Testimonials

While it’s hard to believe that our daughter is 5 1/2 now, adoption is still very real and alive in our lives. We adopted our daughter domestically and we used SPAFA and adoption consultants to navigate our way through our journey.

We are Mike & Cindy, and we stumbled into the “World of Adoption” like many families do after their struggles with infertility. As a young woman I wanted to be pregnant and go through birth but I had to surrender mentally after our 3rd IVF cycle failed. I had a friend at the time that led me to SPAFA. She was very active in SPAFA and had two adopted children herself.  Mike & I started to learn A LOT about domestic and international adoption at SPAFA meetings. We learned from other families just like ourselves about how they were doing it, how fast it could happen and that it could be very successful. Now we saw a light at the end of what appeared to be the forever downward spiral.

We met other couples at the same “stage” of the process we were in and even others that had taken placement of their children that would share their stories. So we started sorting out all the information and hired a consultant that helped us connect with an agency and ultimately our daughter. We could not feel more blessed than to have her smiling face each day, she filled a void in our hearts and made us all complete.

We still attend regular meetings and outings with SPAFA and my daughter does too. We feel it is very important for her to know about adoption and that there are lots of other children out there who have the same life experience.  We plan to be a part of the wonderful support system that SPAFA offers to my family and others, as we face new challenges and grow together.

After spending several years struggling with infertility, we began to think about other ways we could have children.  Once we embraced adoption, it was a huge relief.  We realized that having a family would now be a matter of when, not if!

Based on a recommendation from a colleague, we started going to SPAFA meetings in the fall of 2005.  The best part of every meeting is when new parents introduce their child—it’s very inspiring.  It was at those first meetings that we realized what adoption could mean for us—we would finally have a family!  We attended our first Expo that November.  I remember an adoptive mother whose advice included getting the process started as soon as you decide that adoption is the right choice for you.  She said, “Your child could be conceived right now.”  The funny thing is how true that was for us!  Our son was born in July 2006—almost 9 months after that Expo! 

We chose to work with an adoption consultant who helped us through the process—there are several steps involved and it was a huge benefit to work with someone who already knew what to do, how to best do it, and when!  Also, this company networked with many adoption agencies to find an abundance of referrals that best matched the type of situation we felt most comfortable with.  After we submitted our prospective adoptive parent profile (a scrapbook about our life and why we want to adopt), we would then wait to hear whether the birthmother had selected us.  Those were difficult days of waiting when we just had to trust and have faith.  We believed that God would guide the birthmother to make the best decision for everyone.

After working with our consultant for only 4 ½ months, we “matched” with a birthmother!  We were able to go meet her which was a wonderful opportunity.  We were fortunate that she was working with an agency that provided birthmother counseling and a social worker that went with her to all of her doctor’s appointments.  We began receiving weekly updates about how she and the baby were doing which gave us great peace of mind.

When she went into labor, we flew out and arrived just a few hours after our son was born.  Our experience at the hospital was wonderful from the very start.  We were able to talk with our son’s birthmother when we arrived and then we went to the nursery to meet him.  The nurses had made up a sleeper bed for us and brought our new little bundle into the room to stay with us.

The birthmother gave us two letters—one for us and one for our son.  They are priceless evidence of her love and selflessness.  Throughout the entire experience, she has shown such courage and happiness for us as a family.  We have much respect and admiration for her.  We keep in touch through phone calls, letters, and photos.  Like any relationship, it is continually evolving, and we are thankful for any opportunity to get to know each other better and to give her updates about our son.

We do hope to adopt again, but time will tell if that is possible.  We are certain of one thing—we are blessed to have our son and to be a family!  Clearly, this is what God meant for us all along.

When my husband, Jason and I decided that we were ready to start our family, we had no idea what we were in store for!  Like many people, we assumed that we would have biological children.  When we realized that it wasn’t going to work out that way, our desire to become parents did not disappear.  We were ready to have a family, and we knew that adoption would give us the gift of parenthood.

We attended a local adoption support group meeting (SPAFA), where we made a connection that would change our lives!  This organization provided us with answers to our questions and contacts who would guide us through the adoption process.  We officially began the process in the summer of 2004 and in March of 2005, our son was born! 

The moment I laid eyes on Hayden, I thought he was perfect!  When I held him for the first time, it was instant love!  I knew without any doubt in my mind that this was the baby that God had made for us.  Four years later, I still believe that.  When Hayden was two, we began the adoption process again.  Six months later, our daughter, Faith was born.  Hayden and Faith are our pride and joy.  The funny thing is, that what I once considered to be the worst punishment imaginable (our infertility), has ironically turned into our most wonderful blessing (our children)!

Since becoming an adoptive parent, I have joined the board of SPAFA (Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families of America, Inc.).  I have become a huge adoption advocate and I share our story proudly.  I welcome the opportunity to educate people about adoption.  Adoption is a wonderful way to build your family.