Katie Coleman and her adopted daughters(Photo: Family)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A local Congressman is involved in the fight to help a Charlotte family.
NBC Charlotte first reported about the two little girls who were adopted to a local family earlier this month. They have been stuck in the DR Congo for two years.
Conversations are now underway between our country and theirs to let these girls come be with their family here in the United States.
WCNC
Charlotte couple's adopted girls stuck in Africa
"I just want to be their mom," says a teary-eyed Katie Coleman.
Coleman's sense of hope grows just a little bit more every day, hoping soon her adopted daughters, Savi and Seefa, both under 5, will be allowed to leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo very soon.
Katie says, "The wheels are definitely in motion and we are hopeful the end will be in sight."
The adoption is recognized by both countries, but right after the girls were adopted, the government of the Congo blocked all foreign adoptions citing a myriad of reasons, and it's still refusing to give as many as 500 children exit letters so they can join their new families.
Since our first story aired highlighting the Colemans' problem, we contacted District 9's Congressman Robert Pittenger asking him to apply any pressure he could to the U.S. State Department, which he did.
Pittenger says, "And we're looking for some resolution and we're hoping in the near term we'll have a solution."
Coleman is glad to get even just a few minutes with someone who can help push the ball down the field.
"I think it helps for him to see a real face so he can see how precious our children are to us," she said.
One-hundred-eighty other Congressmen joined Pittenger in writing the Congo pleading for the release of the children. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution and wrote a letter too, noting that more than a dozen children have died, some of dysentery, just while waiting to leave.
Those sad days for Katie and her husband Chad could change any day as progress is being made and talks are underway. Katie just got a new photo of the girls this month. It's a reminder of the good days to come saying, "And we always appreciate any prayers that are offered on our behalf, so thank you."
President Obama has also reached out to the Congo and we're told that their parliament in the Congo was discussing these exit letters just this week, so we, like the Colemans, are hopeful the girls will get their letters and get here to Charlotte soon.
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