Just like striving to conceive a child of your own, adopting a child comes with its fair share of tremendous concerns, expectations, and surprises. This was unquestionably the case for Canadian couple Ron and Natalie Trecroce, who, in 1997, concluded they wanted to bring a child into their home. Their search led them to Arad, Romania, where they met and were enamored with the one-year-old girl named Rodica Lavinia Farcas. Rodica had some health issues, which sent Ron and Natalie on a journey to find answers about her past—and that’s when they made a surprising discovery.

Hoping to start their own family

Many couples dream of starting their own families, but it’s not always an effortless thing to do. Ron and Natalie Trecroce of Canada knew this better than anyone else. Despite some difficulties, they knew they wanted to raise a child on their own—what may come.

 

They traveled all the way to Romania

In 1997, the couple—hoping to find the perfect fit for their little family—traveled to Arad, Romania, a city located on the Mures River in the western part of the country. That’s where they first encountered Rodica Lavinia Farcas. She was only one, yet she already had an enigmatic past.

 

 

Rodica Lavinia Farcas

Ron and Natalie immediately recognized that Rodica, with her wide infectious smile, would be the perfect addition to their family of two. Regrettably, this wasn’t going to be an uncomplicated adoption. Before they could even get started, the couple received some news…

But she was not well…

Although she was just a tiny toddler at the age of one, Rodica was underweight. She was unwell and had weak bones from a lack of vitamin D. It was rather evident that she was in need of some immediate help.

But sadly, it was the norm

But the sad reality was, cases like Rodica’s weren’t uncommon in Romania in the 1990s. The country was under the command of the infamous dictator named Nicolae Ceauşescu, who outlawed contraception of any kind throughout the entire country.