Despite adoption ban, N.J. couple brings home Russian tot

(CBS News) FREEHOLD, N.J. -- It's been about a month since Russian President Vladimir Putin banned Americans from adopting Russian children. It was widely seen as a retaliation for a new U.S. law targeting Russians who have violated human rights. At the time, 1,000 American families were in the middle of the adoption process.

CBS News first met Robert and Kim Summers a month ago. They were just weeks away from picking up their new son Preston from a Russian orphanage, when Putin announced the ban.

Foreign adoptions by Americans down 7 percent
U.S. family in limbo after Russia adoption ban

"I cannot put into words how my wife and I feel right now," Robert said at the time. "And we ask Putin, please, consider alternate means, but don't let these children suffer. Please. That's all we ask."

Despite the ban, the Summers decided to travel to Russia. They weren't sure whether they would return to the U.S. with their child.

"We did not know. We just prayed and kept the faith and just kept believing that, you know, all of our efforts would pay off," said Kim.

It was mid-January when they visited Preston in his orphanage outside Moscow. They finalized his paperwork and went to pick up his passport at a Russian government office.

U.S. family in limbo after Russia adoption ban
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Foreign adoptions by Americans down 7 percent

"She looked at it and she said in Russian, 'Americans? I thought there was a ban on Americans. How could we give them this passport?'" Kim recalled.

"We held our breath and I gasped for air and I said, oh no. Please, don't let us go through all this and we're going to have problems," Robert said.

Robert and Kim Summers.

/ CBS News

The Summers returned the next day and found out the ban did not apply to them because a judge had already signed off on their adoption before the law was passed.

Five days later, they left Russia and brought Preston home.

"Robert and I looked at each other and we said, it's over, it's over. And I can't even tell you the relief. And how elated we are," said Kim. "I completely understand when a mother says that she takes one look at her newborn child and is instantly in love with that child. I'm in love with him. I'm in love with him, and I do believe he's in love with us, too."

The State Department estimates just 50 American families, whose adoptions have been approved by judges, will be allowed to leave Russia with their new children. The Summers consider themselves blessed to be among them.

[4Russia]

If you don't think children having a loving family and homes is important then perhaps you are the one that's not worthy of anyone's time

[margroks]

It is true there are lots of kids here who need good homes. are American adoptions too onerous? Perhaps. In fact, probably. People want kids and they go where there are available adoptees. But kids can be transculturally adopted with no problem. It is well to remember that often kids up to adoption have uinseen special needs and those needs are more likely to be noticed here.

[Kuncice]

I was adopted from a German orphanage by an American couple and applaud the ban prohibiting Americans from adopting Russian children. In this television interview, I describe international adoption from a unique perspective--that of a foreign orphan adopted to the United States--and harm caused by uprooting children from their native countries and cultures, the abandonment of US foster care children and money's corrupting influence on international adoption.

Peter Dodds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kEbQ-5p5g

[rwsmith29456]

Really big news, but having adopted ourselves I'm happy that they came in under the wire.

[wtcmedic911]

With all thats going on in this world why is this worth devoting so much space too?

[BDAndy]

Why are you wasting air time on this subject. There are thousands of kids in OUR country waiting to be adopted. You should be doing daily programs on these kids waiting to be adopted. Foreign adoptions should be illegal by US law until ALL kids in the US have been adopted or the parents adopting foreigners should pay upkeep on a kid waiting for adoption.
I have NO respect for these people they are doing this strictly for self aggrandizement.
Yes I'm adopted, my wife was adopted and two of our three children were also adopted.

[1nAmillion]

So you are saying that children in need of homes in other countries are less worthy of adoption that children here? Children are children, and all need loving families, no matter where they come from.

[graceshailene]

im glad they got to bring their child home. the russian adoption ban is only harming russian orphans and making their already bleak future more hopeless. i hope putin realizes he shouldn't take out his anger towards americans on the innocent children who have been born into unfortunate circumstances. also, i hope all of the american families that were already in the process of adopting a child from russia got to complete their process and bring the child home!

[snakepilot]

This segment is more important than giving some time to reporting Dr. Benjamin Carson's remarks at this morning's National Prayer Breakfast ?