L.I. Congressman Helps Bring Family's Newly Adopted Son Home For The Holidays
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island congressman has helped bring a family's newly adopted son home for the holidays.
Bill and Marianna Lacal of Port Washington have been trying to adopt 16-year-old Vadim from Ukraine, but were bogged down by visa and paperwork issues.
The couple reached out to Rep. Steve Israel in November after the teen's request to reenter the U.S. was denied because of a missed paperwork filing deadline.
L.I. Congressman Helps Bring Family's Newly Adopted Son Home For The Holidays
Israel said he sent a request to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to waive the time restrictions and allow the Lacals to bring Vadim home.
The request was approved and mom, dad and son were finally reunited in New York earlier this month.
"Vadim, Bill, Marianna -- this family is now complete and it is an America family," Israel said Thursday during a visit to the Lacal home.
L.I. Congressman Helps Bring Family's Newly Adopted Son Home For The Holidays
"After waiting for a long time, our son has arrived," Bill Lacal told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
"It was just unreal, heartfelt, warmth. We felt such overwhelming joy that our son is here and that we love him so much," Marianna Lacal told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
Vadim said being part of the Lacal family changed his life. The teen was in tears thanking the congressman and his new parents.
"I'm very, very happy because I have a family and a nice life," he said.
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