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"A Selfless Decision" - How Jamie & Wilson Came Together to Choose Adoption

Jamie and Wilson are brave birth parents who chose adoption to give their baby a life full of love and opportunities. If you feel inspired by their story, contact us today or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get free information about the adoption process. 

My name is Jamie, and I am a 27-year-old mother of a 4 1/2-year-old little boy that lives with me and also a mother to a beautiful 3-month-old little boy we named Evan. First, let me say that it has taken me this long to be able to write about my experience.

I became pregnant in June 2004. I was 26 years old, and I already had a 4-year-old at home. My boyfriend and I had been together for 3 1/2 years at this point. We lived together and loved each other very, very much, and at first, were very excited about the news of having a child together. Being together for that long, we of course have been through a lot.

When a woman becomes pregnant she has three choices:

  1. to keep the baby and raise it

  2. to have an abortion

  3. to place the baby up for adoption

There is always the possibility of having a miscarriage (not really a choice). Well, when I became pregnant this last time, I had gone through it all. I have had a child and chose to raise it; I have had a miscarriage and an abortion. All pregnancies have been my boyfriend's children, so when we found out we were pregnant this time, it was a very confusing time.

I mentioned that we lived together and were trying to raise a 4-year-old at the time. We were both working full-time. We were making pretty good money, but when it came down to figuring everything out, we realized we were living paycheck to paycheck. With the rent, car, insurances, utility bills, not to mention food and gas, we just couldn't afford the necessities for a baby, but we still wanted to keep him no matter what we had to do.

In the beginning, we began fighting a lot because of all the financial responsibilities and stress of the pregnancy. I started thinking of all my options. I mentioned adoption to him, and he completely refused to give "HIS" child to strangers, so I thought it was out of the question.

I decided to find out more about adoption without my boyfriend knowing. I went onto the internet and found American Adoptions. I was four months pregnant at that point. I was connected to an adoption specialist named Laurie Walker, who, from the very moment I spoke to her, I felt comfortable opening up to about my situation, but I still was very confused. Laurie began to explain the adoption process to me and said that she would send me some information to look through. The next week, I received the information and profiles of families and I cried the whole time and put it away and never thought of it again. There was no way I could give my child to people I didn't know.

Over the next couple of months, my boyfriend and I continued to argue so much that I actually made an appointment at the doctor to terminate my pregnancy. I told my boyfriend about it and he decided to go with me. We arrived at the clinic, and I saw all the girls there who could care less about what they were about to do. I kept having second thoughts the whole time I was there. I was being questioned by a nurse when my boyfriend, who fought off a security guard to get back to where I was, took my hand and said, "We are leaving; I can't let you do this again." So we left. We went back to being happy about the baby, and we were determined to do whatever we could to keep this child. We went back home.

Things were okay for a while, then I contacted Laurie again because all this time I knew in my heart that we couldn't give this child everything he deserved. I was in major denial. I told her that I looked at the profiles and I didn't like any of them that I saw. Laurie then sent me more profiles of families. My boyfriend and I started arguing a lot again and I became very, very depressed and actually went into the hospital. It was then that my boyfriend and I started being adults about this and discussed what was best for everyone.

He still didn't want to discuss adoption. I was now 8 months pregnant. January 17, 2005, I called Laurie again and I told her that I made the decision myself and knew that the best thing for my child was to give him an opportunity of a normal life. It was then she told me about this couple that had tried fertility treatments and adoption several times. They were of the same nationality and religion as my boyfriend and me, and they were financially and emotionally stable. It was then and there that I chose them to parent my child.

Laurie contacted the adoptive couple on a Friday and didn't hear back until Monday. She then called me up and told me how excited they were. They were from the same state we were from (actually only an hour away). Laurie asked me if my boyfriend and I would be comfortable talking to them on the phone. I said I would give it a shot but my boyfriend wanted no part of it.

That Wednesday, Laurie called me with the adoptive parents on the other line. At first, I was very upset and scared. After about 15 minutes I started to feel a little more comfortable. To my surprise, my boyfriend wanted to get on the phone! He started talking to the adoptive father (like a man-to-man conversation). My boyfriend talked to them for about half an hour. After the conversation was over, we decided to have lunch together. It was then that my boyfriend said that he loves me and loves our child and only wants the best for everyone. It was then that he decided to be a part of this adoption plan for our child.

Then Laurie called me the next day to set a date to meet the adoptive parents for lunch. We decided on that Wednesday. It was that night that I began making a memory book for my child when he is older. I put a picture of myself, my boyfriend, my son, my mother, my brother, and beside the pictures, I listed some of our favorite things, where we were born, etc., so he would know a little about his "birth family" when he asks. I also had everyone in my family write him a letter. At the end, I wrote him a letter explaining to him why I made this decision for his life. I thought that was the hardest thing in the world for me but little did I know.

My boyfriend and I went to lunch with the adoptive parents, and I honestly had a very comforting feeling when we were all sitting there together. We all couldn't stop crying. This is when we presented them with the book that I made and my mother made a blanket for the baby also. The adoptive mother cried and promised she would share this with our son when he gets older.

My due date was my boyfriend's birthday, March 16, 2005. It was now the middle of February and I started having pains. I went to the doctor and they told me that I was 2 cm dilated. I kept going back and forth to the hospital for a week in pain, but he wasn't ready to come out yet.

Finally, on February 27, 2005, I was at the store with my mom and my son when I felt a little leakage. Then the pain became more intense. I went home, and it was then that I knew it was happening and I wanted to stop it from happening. I knew that it would all be over soon and I wasn't ready.

My mom drove me to the hospital and my boyfriend left work and met me there. They admitted me at 5:30 p.m. I called Laurie, and she called the adoptive parents. They got in the car right away to come to the hospital.

After three hours of contractions and half an hour of pushing, my beautiful little boy made his way into this world. He was the most special and beautiful baby I had ever laid eyes on.

They let my boyfriend and I hold our son but then had to take him because he had to go into the ICU because he was born with jaundice and had to be under the lights. After they got me to my room, I immediately went down to be with my son. I stayed by his side 24 hours a day. I never left him.

It was then I started to have second thoughts. I wanted to take my baby home. As I sat there watching him hour after hour for two days I knew what I had to do. My family kept asking me why I was always around him because I was making it harder for myself, but I couldn't leave my son. He needed me, and I needed that time with him.

The day came when they were going to discharge me from the hospital but our son had to stay two more days in the ICU. That morning, my boyfriend and I took our son into a private room for two hours to have some alone time together. I was in no way prepared for this. I could not stop crying. I would not say goodbye, though. I told my son that I would not say goodbye; I would say I will see you later. 

At 9:30 a.m. I had to kiss my son and give him to the nurse. As my boyfriend and I gave our hospital bracelets to the nurse so the adoptive parents could now have them, I collapsed. I couldn't walk out of the hospital without my baby.

As hard as it was for me, my boyfriend and family were very supportive. My boyfriend and I cried together and were in pain together for the loss of our son. It is now three months later, and my boyfriend and I are still together trying to support each other through this difficult time.

There has not been one day that I don't think about our son, Evan. We honor him by lighting a candle for him on the 27th of every month, and we have pictures of him all over our house. He is and will always be a very big part of our lives, but as my boyfriend said to me, "For the first time we made a selfless decision and gave our child the opportunity of a life, and when he comes back to us one day we will have made our lives so much better and he will know that this was not for nothing." I live by that every day. I want to make sure my son is proud of me, and that is what gets me through every day.

We receive pictures and letters from the adoptive parents, and we can send letters to them as well. This whole part of my life seems so surreal, but I am trying to cope as best as I can. I would like to thank Laurie for being there for me and being so supportive and concerned with my feelings. American Adoptions really does care about the best interest of you and your baby, and I am so grateful for finding Laurie and being able to say that she also had a part in giving my child the life he deserves.

Thank you Laurie and American Adoptions for making my adoption experience as comfortable as possible, and thank you for your concern with my wishes and feelings. This is my only adoption experience, but I don't think it could have been handled any better than it was. Thank you.

And to my baby boy, Evan...Mommy loves you and will see you soon!!

Ready to find out what adoption can do for you and your baby? Contact us today at 1-800-ADOPTION to get free information and support. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is American Adoptions the right adoption agency choice for many birth mothers?

American Adoptions is one of the largest licensed adoption agencies in the United States. Each year, we work with thousands of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and offer assistance to these women. Our large, caring staff is able to assist you seven days a week and provide you with one-on-one counseling about your pregnancy and available options.

You should choose an adoption agency where you feel completely comfortable with their services and staff. With American Adoptions, you will work with an Adoption Specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Adoption Specialist will be your advocate and will provide support and guidance as you create an adoption plan that is right for you.

How will the family tell my child about me and the adoption when my child is older?

Each family has their own style of introducing adoption to the child. When you are matched with an adoptive family, you can ask them this question. If you would like your Adoption Specialist to discuss it for you, just let her know. He or she can share your wishes or provide good ideas from other adoptive families.

You will also be able to share what you want your baby to know about you. You can complete a keepsake booklet to share hobbies, stories, photos of you and your family and a letter to your baby. The adoptive family can provide this to your child as he or she grows older. Be as creative as you like! Some birth mothers have even knitted a special blanket as a gift to their baby or given a similar symbol of their love.

The father of your baby can fill out the birth father's keepsake booklet or write a letter too. You may have other family members who would also like to share photos or a letter to the baby. This is your opportunity to pass on your and your family's love and to share your personality, history and reasons for choosing adoption. The adoptive family will treasure whatever information you provide and will share it with the baby at an appropriate age. In most adoptive homes, the word adoption is in the child's vocabulary early on, and adoption is celebrated in their lives.

Additional Resources

Teen Pregnancy - Information for Young Women

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Do adoption terms and phrases leave you feeling confused? Learn the meaning to key adoption words and phrases with our comprehensive adoption glossary.

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