A new life in America.(The Goodness Of America)(Genia: the adopted child)

Genia was a little eight-year-old girl in an orphanage in Siberia. Who can think of a more bleak existence? Imagine Genia's delight in learning that an American family had invited her to spend a month with them and, if they took a liking to each other, adopting her into their family!

The American family seemed like a perfect match for Genia. David and Terri Young had a girl Genia's age named Amanda, and the four got along wonderfully. But Mrs. Young noticed something about Genia that troubled her: the little girl's skin was covered with unexplained blisters. After a visit to a dermatologist, the Youngs learned that Genia had a rare skin disease called epidermolysis bullosa, or EB. People with the condition have skin that blisters at the slightest bit of friction. The disease is incurable and requires nonstop attention by a dedicated caregiver. Even worse, severe cases can be fatal.

As much as the Youngs cared about Genia, they were reluctant to assume such critical responsibility. An accident had taken the life of Amanda's older sister five years earlier, and they dared not risk putting their daughter through the trauma of losing another sister.

However, the Youngs were determined to help young Genia in whatever way they could. They contacted people at DebRA, a national EB support group, and were put in contact with a woman named Stacey Plummet, an EB sufferer who runs a local support group in North Carolina. It so happened that Mrs. Plummer had a young daughter, Sydney, who also ...