One of the most emotional things a family can do is welcome a new member into their fold.
They realized that they had fertility issues and decided to go the adoption route.
But then, right after the baby was born, her other option fell through.
Cautiously, the Chens made the trip from Texas, knowing that the adoption could still fall through.
Carita mentioned that hundreds of people were praying for them to meet their son that night.
I’m your dad.
You have no idea how many people have prayed for you."
They were both shocked when she told him the name Chloe.
After marrying, the couple tried for four years to have a child, without success.
They became impatient and frustrated.
“It was really hard,” Annie said.
Walt recounted, “Every time we would hear about someone getting pregnant, we would just be devastated.
Because we were thinking this isn’t going to happen for us.
We’re fools who want kids, and it’s never going to happen.”
Finally, after intense deliberation, they decided to adopt.
They were elated when they got the email from the adoption agency that a birth mother chose them.
Walt and Annie both burst into tears, knowing this was the baby God meant for them to have.
Even though the Van Eerdens already had ten children, they knew they were meant to adopt Eddie.
The adoptiontook five years, but the Van Eerdens persevered.
After three trips to Ecuador for court hearings, the couple finally brought him home.
“We have a lot of children.
And our hands are full,” Rachel said.
“Why would we want to take in a child with special needs?
Of course there are sacrifices, but what Eddie pours into each of us far outweighs any sacrifice.”
Rachel told the GreensboroNews & Record, “He’s truly blessed our lives.
He’s taught us more of what our lives are about reaching out and loving people.”
At first, she was excited to be pregnant.
She had a loving boyfriend, and both of their families were onboard.
It was then, that she reached out to an adoption agency, Graceful Adoptions.
The Douds were willing to have an open adoption to increase their chances of getting picked.
“We were open to anything,” Brian said, “Because we wanted a child.”
None of them realized how open their relationship would be.
Kristen was the first person to hold baby Leo, when he was born.
“There’s no regrets or second thoughts,” Mitchell said.
“Every part of me knows that I did the right thing.”
Misty Nicole Knight asked a family member to record her, before giving Ryan Farrell a gift.
She told him to read the attached note out loud.
Farrell sat down and began reading the note from Knight.
“I just want you to know that you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.
He read, “I cannot imagine not having you in my life.
I’m so grateful to be able to call you Dad.
You are probably wondering what this letter is for.
Well, launch the present already.
It’s okay to cry.”
He got so excited about it, he almost missed the adoption papers underneath.
He wiped away tears as he hugged his daughter.
“God, I’ve been wanting to do that forever,” he said.
She passed away soon after.
Their friend, Elizabeth Thames, reached out to the FOX5 Surprise Squad to help the family of ten.
“I didn’t do anything too special.
I did what anybody in my shoes would have done.”
Hernandezinvited her familyand friends to her high school graduation party in Plainfield, Illinois.
He read the poem to himself, and then leaned over and hugged Hernandez.
Her mom yelled, “You did it, baby!”
Then he took something else out of the box a stack of adoption papers.
He immediately sank down to the ground, where he wept with emotion.
Hernandez leaned down and put her arms around him.
Hernandez told CBS2, “I never doubted that he was my dad.
The fact that it’s going to be official makes me happy.”
Losco said, “I’ve wanted nothing more than to be her dad from day one.
Growing up, I came from a separated family.
I always had it in my mind that I would never want other kids to go through that.”
They then went through two failed adoptions.
We are here to give hope to those in a similar situation to persevere, to push through.
When you feel like giving up, don’t.
It will all be worth it in the end.”
Diamond was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
“And we do.”
Families come in all shapes and sizes
All of these adoption stories are different.
Some couples find that they can’t conceive and long for their adopted babies.
Others already have large families and welcome needy children into their homes.
Still other stories show teens recognizing the loving adults who raised them as their true parents.
