On this episode of Family Comes First, Operation Babylift, we reacquaint you with Lana Noone. Lana was on our show back in 2009, the second season of Family Comes First. Lana and her late husband, Byron were the pioneers for international adoption on Long Island in the 70’s.
Previously when Lana joined us, she shared with us that since she was unable to have a baby, she and her husband decided to adopt. They ultimately adopted a baby from a foreign country since the wait for an American baby was approximately two years; she couldn’t fathom being childless for any longer.
On this show, she shares with us her mission, to spread the word about Operation Babylift. Operation Babylift involved the evacuation of 10,300 babies and children from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. Lana has been involved in many efforts to unite those involved in the Babylift. She has written a book about her family and Operation Babylift, as well as cowrote a play, “Children of the April Rain.”
Imagine being a child growing up without a home or a family to call your own; being virtually alone in the world. Unfortunately, this is a reality for thousands of children in the foster care system today. The majority of foster children are 3 years of age or older and at least 1/3 of them have disabilities. It is a sad truth, but most people looking to adopt children are less likely to adopt an older child or a child with special needs.
During this brand new episode of Family Comes First, 21st Century Family, we hear from two unique families that went against that norm in different ways.
Not everyone is blessed with the ability to have children and adoption is a wonderful option that brings people yearning to be parents together with babies in need of a loving home. The process however can be daunting. Meet Lana Noone and Cynthia DiMicelli. Lana, and her late husband Byron, served as pioneers of international adoption on Long Island in the late 1970’s. Cynthia, now an adoption consultant, and her husband Dominic adopted domestically after having one son biologically and being unable to conceive again. Explore with them the options and resources available to help make sense of these important decisions.
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