Thanksgiving not always about turkey and dressing

The day that glorifies turkey is the day their deepest dream came true.

    “We had tried to have children,” Vickie said “and weren’t anywhere near  adopting. Our friend David Neck was married to a girl from Mexico and her mother worked at an orphanage in Mexico City,” Vickie related.

   Out of the blue, David called the Husbands and asked if they wanted to adopt a baby girl.

   Not having to think too long on it, Vickie and Don made plans to go to Mexico. “He told us what paperwork we would need and that the baby was at his in-law’s house.”

   It was more than love at first sight for Vickie and Don when they first saw their baby girl, it was the fulfillment of their drive to be parents. 

   “There was no baby bed so Erin, (as they named her), slept in the bed with us.”

   When it was time to return to the states, the new parents had one more obstacle. It was paperwork required by the American Embassy and unfortunately, Vickie and Don didn’t have what was needed.

   There at the airport, they had to hand Erin back and leave the country without her. “We weren’t going to give up on this baby,” Vickie said emphatically, “after spending a week with her, we were attached.”

   Later in September of 1985 there was a powerful earthquake in Mexico. 

  “We lost all contact and didn’t know if the family had been saved,” Vickie continued, “it was two or three weeks later when we discovered they were all safe.”

   The Husbands had a lawyer in Mexico working on their adoption as well as one in the U.S. “In October (1985) we were called to come and be prepared to stay a week. The week turned into six. Every day I would hear ‘manana, manana’ (tomorrow, tomorrow). I got so tired of hearing that word.”

   Alone in Mexico, Vickie said that Don and his sister would come to spend time. Finally, there was a letter from the mother releasing the baby and the new parents prepared to leave.

   But there was more; Erin was sick and had a high temperature. Vickie couldn’t read a Mexican thermometer but she did understand when she was told, when Erin’s temperature reached a  certain mark, ‘she would die.’         

   “And it was getting close to that mark,” Vickie said, “but I wasn’t even going to  think about it and just let it go.”

   Once again at the airport officials wanted paper after paper as well as hours passing. At one point American TSA agents came to the rescue and put them on the plane, telling Vickie and Don that they couldn’t be touched there and would be safe.

   After sitting a long time on the hot plane they finally took off for Houston.

   David Neck had arranged to meet them at the airport and take them to Marks-ville. It was now the day before Thanksgiving.

   And the story continues. David’s car broke down in Liberty, Texas. It’s late, it’s the eve of a holiday and it’s cold.

   The group checked into a motel and waited for Don’s father to come get them.

   After all was said and done, they arrived in Marksville at 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. And the day has become Erin’s anniversary.

Loving tradition is now built into this day. According to Vickie, they retell the story on Thanksgiving eve and it seems Erin is never tired of hearing it.

   At 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning they go into Erin’s room with breakfast and gifts. Both sides of the family come that day and the house is filled with people who know the power of the story.

   But hold on, there’s more to that story. Erin’s high temperature was due to tuberculosis.

   “Thank goodness that wasn’t diagnosed in Mexico,” Vickie said. “They never would have released her.”

   Erin was taken to Dr. L.J. Mayeux for care, who noted that Erin was in the medical books because she was the first 1-year-old to be diagnosed with TB. 

   He even offered to keep her at his house in order to monitor her “but we wanted her at our house.”  Then she added proudly, “He is her godfather.” 

    Erin also has had three different legal names. On her Mexican birth certificate she was Margarita Mendes Rosas. When adopted she became Erin Husbands Broussard -- Broussard being Vickie’s maiden name. On her official United States adoption papers she is Erin Elizabeth Husbands. 

   “At first we thought we would name her Annie, but when we looked at her she didn’t look like an Annie,” Vickie laughed.

   No matter what her name, Erin has brought a new meaning to Thanksgiving Day. 

   “People tell us Erin is blessed, but we say we are blessed because of all the joy she has brought us.”