During National Adoption Month, we interviewed families from local AFTH offices to learn about their experiences and will be sharing their stories here. Here is an adoptive mother from New Jersey, who dedicated her time to adoption education before she even became a parent.
Karen first explored adoption in February of 2013 after a friend of hers adopted a daughter. Rather than attend an informational meeting with Adoptions From The Heart in person, she attended a webinar and set out to do her own research on the adoption process. “I only knew about AFTH and after reaching out to friends and friend’s of friends I was finding out that everyone had used AFTH. I killed two birds with one stone, I learned about the perfect agency for me and about adoption.”
“The home study process and the education prior to placement were important to me. As a single woman I knew I would face some obstacles depending on the expectant parents reviewing my profile, so I wanted to be prepared.” Situations came and went and nothing worked out.
While she waited, Karen decided to embrace the open adoption community. “I attended three of the Annual Family Picnic’s prior to having my daughter. I wanted to observe and witness the beautiful reunions. I was able to met other families and build strong, close relationships because of those AFTH picnics. I also wanted to take advantage of every opportunity I have available so I have also attended two Concerned Persons for Adoption (CPFA) conferences and will be attending again this year. I want to be able to provide everything for my daughter and knowledge is power.”
Karen’s daughter was born on a Wednesday in July of 2015, she learned of her birth on Thursday and Karen had her home on Friday. “I remember the call came at 4:24 pm and the situation was a little outside my key, but I didn’t want to make a super emotional decision, so I told my social worker I would call them back before the deadline. After some additional research, in my gut I knew this was my daughter so I called and I agreed to have my profile shown. At 8:26 pm, my social worker called and said, ‘are you sitting down?’ I remember saying holy crap no! Let me get a pen and paper!” Karen panicked for maybe 40 minutes, calling her dad and sister to let them know the news and making a list of everything she had to get before her baby came home.
The wait was worth it for Karen. “Seeing my daughter was love at first sight. The most rewarding experience and I can’t wait to bring her to the next picnic!”
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