Finding the Right Agency, the Right Support, and the Baby Who Was Meant to Be
Matt and I always knew we were meant to be parents. We felt it deeply and confidently — not as a vague hope, but as a calling. Because of medical conditions, however, our path to parenthood looked different than we had once imagined.
With degrees in social work, we entered adoption with a clear understanding: adoption is not a replacement for biological children. It is its own journey — complex, beautiful, and layered. We wanted to walk that journey with intention, humility, and care.
From the beginning, our goal was to provide a child with a safe, loving, and supportive home — one that could hold both joy and growth, and the grief, questions, and identity considerations that naturally come with adoption. We also wanted to expand our family in a way that honored the baby’s biological family, building trust and offering reassurance that their child would be deeply loved and thoughtfully supported.
Choosing the Right Adoption Agency
One of our biggest concerns was making sure we chose an ethical adoption agency, one that truly supported birth mothers, and treated them with dignity, compassion, and honesty. We wanted to be able to look our child in the eye one day and say, without hesitation, that we did our very best to treat their biological family with respect and care at every step.
So I researched — a lot. Months of Google searches. Countless comparisons of agencies, fees, policies, and philosophies. I wasn’t willing to commit until I found an agency I trusted.
What ultimately set Graceful Adoptions apart was the birth mother stories. Reading firsthand accounts from courageous women who had made adoption plans for their babies was incredibly powerful. Time and again, they shared how supported and respected they felt by the Graceful Adoptions team.
We were also reassured by Graceful Adoptions’ financial protections knowing that if we had a failed match, fees would be applied to a future match. That transparency and fairness mattered to us.
Walking Through Hard Moments — With Support
Our adoption journey wasn’t without heartbreak. We experienced a failed match, and there’s no sugarcoating it. That part truly hurt.
But in hindsight, it led us to the match that was absolutely meant for us.
One moment that stands out profoundly was Karen’s willingness to drive three hours one way to support our baby’s birth mother when she was required to appear in court for the termination of parental rights. She didn’t hesitate.
Had our baby’s birth mother not had emotional support and transportation, our stay in another state could have been significantly extended, adding stress for everyone involved. Karen showed up fully, compassionately, and practically — and that meant everything.
Unexpected Challenges & Holding On Through Uncertainty
Our son’s birth came with complications, and he spent the first two weeks of his life in the NICU. While he was stable, the medical team couldn’t give us a clear timeline for his healing. Some babies, they said, just need more time.
Being states away from home, watching our baby struggle to adjust to life outside the womb, was incredibly hard. We leaned heavily on technology to stay connected to our support system — and we leaned on Graceful Adoptions, too.
Karen checked in regularly — already in communication with hospital nurses, social workers, and attorneys before we even arrived to the birth mother’s state.
Meeting Our Son
When we first saw our baby, it didn’t feel real.
We had traveled nearly 20 hours and arrived just before midnight. After years of longing, loss, and prayer, we were standing there, being given medical updates, staring at this tiny human, and it felt surreal.
Was this really happening?
It wasn’t until the next day that it truly settled in.
This baby was ours.
His whole life ahead of him.
An answered prayer.
A Message to Birth Parents
To birth parents considering adoption: I can only imagine the immense pressure and uncertainty you may be feeling. Trust can feel difficult when there are so many unknowns.
What I can say is this, most adoptive parents who work with Graceful Adoptions are truly in this for the right reasons. They are committed to raising children in loving, supportive environments and to working with birth parents as a team, with the child’s long-term wellbeing at the center.
Advice for Hopeful Adoptive Parents
No amount of research can fully prepare you for this journey.
There will be uncertainty, self-doubt, anxiety, confusion, and impatience. There will be tears and long phone calls with your support system. There may even be heartbreak.
And yet, today, we are parents to the sweetest little boy. At six weeks old, he’s giving us big, intentional smiles. He melts into our arms. He coos, grows stronger every day, and fills our hearts beyond measure. We’re soaking in every moment.
Early on our journey, Karen told us:
“There will be a hundred reasons to give up or postpone this process. But if this is something you truly want, you have to go for it.”
She was right.
Why We Recommend Graceful Adoptions
Graceful Adoptions is for families who want someone deeply passionate working on their behalf.
Karen cares — genuinely and consistently. From our match call through our first days home, she checked in almost daily. She was responsive, attentive, and incredibly organized.
Graceful Adoptions didn’t just guide us through adoption. They walked with us — through uncertainty, heartbreak, and ultimately, joy.
We are forever grateful we chose them.
