Jimmy Lepp is barely 11, but everyone knew him as the mayor of the BRESMA orphanage in Haiti.
Replica Technomarine Watches"He's the life of the party," his new adoptive father, Brian Lepp, 45, of Colville, Wash., said Wednesday at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "He likes to entertain people with dancing."
Jimmy didn't dance during a news conference with his parents, but he erupted into song, eliciting a round of applause and leaving some in the room wiping away tears.
"How about another song?" the boy said before breaking into more lyrics: "Jesus, Jesus, keep my life for me ... please my God. ..."
The lanky boy with the megawatt smile and oversized tennis shoes was one of five orphans who left the city with parents who finalized the adoption process just a day after the children arrived in Pittsburgh.
Last night, 49 orphans airlifted from their earthquake-stricken home remained at the Lawrenceville hospital.
Weary parents-to-be, from as far away as Washington and Colorado, spent the day trying to clear federal hurdles to take their children home, including a trip to Allegheny County's Family Court to get fingerprinted.
"Things are moving smoothly," said Andre Carvalhaes, 44, of Boulder, Colo., who along with his wife spent the past 18 months trying to adopt a 3-year-old girl, Ketsia Jean. "Some people were a little upset last night that we only got to see the kids for 10 minutes, but when you step back, we realize (the government) has to do their work."
The children, who range in age from 11 months to 12 years, remained in a guarded conference room at the hospital, surrounded by toys, volunteers and food. They were joined yesterday by Jamie McMutrie, one of two Ben Avon sisters who helped run the orphanage.
McMutrie, 30, stayed in Haiti an extra day after a 2-year-old went missing during the airlift. McMutrie and the little girl, Emma, arrived at Children's at noon.
At a fundraiser for the orphanage last night at Avonworth Community Park, Ali and Jamie McMutrie's mom, Diane, said she was relieved to have her family safe on American soil.
crystal Tiffany Jewelry OutletShe described the moment Jamie McMutrie "jumped off the plane" after realizing one of the orphans was missing.
"Ali crumpled to the floor," Diane McMutrie said through tears. "She just didn't want to leave her sister, but the decision was made because they pulled the steps up."
Emma, who has an adoptive family waiting, joined her friends after clearing a medical checkup.
Marc Cherna, director of county Health and Human Services, said he hopes the children will be with their adoptive families within the next few days. The adoption process remains under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"From what I've heard, there's a lot of missing documents, and that remains a real challenge," Cherna said.
Another challenge for the sisters will come when they return to Haiti to restart the orphanage, which was destroyed in the earthquake, Diane McMutrie said.
"I don't know how they'll do it," she said. "But they'll be back there. ... It's exactly where they want to be. They love the children, they love the people -- they just love everything about Haiti."
More than $9,000 was raised
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