Domestic Adoption
Ours in a heartbeat
Dan and Shalee were young newlyweds, but they were eager to start a family. When it simply didn’t happen, they went, as Shalee puts it, “through the usual rounds of fertility tests and treatments.” Still no pregnancy.
“My sister had adopted, so we were very open to that option,” says Shalee. “We just wanted a baby.”
Choosing Domestic Adoption
They chose domestic rather than international adoption because Shalee was younger than the minimum age requirement imposed by many foreign countries. Though they were ideal candidates, and open to almost any adoption arrangement, they still waited. And waited. The adoption agency they worked with in their home state of Idaho made a couple of referrals that didn’t pan out, and one that was heartbreaking.
“We were on our way to pick up the baby when we found out the birthmother had changed her mind,” says Dan. “We knew that sort of thing could happen, but knowing it doesn’t make the heartbreak any easier to take.”
Getting the Call
In an effort to broaden their possibilities, Dan and Shalee registered with a referral service that was linked to other agencies across the country. One Thursday afternoon last Spring, they got the call that would change their lives forever. An eight-week-old baby boy in Michigan needed a mom and dad. Were Shalee and Dan interested? Were they ever!
But there was a “catch” and it was a big one. The baby had been born with a very serious heart defect and was considered “special needs.” That meant he would be on a fast track for adoption because the medical problem needed to be corrected as soon as possible. So tenuous was his health, in fact, that doctors advised against air travel. If Dan and Shalee decided to adopt this fragile infant, they’d have to drive to Michigan, and then drive back home to Idaho with a two-month-old baby. Five days after receiving the referral phone call they pulled into the driveway of the foster home in Hudsonville, Michigan.
A Special Gift
After an exhausting and emotional trip, Dan and Shalee felt a little numb as they turned off the ignition in front of the house that had been the temporary home of their tiny son.
“It was early evening, just turning dark,” says Shalee. “Through the living room window we could see the outline of the foster mom holding our baby, watching for us to arrive. As soon as we saw that waiting baby, we absolutely knew he was ours.” It was their fourth wedding anniversary. What a gift!
“Adoption Associates was wonderful,” says Dan. “We didn’t know anyone in Michigan, but we never felt alone or afraid. We didn’t have a clue about what to expect or what to do, so we really had to trust them completely. Everyone was so helpful and supportive.”
Hadley is now a robust, alert, eleven-month-old who sailed through a perfect repair-job on his heart and is doing extremely well. Someday—sooner rather than later, say Dan and Shalee—they hope to introduce Hadley to a little brother or sister. It seems that healthy, happy hearts run in the family.
More Information
For more information on domestic infant adoption, call 616.667.0677 or request a free adoption information packet.
