About
Deborah Amend was born in Warren, Ohio and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. After graduation, Deborah taught music to children preschool age through college, and especially enjoyed teaching music at an inner city high school. She officially retired from teaching school and concentrated on private piano instruction after the birth of her second son.
In 2002 Deborah and her husband traveled to Ukraine and completed their first international adoption, the subject of her first book, “A Dress for Anna”. Several years later, Anna and her brothers where joined by an additional sister from Kazakhstan, and the family was completed (to the best of their knowledge) in 2006 with another Ukrainian daughter.
Since returning home with their daughter from Kazakhstan Deborah officially retired from teaching piano and focused her attention on both raising her children and, through writing and speaking, advocating for adoption and a healthy Biblical respect for people with disabilities.
She now lives north of Cincinnati with her husband, Rob, and five children, Benjamin,Justin, Anna, Saya and Alyona, along with a collection unique pets including dogs, chickens, ducks, a gecko and a tarantula
Becky Sullivan says:
July 27th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I also have a child with a disability, and I had a personal question relating to that. Would you be willing to email me at the above address? Thanks.
Ellie Frye says:
April 4th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Hello:
I just finished reading “A Dress for Anna.” Wow, what an awesome story of redemption.
In 2004 and 2006, I volunteered at Joshua House in Lviv, Ukraine, opreated by American missionaries, Jim and Sandy McCann. After the death of their 3-week old infant in 1993, God called the McCann’s to establish the Joshua House. Since 1993, this ministry has seen the rescue, reconciliation and redemption of about 50 children.
I myself grew up in Trenton, OH, about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. As an infant, I had several major surgeries before age 2 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, including open-heart surgery (to repair hole in my heart), lung repair, esophagus repair, and a rectal opening made.
At age 16, I accepted Christ as Savior. Since that time, He has led me to Haiti, Ukraine, South Africa and Swaziland. Of all the journeys, Ukraine has touched my heart the most. I am currently a 33-year old seminary student in New York. My dream is to establish El Shaddai Life Center in Ternopil Oblast region of Ukraine and allow God to use me to provide a home for up to 55 children. Please visit http://www.uocfp.org to read about the project. I am returning to Lviv, Ukraine this summer to once again minister.
I would like to speak with you. Maybe for winter break from my seminary courses, I could arrange a trip to Cincinnati. I would LOVE to meet Anna.
Thank you for your continued dedication and obedience to what God has called you to do.
In Christ,
Ellie Frye
Jayne Schooler says:
May 12th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Hi Deborah,
We just returned to our work in Krygyzstan from speaking at the adoption conference recently held in Kiev. It was there I learned about your book! and am reading it now.
We live in Lebanon, not far from you probably and if you have time I would love to connect with you. I work in adoption and have had the God given privlege of writing in the field as well. Our blog is dandjschooler.blogspot.com. The website is above. We return home fully on the ground June 11. Would love to meet you and hear your stories. Blessings, Jayne Schooler