A story of how a birth country visit can turn into something life altering for international adoptees and for the children left behind is always inspiring, and this one is no exception.

Ana Dodson was adopted from Peru as an infant and returned for the first time at the age of eleven in the company of her mother, Judi. In addition to everything she took away from the visit in the way of personal experience and fulfillment was a compelling conviction she turned into a nonprofit organization, Peruvian Hearts, that supports an orphanage near her birthplace, the Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina in the hills around Cuzco.

The tale of their visit is touching to read, and must have been an amazing experience to live.

She and her mother, Judi Dodson, were overwhelmed by what they found at an orphanage near where Ana was born: tattered clothing, a lack of resources, bleak conditions -- and the unexpected response of the girls they met.

"[They] streamed out smiling and laughing. Once we went inside, they sang and danced for us," Judi Dodson said. "We thought they did this for all their visitors, but soon we discovered we were the only visitors the children ever had."

Over the course of three years, Peruvian Hearts has provided close to $40,000 worth of support for the orphanage and the children housed there, and one of the girls is even set to attend university on a scholarship Ana set up, an effort she named "Maria's Gift" after her birth mother.

With a slight nod to a post on the News Blog about gratitude, I'll include this quote from Ana:

"If my parents hadn't adopted me, I would have probably either been on the streets or in an orphanage," Ana said. "I could have been one of [those] girls. I am so lucky to be here."

I'll add that, had she not been adopted by her parents, not only would she have most likely passed her life under dire conditions in an orphanage very much like the Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina, if not that specific facility, she would not now be helping the children there.

Here's a bit of information on Peru ...

According to UNICEF who keeps track of such things, there are almost 4 million people living in extreme poverty in Peru, about half of them are children.

Not only does the county suffer from sever economic conditions, it is almost routinely taken for a huge and destructive ride from the earth itself ... a circumstance that adds not only to the dire financial straights many find themselves in, but also uproots and separates families and kills many people.

The most recent event was just last week when a massive 8.0 quake struck and took a heavy toll in lives and property.

Over the recent history this has happened many times. A 7.5 quake struck in September of 2005, and one in 2001, a 7.9, killed more than 47 people, injured hundreds and left many homeless.

The most dangerous by far, however, struck in 1970 and left more than 66,000 people dead, destroyed some 200,000 homes and left around 800,000 people homeless.

In a country where people live close to the edge under the best of conditions, seismic rumblings that kill and crush resonate far beyond the original damage, the aftershocks and the clean up. Many never again find their feet after being uprooted, and always ... always ... it is children who suffer the brunt of the horrors.

For a look at adoption from Peru, here is a link to the US State Department's page of info on the country's intercountry adoption process.

In 2005, only 28 immigrant visas were issued to Peruvian children adopted by Americans.

Hats off to CNN Hero Ana Dodson for being one of those children some years back who is making such a difference to those unable to find families, and to the rest of us who are inspired by her.