Mark & Jaci's Adoption Story

Dear American Adoptions, Megan Spaeth & Co,

Thank you so much! Through your help we have adopted an absolutely gorgeous baby girl. We would never have imagined the process of open adoption could be this fabulous and rewarding of an experience.

My wife, Jaci and I began our journey with you in the beginning of 2005. I was the reluctant one of course, with a multitude of fears. Some of the obvious being…….would I have a bond w/ an adopted child as much as I would my own? Would we get close to becoming adopting parents, with both emotional and financial investment, and in the end have it just fall apart like other stories we heard of? (Mostly from private adoptions outside of an agency) Would an “open adoption” cause us regret, because the birth mother knows who we are and the state where we live? What other things will she know about us through all our conversations? Why do we have to meet her in person? These and other fears made me very hesitant. As we got closer to potential matches I found myself even more cautious and nervous.

Well, I am here to tell you, on behalf of both of us, that these fears and the others were not only totally eradicated, they were positively abolished and THE EXACT OPPOSITE TOOK PLACE. As well, it did so on EVERY level.

The experience we had with Diane (birth mother) and her entire family will forever be a one of the best blessings anyone could have in a single lifetime. It was fantastic. We thoroughly bonded. Phone conversations during labor and immediately after birth were like nothing we had ever experienced. We flew to meet them immediately and spent the next few days with Diane, her Mom, and her 3 sisters. What a wonderful family. We laughed and cried. The intimacy of that time will forever be with us.

The bitter sweet moment of leaving the hospital, with our daughter in our rental car passing Diane and her Mother in their car in the parking garage, tears streaming down all of our faces, yet knowing this is exactly what she wants for her baby. She chose us. She, in faith, put her child in our hands. That moment will always live within us. Realizing the responsibility we have. Realizing that we have this beautiful, perfect little girl. Getting to this moment all seemed to happen so fast. Words cannot fully describe this experience, nor can they describe the amazing bond and love we have had with our daughter these past 2 ½ months.

We both feel that even if we could have children on our own, we could not have made such a perfect and glorious baby. This is beyond our highest expectations. What American Adoptions helped provide us is beyond measure. We must also include attorney Herb Brail in this appreciation letter. His devotion and expeditious work was exceptional and far beyond the call of duty.

Thank you so very much.

Mark & Jaci