Ed and Mariane … plus four

After having her first biological son at age 40, Mariane knew her calling was to expand her family through adoption.

After tons of paperwork and a trip to Russia, Mariane and her husband, Ed, fell in love with two children – Abby, a nine-month-old girl born with a hole in her heart, and Michael, a 3-year-old boy who had lived in an administrative wing of a Russian hospital since birth.

Upon returning from their trip, Mariane discovered she was once again pregnant. Thrilled by the surprising news, the she and her husband were still determined to proceed with their adoption plans. However, it would take two more trips to Russia and a fight they hadn’t anticipated in order to bring their children home.

Due to a mix up with their visas, the couple was separated from each other by rogue soldiers and forced to return to America, but they never lost hope. After working out their visa situation and receiving help from a Russian judge, the couple was finally able to bring their two children home.

With the addition of John William and Kate, they’re now a family of six, granting Mariane more than she ever expected with her wish to expand her family.