Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

A.J. and Susan Fremer
Representative Ginny Brown-Waite
After almost five years of marriage, the Fremers
began exploring adoption and almost a year later,
their first child was born and placed for adoption by
an incredible woman who loved her child enough
to give her a new life. Their daughter, Hannah, was
born with several severe medical problems and
spent the first few weeks of her life in intensive care
on a respirator. The Fremers were told that if she
survived, she might never talk. They never dreamed
they would begin parenting under these
circumstances. God had other plans for Hannah,
however, and the Fremers are thankful that she has
completely recovered from her illnesses, becoming
the most talkative child.
When Hannah was about five, she began
thanking God during her evening prayers for the
little sister He would send her. After much prayer
and a great deal of paperwork, the Fremers were
able to travel to China in August of 2001 to bring
Hannah’s baby sister home. Olivia was 11 months
old when she was adopted in Guizhou Province.
The Fremers still keep in touch with Olivia’s Chinese
foster parents and consider them an important part
of their family. In 2003, the Fremers intended to
adopt again but SARS made travel plans difficult.
Finally, on June 1, they were able to adopt Julianna
Mei from a Chinese orphanage.
They arrived back in the United States on June
11, SARS free, and thankful to be reunited with
their family. The girls have adjusted very well to
each other and the Fremers feel so blessed to have
each of them. The children each have their own
stories and know that each one was divinely guided
into their family. “Every night as we tuck them into
bed, we stand in awe of God who orchestrated
each adoption and built our family in a most unique
way,” says Susan Fremer.
Marilys Llanos
Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Many parents will tell you that something
supernatural was involved in finding the children
who would join their families. But one can’t help
but think Marilys Llanos might be right in this belief.
An Emmy-Award-winning journalist with WSCV
Channel 51 in Miami, Florida, Marilys has always
felt strongly about the importance of service to the
community, and she always hoped to have children
of her own one day. Once, while working on a
series on adoption, she called an orphanage in
Guatemala. She was informed that a little girl had
just arrived, naked and cold, whose name was
Maria Alejandra, a startling coincidence since
Marilys’s name at birth was also Maria Alejandra.
Furthermore, little Maria Alejandra was born on the
same day as Marilys’s mother. Marilys knew she had
somehow been drawn to call this orphanage on
that particular day and the information she received
were signs that her dream was about to come true.
She had no question that this was her child and
they were destined to be together. She immediately
began the adoption process. When she arrived in
Guatemala to bring Maria Alejandra home, she met
Rony, who was three, and fell in love with him as
well. As soon as she and her new daughter arrived
home, a new adoption process was begun for Rony,
who came home a year later. The children have
flourished and mean everything to her.
Bill and Patricia Manning
Representative E. Clay Shaw
Bill and Patricia Manning’s love of children is evident
by their commitment to those who still wait for
homes of their own. For several years, Bill and Tricia
have been team members at Place of Hope, a
family-style community that fosters children in
group homes. They caught the vision early and
began helping the organization prior to the arrival
of foster children into Place of Hope’s unique
campus and family cottages. Tricia is employed at
Place of Hope as a Relief Cottage Parent, providing
consistent weekly relief care for six foster girls at the
Brett Harris Weinstein Family Cottage. She owns her
own business, and is a certified MAPP trainer for
foster and adoptive families. Although her husband
Bill works full-time, he recently completed a
master’s degree and volunteers, with his children, at
Place of Hope to support Tricia. When the
Mannings started working with Place of Hope, they
had already adopted a son from Romania and were
foster parents in the state of Florida as well. They
later adopted another boy through the state system.
Bill and Tricia are always there for children in need
as they continue to provide foster care; currently for
two more beautiful children. They make a great team
and provide a wonderful balance for each other. The
Mannings are greatly appreciated for all that they do
each day for children in our community and that
makes them my Angels in Adoption for 2003.
James and Betsy Seifert
Senator Bob Graham
James and Betsy Seifert have two adopted children.
In August 1999, they adopted Sarah, who is now
four years old. Three years later, the family adopted
their son Seth, who celebrated his first birthday this
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