Girl Asks for a Unique Christmas Gift and Gets an Unforgettable Surprise

The holiday season is the happiest time of the year. Gifts are perhaps one of the best aspects of holidays, and this is the perfect time to show your loved ones you care with thoughtful presents. But what 10-year-old Audrey Doering desired was not something that could be ordered and purchased on the Internet. Instead of brushing it off, Audrey’s mother gave her the surprise of a lifetime.

Searching for Somebody Special

Jennifer and Tom Doering were content in Wisconsin with their three lovely sons. Despite all of the wonderful moments and memories they were making as a family, they felt there was something missing! They realized they wanted a little girl to complete their family. As a family, they began to discuss this.

Soon, the family made a conscious decision to adopt a baby girl. They looked everywhere! After not getting positive results in their own country, they started to consider the idea of adopting a child from another country. And that is how they ended up in China.

Audrey was Adopted in 2007

August of 2007 was a summer that changed the lives of Doerings and their family. They were hoping to expand their family, and they were successful in making that wish come true. They finally found the perfect match but on the other side of the world. That was when they saw 15-month-old Audrey and realized that this little child could bring them the happiness they were looking for.

Audrey instantly became a special member of the Doering family after they adopted her as their baby from China. However, the beginning was not a smooth and joyful transition.

Frail and Small

When the Doerings were looking for a sweet daughter to adopt, they were willing to consider adopting a child with a disability or illness. When they were adopting Audrey, they were aware of Audrey’s small structure and frailty. They were also told that Audrey, at 15 months, couldn’t walk yet.

They also knew that because of her delayed development, she was classified as a “special needs” child by the adoption agency. Even though these didn’t stop the Doerings from falling in love with her, there were a few other secrets about Audrey that perhaps the family would have to discover on their own.

“This Is Our Little Girl”

Jennifer had fallen in love with Audrey long before she had the opportunity to meet her in person. Jennifer recollected how she remembers walking upstairs and seeing Audrey’s picture. She instantly called her husband and exclaimed that they found their little girl by shouting, “this is our little girl,'” Jennifer shared this experience with ABC News with tears in her eyes.

Jennifer and Tom were clearly prepared to care for and provide for little Audrey, but that didn’t mean it was easy to deal with what was coming their way emotionally or mentally. Especially since they discovered, Audrey was acutely unwell when they adopted her.