RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- As Russia considers banning Americans from adopting Russian children, local parents are speaking out.
Mary Walters, an ICU nurse and single mother, adopted four-year-old Jenna when she was 18 months old from Russia.
"She is the light of my life she is the most fantastic thing in my world," Walters says.
But Walters may be one of the last Central Virginians with an adopted Russian child as the country considers a ban.
Rebecca Ricardo is the Executive Director of Richmond's Lifetime Adoption Resource.
She says she is not surprised Russia is considering the ban.
After all, her center stopped offering Russian adoption services years ago because Russia kept changing its requirements.
"We made a decision six or seven years ago to discontinue our Russian program because of the consistent changes," Ricardo said.
Mary Walters though wants her voice to be heard. She has written a plea to Russian leaders to reconsider the ban.
"We love our Russia Children. Please do not punish an entire country or darken an entire generation of children for the mistake of the few," Walters plea says.
Walters is especially concerned about her friends currently awaiting the adoption of a Russian child - fearing this ban will prohibit them from experiencing her joy.
"I get to see the world through her eyes and see how fantastic it is," Walters says.
