What Led Me to Adoption
As a mother of five children, I knew that I already had my hands full. At the time, we were struggling financially & emotionally, and I knew that there was no way possible I would be able to provide for another child. I also 100% disagreed with abortion.
I immediately thought about the people in the world who wanted children but were not blessed enough to have any, and also the LGBT couples. I started researching adoption agencies and came across LifeLong Adoptions. I decided to give them a call.
Nicole was very welcoming and made me feel comfortable talking about my decision. She was so efficient throughout the entire process and you could hear the sincerity in her voice. She never made me feel guilty about my decision, and she assured me that everything was going to be okay throughout the process. I never felt judged with her, compared to other agencies I contacted that were rude and dismissing.
Choosing the Perfect Family
LifeLong sent me a package explaining more about the adoption process and a selection of adoptive parents. I must've looked through those pictures for HOURS! How do you decide who would be the best parents for your child? I went to put them back into the envelope when I noticed there was one more left inside the envelope. AND THERE THEY WERE! Have you ever just looked at someone & thought, "WOW, they look so happy, so free, so serene!" I read their story & they were just like us! They were young and educated, they loved to travel, and they were family oriented. I had made my decision.
I got in touch with Nicole again and told her my decision on a family. She set me up to talk with my family choice that same day! The family called me SO fast, I could hear the joy, yet nervousness in their voice. We immediately bonded. We spoke every day by text and phone calls! They came down to visit and my kids fell in love with them. I felt so PROUD to be able to bless them with such an amazing gift. I'm not going to say it was easy, but knowing how much joy I could give someone for a LIFETIME. They helped with my bills & helped take so much stress away. The entire time I tried to keep a positive outlook on the situation. The more we bonded the easier it was to come to terms with the situation.
A Labor of Love
The day had arrived. The moment I started having contractions, I gave them a call. They immediately started packing and booked their flight. They didn't make it in time for the birth, but they were there the same day! The moment they set their eyes on her, I could see they had fell in love. They respected my decision to spend time with her as well. Everyone was telling me how much harder it would be if I kept her in the room, but I NEEDED that time. I needed to hold her and let her know how much I truly loved her. She may not have understood, but it gave me a sense of relief.
The last day in the hospital was the HARDEST! I knew that my baby girl would not be coming home with me and I couldn't be strong any longer. I bawled! Seeing them walk out of the room with her broke my heart into a million pieces, but that wasn't the last time I saw her. They came over every day so that I could see her up until the day they had to return home.
After the Adoption
The adoptive parents gave me a locket with her picture in it. It put me at peace. They respected my every wish and I appreciate that to this day. I still get a chance to see her via FaceTime and social media. They make sure I am included in her life.
If I had a chance to do it again, I would. I am so happy that I could bless someone with a beautiful, healthy baby girl. I hope that my story will touch you in some kind of way and help you make the right decision. God bless!