Olathe ? The smile on Oleg Alexandrov’s face said it all.

After a two-year wait, the former Belarusian orphan not only had a permanent home in the United States, he had a family as well.

The 15-year-old embraced his new father, Mark McMillan, around the waist on Wednesday after a Johnson County judge made the adoption official.

“Yeah, my dad,” Oleg offered along with the hug.

Oleg will now be called Oleg Ivanovich Alexandrov McMillan.

“He’s been waiting same as I have,” said Andrei Kamikov, 16, Oleg’s best friend. “He doesn’t have to worry (now). This is his country. No one is going to make him go back. He’s safe.”

Andrei and Oleg came to the United States from the Belarusian orphanage to have surgery at the Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis. Project Restoration, founded by Laurann Schlapper of Merriam, brings children from the former Soviet Union to the United States each year for surgery.

Oleg, whose right leg was withered by polio, came to the United States in 1999 and had surgery in early 2000. He now wears a brace that circles his foot and rises almost to his hip.

Oleg Alexandrov McMillan cradles his new cousin Andrew McMillan, 2, as they wait for an elevator at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe after adoption proceedings for Oleg. Oleg, who is from the Republic of Belarus, was adopted by his new father, Mark McMillan, who has been Oleg's guardian for the past two years while Oleg underwent medical procedures in the United States.

Andrei, who also had leg surgery, was adopted by an Overland Park family in November.

Oleg’s adoption needed to take place this week because his 16th birthday is Saturday. By law, children cannot be adopted once they turn 16.

McMillan, who’s single and lives in Lenexa, never intended to adopt a child. He was a paraprofessional at Trailridge Middle School, where Oleg was a student.

They started bowling on Saturdays. McMillan persuaded Oleg to join track and field. They hung out on weekends.

Finally, Oleg moved in, and McMillan decided to adopt him. Their bond has grown stronger over the past two years. Although difficult at times, McMillan enjoys being a father.

“I’m excited,” McMillan said after the adoption as friends and family gathered around.

Mark McMillan, left, receives a kiss on the cheek from his newly adopted son, Oleg Alexandrov McMillan, as they sit next to a fountain outside the Johnson County Courthouse with Oleg's cousin, Andrew McMillan, 2, and Andrei Kamikov. Andrei and Oleg have known each other since they were 3 years old and lived in the same orphanage in the Republic of Belarus. Andrei was recently adopted by a family in Overland Park.

“I’m glad it’s finally over.”

Getting $15,000 for the adoption was a challenge for McMillan, who now works at Hocker Grove Middle School. His teaching salary offered a limited income. But he began receiving donations from schools, churches and strangers.

McMillan collected so much money that it paid for the adoption and will help with medical bills and other expenses. It may even help pay for a trip back to Belarus so Oleg can see his mother when he is 18.

She gave Oleg to the orphanage when he was 3. After his father died in an accident, she was unable to care for him and his brother.

His mother, who still writes to him occasionally, had to give permission for the adoption. So did the federal immigration office in Kansas City, the Belarusian government and the Johnson County judge.

With a cross hanging around his neck — a present from his mother that says “Safe and Protected” in Russian — Oleg ran to catch his cousin, Andrew McMillan, 2.

As Oleg was surrounded by family, his friend Andrei was already looking to the future. The Blue Valley West sophomore anticipates college — with Oleg by his side.

“We’ll be roommates,” he said.