Addy's Hope Adoption Agency




		ADDY'S STORY




	ADDY April 16, 2001 - July 12, 2004

Addy was the name of one of John and HollyAnn Petree's twin girls from
Africa that never made it to their arms. God chose to take her home with
Him before she came to them.

In June of 2004 John and HollyAnn answered God’s call to begin the
process to adopt twin, three year old girls, Eden Hope and Addy Joy, from
Sierra Leone, Africa. On July 14, 2004 they received a phone call that
would change their lives forever. They were told that Addy had contracted
Cholera and died before they could get her the help she needed. Words
cannot describe the devastation and heartbreak that this news brought.
Even though they had never held her in their arms, she was their daughter.
The grieving process began.

Over the next few days John and HollyAnn tried to make sense of it all. You
can imagine the questions that they wrestled with God about! In the end,
the Petrees knew that God created Addy for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). He
would be glorified in her death as well! As they mulled over this truth, John
began feeling a strong call to open an adoption agency, something that had
been a dream of HollyAnn’s for a lifetime.

Addy’s death brought to their front door the reality that adoption is a life or
death situation for so many children…..it’s not just whether or not they will
have a forever family, but whether or not they will live to see another
sunset. John and HollyAnn didn’t know anything about Cholera before that
day, but soon found out that Addy basically died from dehydration. Death
from Cholera would never occur in America since it can be easily treated
with antibiotics and fluids. Her death seemed so senseless, but God’s
ways are higher than our ways! John and HollyAnn named this agency
“Addy’s Hope” because there are other “Addys” out there that will die
before they make it to the arms of a forever family. But for every family
that they can assist in answering God’s call to bring one of His orphan’s
home, hope has been given to those “Addys” that still remain on the street
or in orphanages! Even more important than saving them from a physical
death is saving them from a spiritual death by bringing them to Christian
homes where they will be bathed in the Word and taught of a God who
loved them enough to die for them!

Additionally, the adoption of Eden Hope failed due to unethical practices of
the adoption agency we were working with. This has born a commitment
in us to adhere to the highest Christian standards. We know how it feels to
have your heart broken, and we never want to put any family through the
torment we have endured. We are dedicated to up-front communication,
frank and honest answers, and willingness to work through any problems
in which we may encounter.

God bless you in your adoption journey!