For a while, Matt and Ashley were living a great life together out in Central Pennsylvania. There was never a dull moment in their household with their dogs, cats, and pet lizard for sure. They were happy, however, something was missing in their life… a baby. Parenthood would be the one thing that would turn their great life into a wonderful life.

Their road to parenthood is bumpy. Matt and Ashley struggled with infertility. While millions of couples struggle with conceiving, the grief associated with infertility can become so paralyzing to the point where it feels they are all alone in their struggle. Matt and Ashley gave it some time to think it over and decided that their calling was to pursue adoption. They found an adoption agency within their area called Adoptions From The Heart (AFTH). After researching AFTH they decided to give the nonprofit a ring to set up an appointment.

Anyone who does thorough research on Adoptions From The Heart knows that it is one of the first agencies to fully advocate for open adoption. The two admit that they were not 100% knowledgeable about the ins and outs of open adoption. Ultimately, they decided to schedule a meeting with an AFTH social worker. Evidently, they were grateful they took the time to learn more about open adoption. “We were blown away,” said Ashley. The then prospective adoptive parents truly discovered how an open adoption benefits the wellbeing of all parties within the adoption triad. “We walked out of that parking lot thinking ‘ok cool we’ll put in an application,’” said Matt. Once the couple was officially on “the books” as they say in the adoption agency world then came the most stressful part…the waiting.

As months went by hearing nothing but “radio silence” as Ashley puts it. One fine day during August 2019 Ashley received a ring on her phone that would permanently end that silence. Their social worker was on the other end of the phone sharing the news that they were placed with a five-day-old newborn baby girl. After basking in the excitement, the couple wasted no time and immediately packed up their things to head over to the AFTH Cherry Hill, NJ branch.

The couple already had a name picked out for their baby girl before they arrived in New Jersey, Matilda. Her exact namesake is the protagonist from the children’s book by Roald Dahl “Matilda,” one of Matt’s favorites growing up. Matt knew he would name his future daughter Matilda. Ashley cried the first moment she held Matilda in her arms and notes how “it was so surreal.”

Matt and Ashley spent their first few days as a family of three at a hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ while waiting for their ICPC paperwork to be cleared. While they wanted nothing more than to bring their baby girl home, they made the most out of their time at the hotel. There was a lot of video chatting, they brought the baby to meet Matt’s brother in Princeton, and Ashley’s friends from nearby Philadelphia came to meet her.

Matt and Ashley rewatched the movie version of “Matilda” on the first day at the hotel. Ashley was not in love with the name Matilda at first, but her feelings changed after rewatching the film. Ironically, the fictional character Matilda is officially an adoptee at the end of the story. Aside from being an adoptee, the character was also born in the month of August. It was kismet! To this day the couple has no regrets about the name. “The name works for her, she is a Matilda,” said Matt happily.

Matt and Ashley have an open adoption with Matilda’s birth mother and continue to send her pictures and letters. As of today, the couple has yet to have a direct correspondence with Matilda’s birth mother, or an in-person visit. “So far, her birth mother has not been ready to meet with us yet, which is her right. We’re just hopeful that one day she will,” said Ashley. Ashley believes in the practice of establishing open conversations about adoption with Matilda. She is constantly looking up age-appropriate children’s books with adoption themed storylines and educational toys. Ashley is looking forward to whipping out a unique set of alphabet adoption theme flashcards as Matilda grows up.

Today Matilda, or “Tilly” as loved ones call her, is a smart, curious, bubbly, and fearless toddler. She also shows signs of being a budding entertainer based on how excited and into it she gets when her parents play music from hit Broadway shows (“Hamilton” and “The Phantom of the Opera” are the heavy favorites).  At just 15 months old Matilda is bringing the equivalent of 15 years’ worth of love and happiness into the lives of her adoptive parents, and everyone she meets! Matilda’s adoption was finalized back in March 2020, which makes November 2020 the first National Adoption Month they are celebrating as an official family of three. Celebrating National Adoption Month as a family of three is something even a pandemic cannot take away from them.