European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                To the ends of the Earth for Samantha by Rich Mendelson associated press. I left new York at noon on a monday alone. I returned from the Philippines 77 a dizzying hours later a with my new 10-month-old daughter. In the interim i travelled 20,000 Miles. I slept a total of 13 hours. I changed diapers  cramped bathroom of a 747.1 got stuck in Ramy season traffic in Manila i. Spent five hours in Japan never leaving the Airport. Someday when. Samantha has grown up i will Tell her Fiat i went to the ends of the Earth for her and Back. It was not the Sarge As childbirth but it was an ordeal in its own. Right. A a. A a a when my wife Donna and i decided to adopt a second child two years ago we assumed the process. Would  sane As it was for our son Alexander. We would fill out the paperwork and someone would escort the baby to new York. But the rules had changed. Our adoption Agency wide horizons for children Waltham mass., said the .7 government  Philippines wanted parents to pick up their children. They spoke of the enriching experience of seeing your child s Homeland and meeting the caretakers  orphanage. The experience seemed More life threatening than enriching with each report of political unrest and resentment toward american bases  Philippines. We had turned to foreign adoption because we could t afford an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 for a Domestic adoption. Wide horizons charged according to a family s ability to pay. A a. We applied for a second child a girl in september. 1988. After.20 months of fingerprinting background checks immigration forms passports and other Zuments we got a picture of our daughter to be. She has be err of dec 13989. Her Mother was not married  not afford chit at first my wife planned to go with her Mother. Bui the trip would have exhausted them leaving me to care for our son and new daughter if was decided that i would go pick up our baby girl rest for alight and then return. A a the worst Case scenario thirty hours with a crying Baly compounded by Jet lag. A. 7 a our adoption Agency provided 20 pages on filipino culture and instructions about what travelling parents could expect Down to the specific detail on where to meet. A prearranged escort at the Manila Airport v a we5 packed clothes for me and the baby diapers bottles and three bags of clothing and Over the counter medical supplies for orphanages in Manila. The flight was uneventful a but nearly sleepless. After two planes four movies seven meals and 36 hours i arrived in Manila having slept three hours. Anxiety kept my eyes from closing i checked my papers and instructions countless times and chatted with fellow passengers i arrived after Midnight. Three times i heard the name Quot Rich Mendelson Quot on the Airport Public address system each time the heavy accent of the announcer prove me from hearing where i was to meet my party finally i connected with Ron Fullerton. He and his wife Donna and Rich Mendelson pose with their adopted daughter Samantha now 13 months old whom Rich escort to her new Home  United states from the philippine Sand their son Alex 4, also adopted. Lita operate chosen children a private adoption Agency and they were to be my guides through the 30 hours i. Spent  Philippines. Quot Ron is a native of Maine his wife was born  philippine the next morning despite my fatigue i was wide awake after four hours of Sleepi saw their orphanage which cares for disabled babies under age 3. The Fullerton raise Money to care for the children and provide  those that can be helped surgically. Although parents Are sought Lita Fullerton said there. 1 were at least five children with severe birth defects a such As cerebral palsy and blindness a who would be hers for life.7 7 a a a this was just the first of three orphanages i would visit of tadday. Was St rat Al whale my son had Pant the first 17 months of his life. A bulletin Board there is adorned with pictures we had sent of Alex. 7/. Then a through chaotic traffic that put new York s to a Quot i shame made worse by Rainy season floods a we too the hour Long trip across the City to the International Alliance for children to get my new daughter. I met the orphanage director and Violy the woman who took care of my daughter for nine months. Then we walked Down a Long foyer to a Back bedroom the Day Nursery Violy held up a Brown haired baby in a tattered to shirt and diaper her feet crusted with sores caused by scabies. Quot Here s daddy Quot Violy said. A. R. Named by fatigue i picked Samantha up and raised # her above my head inadvertently frightening her. I quickly brought her Down and hugged her and for the first time my daughter smiled at me. A for a half hour i took pictures of the Nursery other children and Samantha. The orphanages director gave me instructions on her diet medical condition and sleeping habits. Violy a thin woman of about 30 with Short Black hair said Little. But when it Carne time for us to leave she broke into sobs. My voice cracking i promised to write and Send pictures. And we left. We slept six hours. Ron Fullerton dropped me at the Airport at 5 , and the Job of juggling baby Luggage and documents began. The plane was half full so we stretched out across three seats. Samantha slept for most of the four hour flight to  had a five hour Layover there. We walked around Narita Airport twice changed three diapers drank a bottle of soy milk and had a 90-minute crying fit. We were an. Unusual sight a a 6-foot, 210-Pound caucasian tending to a 15-Pound filipino baby a and four people took our picture 7 v a i arranged to have a Bulkhead seat with a Bassinet on the flight to new York Samantha had been so Good on the first plane i was certain the next flight would be easy. Samantha had other ideas. Maybe  used to me and ready to exert her influence maybe her Jody Stock a was still on Manila time maybe it was the confusion of the last 24 hours or maybe she was sick and tired of soy milk. She cried for the first four hours of the  she hated her Bassinet and would not rest in my arms. Other passengers tried to amuse her with funny faces peek a boo and cooing sounds. I walked her up the aisle trying to Rock her to sleep and give my neighbors a break. After four hours she slept. I did t. When she awoke five hours later she was hungry and not  mood for soy milk. I shared some of my Chicken dinner giving her pieces of the Roll dipped in Gravy and some mashed vegetables and Small pieces of Chicken. She was Happy for most of the rest of the flight. About an hour before getting into new York it became Clear she had to be changed. I decided to take her to the lavatory rather than offend my fellow passengers. If was also a Good time to give her a final cleaning and dress her c Page 14 a a the stars and stripes monday. Be