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FOREVER LILY
By Beth Nonte Russell
An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China
In December of 1999, Beth Russell agrees to accom- pany her friend Alex to China where Alex is going to bring home the baby girl she has been planning to adopt for more than a year. What she thinks will be a glorious adventure turns into one of the greatest challenges of her life when her friend panics and has second thoughts about taking the baby home. Russell refuses to leave the child behind and begins a journey to bring the little girl home against all odds.
Forever Lily chronicles the story of Beth’s experiences in China; the horrible conditions of the orphanage, watching her friend’s reluctance to bond with her baby and her own unexpected connection to the child.
Following the adoption of her daughter, Lily and, five years later the adoption of her second daughter Jaden (also from China), Beth began extensive research in the area of foreign adoption.
In 2005, Beth and her husband, Randy, an attorney and Chairman of the Board for Friends of the World Food Program started The Golden Phoenix Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to create, develop and support initiatives to bring an end to child abandonment throughout the world.
As a means to raise funds for The Golden Phoenix Foundation, Beth has been working with a perfumer to develop a fragrance called Forever Lily, which will be available in department and specialty stores in time for Mother’s Day 2009.
Beth received a master’s degree in psychology from Marymount University and worked as a social worker and counselor. From 1985 – 1989, she worked as Scheduling Secretary and Executive Assistant for Senator Richard G. Lugar, Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Beth lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters and is currently working on the screenplay for Forever Lily.
Forever Lily has just been released in paperback after its fifth printing.