WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsA Christmas miracle: a family united

A Christmas miracle: a family united

by Cami Mountain

STETSONVILLE (WAOW) -- Back in July, Newsline 9 told you about a Clark County family desperately trying to help their son get his wife and adopted daughter back into the US from Mexico.

After two years of struggling, the family is finally reunited just in time for the holidays.

Seeing Brianna kiss her daddy Nathanial is something Todd and Brenda Nernberger weren't ever sure they'd see.

Nathanial, the Nernberger's son, and his wife Cynthia fought with Immigration officials for nearly two years, in hopes of bringing their adopted daughter over the border from Mexico.

The adoption process started in 2007.  In 2008, adoption policies changed.  That made the Nernberger's ongoing efforts illegal.  Without waiting 2 years, Immigration officials couldn't approve the adoption.

To make matters even worse, Cynthia had to stay in Mexico with Brianna while Nathanial went to Kuwait with the Air Force.

"I was running into road block after road block after road block."  Nathanial says, "It just seemed never ending. The first month of my deployment felt like four months."

Finally, the roadblocks lifted and the adoption went through.

Now, several months later, the five are together.  They're playing and celebrating Christmas in Grandma and Grandpa Nernberger's Stetsonville home.

"It's nice having everybody home finally."  Todd Nernberger says, "We've been trying to get Brianna up here for a long time. It's nice to have them all here finally."

It's a process, that while daunting, the whole family says they wouldn't change if it meant not having the newest family member.

"If I had to re-do it again, I would. She's worth everything."  Brianna's mom, Cynthia, says.

As are sights like Brianna singing Christmas carols or playing with the family dog.

To the Nernberger's, it's a holiday miracle.

Brenda says, "It's the best Christmas present I could ever receive, being able to have them here."

For Nathanial, Cynthia and Brianna, the process to becoming a family isn't quite over.   After being separated for two years, they're learning about family life as it happens.

As for being dad full time, that's comes easy.

"She's a daddy's girl."  Cynthia adds, "It was nice that she can actually be there to hug him and follow him around."

Adds Nathanial, "It's the best feeling in the world. It's one of those things that you never realize how much you can enjoy it until you actually have it."

Nathanial, Cynthia and Brianna finally came home as a family in October after Nathanial's tour of duty in Kuwait  They're living together on an Air Force base in Abilene, Texas.

Online Reporter:  Cami Mountain