Rating:

5.0 (14 votes)

A Lincoln County man is finally home from Haiti with his newly adopted five-year-old daughter and says he couldn't have done it without the help of a movie star and his family.

Eddie Whitemore arrived at Blue Grass Airport with his five-year-old daughter, Geraldine, Sunday night. Whittemore's wife, sons, family and most of his congregation from Green River Pentecostal Church were at the airport to welcome the two.

Whittemore left for Haiti more than two weeks ago to get the adoption papers sign and get geraldine home. He was supposed to get back a week ago Saturday - but says the government quit flying orphans out of the country. He says it was actually actor Sean Penn who helped Geraldine and 50 other kids find their way home.

"He had heard about these orphans and he charted a flight, came and picked us up brought his whole family with him and flew back with us," said Whittemore. "(He) helped us check in all the orphans in the airport. I've got pictures - his wife held Geraldine the whole way back."

That plane got Whittemore and his daughter Geraldine to Miami, where they were cleared to come to Kentucky.

Whittemore says Geraldine won't be the last orphan who comes to Lincoln County. Other members of their church are working hard to get kids out - one hopefully next week.