Personal Adoption Story

Alexandra's Story

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter. I cannot express how blessed I feel to have found an agency so genuinely sincere in their efforts to ease the process of adoption. And so, I write this in an attempt to express my gratitude.

I am a birth mother that went through the adoption process through your agency about 4.5 years ago. Shelly Riffle was my adoption specialist. I must tell you, that name is forever imprinted on my heart for all the support she gave me during that time.

I must tell you a little bit about myself in order for any of this to make sense ... I have developed an instinctual ability to avoid any kind of intense negative affect - and must force myself to confront things that are difficult in order to process such emotionality. I engaged in my own personal therapy last year for many reasons, but among them - I did so in an effort to embrace, and not forget this experience that has shaped my life and who I am today.

I am currently finishing my 2nd year of a PsyD program in Clinical Psychology, and hope that my experiences will allow me to be an effective therapist. It is through American Adoptions, however, that I first experienced an empathy so sincere and free of judgment - that often I reflect back on how receptive you all were of me, and can only hope that I provide the same kind of service to others in the future.

I recently received a letter and pictures from my adoptive family, and finally found it in me the courage to write them back after 4.5 years. I didn't even know where to send the letter - and so I emailed one of your specialists. Her heartfelt response and eagerness to help, after all this time,  reminded me of how much you all helped me, and consequently felt compelled to write to an executive of the organization.

I have found that the people you love and have impacted you the most live on within you - despite the amount (or lack thereof) of contact that exists in the relationship.  And so, even though we've never met, I hope this letter finds you well... I can honestly say that not a day goes by that I don't think of my son. There are some moments when I am saddened by the fact that I cannot see everything that the family I chose so lovingly describe for myself - but I then look at the pictures and read the letters and can just feel how happy he is. And that in and of itself, assures me to my core that my world is just as it should be.

With endless gratitude and love,

Alexandra