A happy ending for a North Carolina family stranded in Philadelphia on their way to adopt a 15-year-old girl from Ukraine.
Reagan Mountain and her four biological children boarded a flight for Frankfort, Germany late Tuesday afternoon, on their way to Kiev with all of the documentation they need for an all-important adoption meeting Wednesday.
"I'm relieved," Mountain told FOX 29's Bruce Gordon. "I'm still a little bit anxious. I've still got to get across the ocean with four kids. But "I am so much closer" to making my appointment and moving forward with the adoption.
Reagan, her husband Tom and their children flew from Raleigh, NC to Philly on their way to Ukraine Sunday.
Moments after landing here, Reagan realized her passport, and those for two of her kids, had been lost or stolen.
Without a passport, Reagan could not join her husband at the adoption meeting Wednesday, and their chance to adopt 15 year old "Liza" would all but disappear.
She was devastated, but when a friend emailed her dilemma to FOX 29, Gordon went to work.
A call to Philly Congressman Bob Brady did the trick.
Brady- and his chief of staff- pulled strings and cut red tape, allowing Mountain to get replacement documents in a fraction of the usual time.
Shortly before heading through the security gate at the airport late Tuesday, Reagan told our Bruce Gordon, "This was an incredibly beautiful demonstration of everybody working together. And it's humbling to be the person that they were working to help."
Reagan says "Liza" was abandoned by alcoholic parents when she was just 6, and recalls wandering her village- naked- looking for food.
Her life- so far, full of poverty and neglect- is about to get a whole lot better.
Reagan Mountain texted FOX 29s Gordon late Tuesday afternoon, with this message: "Praise God. Thank you for what you've done for us. Life changing."
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:07 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:07:39 GMT
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:14 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:14:04 GMT
Parents at a Port Richmond playground say they fear for their kids' safety. They feel intimidated by a street person living, nearly full time, in the park!
Parents at a Port Richmond playground say they fear for their kids' safety. They feel intimidated by a street person living, nearly full time, in the park!
Wednesday, June 12 2013 6:34 PM EDT2013-06-12 22:34:31 GMT
The Trenton Titans minor league ice hockey team closed up shop back in April, for reasons that have never been fully explained. Now, season ticket holders have lost their team and their money.
The Trenton Titans minor league ice hockey team closed up shop back in April, for reasons that have never been fully explained. Now, season ticket holders have lost their team and their money.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:56 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:56:59 GMT
In Delaware County, a man is charged with raping a woman. And what led to his arrest--her iPhone. Upper Darby police arrested 23-year-old Gaurave Kumar for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
In Delaware County, a man is charged with raping a woman. And what led to his arrest--her iPhone. Upper Darby police arrested 23-year-old Gaurave Kumar for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:55 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:55:15 GMT
Bensalem police have arrested the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in. They previously released a series of suspect photos to help in the search.
Bensalem police have arrested the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in. They previously released a series of suspect photos to help in the search.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:58 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:58:16 GMT
Under a "doomsday" budget now being enacted, schools and students in the city of Philadelphia are facing devastating losses. Philadelphia is trying to convince the state not to let it happen.
Under a "doomsday" budget now being enacted, schools and students in the city of Philadelphia are facing devastating losses. Philadelphia is trying to convince the state not to let it happen.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:07 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:07:39 GMT
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:57 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:57:09 GMT
A former teacher in central Pennsylvania is charged with allowing a student to perform body piercings in class. The teacher at Northern York County High School resigned after the incident last April.
A former teacher in central Pennsylvania is charged with allowing a student to perform body piercings in class. The teacher at Northern York County High School resigned after the incident last April.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:26 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:26:08 GMT
Torrential rain and storms are moving across the region tonight. The heavy rain is causing flooding for some people out on the roads, particularly in South Jersey and Delaware.
Torrential rain and storms are moving across the region tonight. The heavy rain is causing flooding for some people out on the roads, particularly in South Jersey and Delaware.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:17 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:17:37 GMT
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:47 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:47:28 GMT
It was a crime that stunned a Montgomery County community--the murder of a baby and her grandmother. Now, the lawyer for 27-year-old Raghunandan Yandamuri says his client was "pressured" into confessing.
It was a crime that stunned a Montgomery County community--the murder of a baby and her grandmother. Now, the lawyer for 27-year-old Raghunandan Yandamuri says his client was "pressured" into confessing.
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The Mountain family walks through a terminal at the Philadelphia International Airport Tuesday before boarding a flight to Ukraine.
