Lauren Marshal never intended to write a book. Her foray into the publishing world was the result of her creative attempt to talk with her youngest daughter about being adopted.

“What started out as a gift for her daughter became a delightful book that her older daughter, Hannah, illustrated and Lauren had published so that other families can use the story as a way to encourage that ongoing dialog.” - Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer

Abby was adopted from China by Lauren and her husband when she was just a year old. Though Lauren and her husband had been open with Abby about her adoption from the beginning, something clicked when Abby was 2 ½, and she suddenly understand what “adoption” meant. That conversation became the catalyst for Lauren’s book, “My Beautiful Bow,” which is now available through Amazon.

Labels: adoptive parents, communication, adopted children, tips

In 1997, Christian adoption center Nightlight launched the first-ever program aimed at encouraging embryo adoption. This week, its Embryo Adoption Awareness Center received a grant to fund its ongoing work.

“Couples who have received in vitro fertilization treatment frequently have more embryos created than they end up using for themselves. When they have completed their fertility treatments they may have remaining embryos in frozen storage. They are faced with the difficult decision of what they should do with these remaining embryos. There are currently an estimated 500,000 embryos in frozen storage in the United States.” - Source: Business Wire

Through programs like Nightlight, couples are given the option of donating their remaining embryos to other couples. An embryo is implanted in the adoptive mother, and she carries the baby that she will adopt. It’s interesting legal ground, too, but laws are slowly changing to allow adoptions to be finalized sooner and more quickly – though the adoptive parents still have to wait until after the baby is born.

Labels: embryo_adoption

Matt and Heather Andrews have taken care of Nic since he was two days old. Their plan has always been to adopt Nic, and they started moving in that direction not too long ago.

But recently they got news from Franklin County [Ohio] Children Services they were sending the now 2-1/2-year-old to live with distant relatives recently located in Alabama. "If someone doesn’t intervene, they are going to take our baby," said Matt Andrews. - Source: NBC4i (Columbus, OH)

An emergency stay has been placed on the decision, but the Andrews will need to sort out the situation quickly. As Child and Family Services departments across the country start placing a stronger emphasis on keeping kids with biological relatives, these interrupted adoptions are becoming more common. Adoption attorneys say the system isn’t necessarily broken, but it’s certainly not perfect.

Labels: relationships

Across the country, adoption coalitions and other adoption advocates have started local Heart Galleries. Heart Gallery of America is an organization that helps promote adoption by creating art-exhibit-style events where prospective adoptive parents can learn about kids in their area who are available for adoption.

“A total of 119 portraits of 154 foster children looking for forever families will be on the walls in an art-exhibit-style gallery at the Renaissance Austin Hotel Thursday… The goal of the Heart Gallery of Central Texas is to gain interest in the lives of these children and ultimately find each child and sibling group a permanent home.” - Source: News 8 Austin

The Heart Gallery of Central Texas opens this Thursday, September 30. Tickets can be purchased at HeartGalleryTexas.com. Mini versions of the Heart Gallery will be on display at multiple locations across Central Texas through November.

Labels: awareness

Earlier this year, Candice Warltier traveled to Nepal to finalize her adoption of a little girl. While she was enroute to Nepal, U.S. policy regarding adoptions from that country changed, and now Candice is stuck there, and fighting for her daughter.

Candice has been living in Nepal for seven weeks, unable to bring Antara [her daughter] home. She thought she would be away from her job for a month, but now the absence from her source of income is indefinite. Candice’s mother took retirement from her own job so she could go to Nepal and help out. Her mother spent a precious month in Nepal, but recently she needed to return to America to mange her own affairs." - Source: The Daily Review (PA)

Candice has rented an apartment and continues to meet with U.S. and Nepalese government officials to try and complete the adoption process so she can take her daughter home.

Labels: international

Scott Simon, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition, recently released a book recounting his families experience with adoption. In Baby, We Were Meant For Each Other, Simon paints a picture of family life that is intense, heart-warming and real.

“One of the beautiful aspects of this book is that it explores this idea of belonging through adoption, without limiting the type of adoption. We see families that adopted infants domestically; families that adopted young children internationally; families of one color adopting children of another color; families that adopted their children’s children. The limitless power of love and inclusion.” - Source: Chicago Now

Simon and his wife adopted two little girls from China after they were unable to have biological children. He tells his family’s story, and the stories of so many others, in the hopes of encouraging others to consider adoption as well. And at a time when the media is telling so many negative stories, some good news is just what adoption advocates were hoping for.

Labels: international, China, awareness