When Morgan stepped into the hospital, she found herself in labor, completely unaware she was pregnant. While faced with the decision to parent her son, Morgan found strength, guidance, and support from Adoptions From The Heart (AFTH), alongside the hospital staff. Her journey went from fear, uncertainty, and confusion to a place of hope and confidence. Morgan’s experience provides a first-hand glimpse into the impact of compassionate adoption support provided by AFTH.
Morgan holds her son, who was placed with AFTH, during a routine open adoption visit
Discovering the Path to Adoption
Morgan’s story is unique. In the hospital, with no prior knowledge of her pregnancy, she was presented with two options for placing her child for adoption: a law firm and AFTH. Morgan called AFTH, and Amanda Aliberti, Adoption From The Heart’s Birthparent Services Manager, answered the phone in the middle of the night. From that first conversation, Morgan felt a sense of comfort due to the support system Amanda had begun to put in place.
Morgan recalls how Amanda walked her through each step with genuine compassion and clarity. “Just the way [Amanda] talked to me, I knew it would all be okay,” Morgan said. Initially, she leaned toward a closed adoption, fearing the open adoption requirements and processes. However, with the guidance of Amanda, the hospital nurses, and AFTH staff, Morgan began to open herself to the idea of an open adoption. “I was nervous about connecting to a family,” she admitted, but the ongoing communication and reassurance helped her make a choice that benefitted her and her son.
Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster
Placing a child for adoption is an emotional journey, especially when you do not know that you are pregnant. As Morgan was unaware she was going to be giving birth, she recalls, “A lot of emotions [in such a short amount of time].”
Morgan, already parenting one child, decided to work with AFTH and selected one of the longest-waiting families. When she finally found a family for her son, she reminded herself, “This is all about love and protection of a child,” and knew in her heart, “He was meant to be with them.”
Although her initial thought was to opt for a closed adoption, the support and resources from AFTH helped shift that mindset. “At first, I thought a closed adoption would be the best option. But, it really wasn’t.” She cherishes the open relationship she now has with the adoptive family, watching them grow and maintaining a loving connection with her son as his “bonus person.” Morgan encourages adoptive families to keep an open line of communication and try to incorporate the birthparent into the child’s life.
Morgan and her daughter
Ongoing Support and Community
For Morgan, the support she received from Adoptions From The Heart extended far beyond placement. “Every time I text [my social workers], they are more than happy to respond,” she shared. AFTH’s birth parent support group became a critical space for Morgan to connect, share, and cope with others who understood. “You get to watch this family grow,” she says of her son’s adoptive family. Her gratitude for their openness and love is immense. “I am more grateful to them for being so amazing.”
A Message of Hope
Morgan emphasizes that her journey is a story of love. Her hope is that every adoptive parent maintains open communication and offers opportunities for birth parents to remain a part of their children’s lives. “There are a lot of children that need to be loved,” Morgan states, and she encourages others navigating this path not to lose hope in the process. Morgan enjoys receiving photos and updates from her adoptive family. The family has also maintained excellent open communication with Morgan, even sending her gifts to share their appreciation and love.
Morgan’s journey is just one example of how compassionate adoption support and open adoption can provide so much to an individual. From fear and uncertainty, she found love, support, and community. Her story is a reminder that even the most unexpected journeys can lead to hope, strength, and meaningful connections.
