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Growing up, I dreamed of having children. I learned I had stage four endometriosis when I was 25-years-old. I had four surgeries, but they were unable to help. Finally, I decided to adopt a child.
At the same time as my fourth surgery, I was taking hotline calls for women in crisis pregnancies. Many of them wanted to give their child life, but they didn’t want to “abandon” the baby to adoption. When I asked them if they knew about OPEN ADOPTION, they changed their minds. They liked that open adoption enabled them to select the adoptive parents. They liked that they would receive photos, and, if everyone wanted, they’d be able to meet with the baby as he/she grew up.
I eventually decided to adopt through the OPEN ADOPTION process. Nine months after I was approved, I was teaching a class and got an “emergency call.” It was the adoption agency letting me know a birth mother had selected me. I was so excited! My students in class were too!! (How often does something like that happen in a university classroom?!) Twenty-three hours later, Michael was born.
We’ve met his birth mother a few times. We’ve also met his ˝ siblings and his birth grandmother. His birth mom is such a hero to me. She chose the tough, but beautiful, road. I’ve put a photo of her with Michael in our home so that Michael will always remember that she chose to give him life. And, as long as she wants to be part of his life, she will be. For those of you considering adoption, I encourage you to read about it and to talk to adoption agencies. They won’t force you to make an adoption decision; they’ll just give you the information. If you think adoption is right for you and your baby, I promise your decision will fill an empty space in someone’s heart just as Michael has filled my heart more than I ever knew it could be.
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