Our Adoption StoryKeely & Charlie

How did you decide to adopt a baby?

We had exhausted our options of infertility. We had multiple rounds of IUI and IVF. We endured two miscarriages, and one was a set of twins. It was a wild ride, but we were on the losing end of those successful statistics. So we began researching adoption. Adoption is not new to our family as Charlie was adopted and we have many nieces and nephews who were adopted. We loved the idea.

Why did you choose to work with Angel Adoption?

We researched five different adoption agencies. We chose Angel because they were the most thorough, even down to the packet of information they sent us. It truly is well put together and a nice presentation. Everyone we spoke with there was kind and helpful. There are many agencies out there not doing adoption for the right reasons, and Angel is not one of those.

What were you most excited about?

Initially, we were so excited to be that much closer to adding a baby to our family. Even though the adoption journey can be full of ups and downs, our patience and prayers paid off. We are now most excited to have finally welcomed our sweet baby girl into our family. She is everything to us and we are over the moon. Angel Adoption helped us make that happen, and we will be forever grateful.

How did your friends and family react to your decision to adopt?

When we finally successfully adopted, we surprised everyone. No one knew we were connected with an expectant mother again, and we had our reasons for keeping that to ourselves. Along the way, our friends and family who did know would always get their hopes up as much as we did, and if something didn’t work out, they would feel as devastated as we did. It was tough for us to see them hurt like we were. As we moved forward in our journey, we decided to shelter others and became more private. This also helped minimize the constant questions and allowed us to be more at peace and roll with things as they unfolded. So when our baby girl was finally placed with us, we FaceTimed our family and friends. They were in the best shock and surprise of their lives. It was on Christmas Eve when we got home from the hospital, so it truly was the BEST Christmas gift ever. Complete Divine intervention and no one will ever convince us otherwise.

What was it like meeting your daughter’s birthmother for the first time?

Our experience was great. She is truly a gift to us and an angel. She was perfect, a delight, and completely opposite than what we had encountered prior. She actually thanked us for taking her child. We were in awe because we couldn’t stop thanking her as she was giving us a gift we couldn’t have without someone like her. We will be forever grateful. She is the epitome of a truly selfless and giving person.

Did you choose an open or closed adoption? How did you make that decision?

Our adoption is considered semi-open, which means we would send letters and pictures to our birthmother on a regular basis. Our birthmother has detached and hasn’t requested this yet, which is understandable. Should she request pictures, we will happily share them with her.

Describe receiving the call that your baby was being born and traveling to meet her.

It was one of the most surreal moments of our lives. It was chaotic getting across the country because we couldn’t get there in lightning speed. We had smiles from ear to ear. Oddly enough, we were not nervous and had a sense of peace, but we had the biggest adrenaline rushes of our lives and felt like we could bench press a semi-truck. There are so many emotions that it’s tough to put it into words. Our trip was unusually smooth. We are convinced there were angels amongst us helping us every step of the way. We actually had a tailwind pushing us, so we arrived almost an hour early. Reflecting back on the day of travel, it truly is unbelievable.

Describe the experience of finally meeting your baby.

Meeting our baby and spending time alone with her validated everything for us. It was like we had just ran the biggest and toughest mental marathon of our lives, and we FINALLY crossed that red-taped finish line. Meeting our sweet baby girl and having her in our arms was better than any Olympic gold medal. She is our gold medal and so much more to our family. She has without a doubt completed our family in more ways than one. Amazing.

What is your relationship like with the birthmother?

Our relationship is really good, but our birthmother has detached. We imagine that is not unusual. Our social worker actually mentioned this may happen, but our birthmother knows how to contact us should she choose to do so.

What were the biggest challenges of the adoption process?

You go through a series of emotions throughout the adoption journey. Some may adopt quickly into their journey and others wait quite awhile. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, and you just have to have faith and roll with things as they come your way. Not all the expectant mothers we worked with were as easy going and reassuring as our daughter’s birthmother. We learned to just roll with the punches. There’s really no other option.

Adopting a baby can be a lengthy process - how did you get through the wait?

We always tried to stay positive. Even when it seemed hard to do so, we stayed grounded and always kept things in perspective. Things will work out as they should. Someone always has it worse. These are cliché statements, but perspective was everything to us. Perspective and prayer got us through it all.

Would you adopt again? Why or why not?

We would absolutely adopt again. We wish we had started our adoption journey sooner. At this point in our lives, now that our family is complete, we are thankful for the one child we were able to adopt. That being said, we would never rule out adopting again.

What advice do you have to share with other adoptive parents?

The adoption journey isn’t always the easiest and there are many emotions involved. Continue to stay positive, stay grounded, maintain perspective, have faith, rely on your family and friends for support, and have faith that Angel Adoption truly has your best interest at stake. They want you to have a successful adoption just as much as you do.