dT. I'm sure his arm will be sore today from the tetanus one.

Having worked as a nurse I watched them very carefully for clean technique while they gave his shots and all of the syringes were new and everything was swabbed clean with alcohol. They don't have a sharps container, however, and merely tossed the used needles in a trash can that was lined with a hazardous waste bag. I would hate to be the garbage man who picks up their trash!

After his injections we had to wait 20 minutes to make sure he had no adverse reactions and then we paid the cashier and headed back to our hotel. If you are adopting an older child, be forewarned that the standard price of the medical exam does not include the added injections, but the added cost was minimal...nothing like the price of an injection in the United States.

After the exam, we went back to the hotel and the other kids were still in pajamas after getting some much needed rest sleeping in.

Continued...