Ban on Russian adoptions

A child with Down syndrome cries at the orphanage.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Yana narrowly missed her chance to be adopted by a U.S. couple when Russian lawmakers passed the ban.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

An orphanage worker helps a child with his lunch.  (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

A nurse tries to comfort Nicolas, a 2-year-old with a painful skin disorder.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

A nurse carries Yana, a 2-year-old with Down syndrome who was in the process of being adopted by a U.S. couple when the ban took effect.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Yana at play in the orphanage.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

A nurse tends to Nicolas. Movement and even light are painful to his skin.  (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Staffers care for about 75 children at Baby Home No. 13, a cheerful, well-tended facility.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Lunchtime at the orphanage.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Natalia Nikiforova, chief doctor at the orphanage, looks at a photo of former patients Veronika, who has Down syndrome, and Alexander, who has a heart disease. The photo shows them meeting in the United States after having been adopted by American families.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Photographs of former orphans who were adopted, many of them by Americans, are on display at Baby Home No. 13.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Dr. Natalia Nikiforova holds the Nagel family album she had to finally take away from Timofey.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

President Vladimir Putin answers questions at a news conference in Moscow at the end of December at which he said he would sign the law banning adoptions by Americans.  (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Since 1992, Americans have adopted more than 400 orphans from St. Petersburg’s Baby Home No. 13.   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)