After a harrowing few months, a toddler adopted by a Torrance family from Haiti is recovering well in her new home, the family reports.
After surviving the 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 in her native country, Lovely's arrival to the United States was hampered by red tape, miscues and chaos on the ground in Haiti.
Her adoptive father, Bryan Benedict of Torrance, said in an e-mail that she is adjusting well to her new home.
"She seems so comfortable and natural, and loves to play with her siblings!" he wrote. "It's as if she's always been here."
The 2-year-old, who lived in an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, is severely malnourished, but is under care of local pediatricians. They say she should do fine now that she's getting proper care.
The girl arrived home last week. She flew from Haiti to Miami, where Janelle and Bryan Benedict met her and flew home. The family was greeted by roughly three dozen friends and family members, along with media and officials from Mattel Corporation, where Bryan works as a Hot Wheels designer.
The family is now trying to keep things quiet and stable for the little girl in hopes of making her transition calm and smooth.
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