Stork Central
-
Posts
5,912 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
335
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Posts posted by Stork Central
-
-
It's Abrazo's 26th year, and what better way to start the second week of the New Year than with a placement? (Especially one that was long-awaited?) This pair of againers from Missouri came back to adopt again a year ago, thinking they'd attend camp in lieu of orientation, but a failed adoption plan followed, and then months of waiting and then a cancelled orientation weekend, so they joined our What Brings You to This Conversation? November 2019 orientation, instead, and that did the trick, because the "right" match came up right afterwards! Their patience was definitely rewarded, and now, thanks to a loving birthmom who made her best choice on behalf of her family, their "forever family" has grown to include a beautiful baby girl and her birthfamily, too. Blessings, all! -
Recently, Abrazo has gotten several inquiries from prospective birthparents interested in placing African-American children ranging in age from 1-3... and we struggle to accommodate them, because their hope is to find their children homes where at least one family member will look like their little one, and the majority of our waiting families are either not African-American OR are seeking only infants. Please help spread the word that Abrazo is in need of racially-diverse adoptive families who are open to toddlers of either gender, who are homestudy-ready and committed to the concept of open adoption! Any interested prospective couples are welcome to call our family services coordinator, Amy Byrd, at 210-342-5683, or visit abrazo.org to learn more about our admissions process. Thank you!
-
We are delighted to announce that beloved againers from the Hold On, Heather's Here orientation group from May 2019 got The Call yesterday about a mother who'd delivered a baby at home and needed a family for him, so they happily abandoned whatever weekend plans they'd already made to travel north instead! The birthmom had originally had no intentions of choosing adoptive parents or doing an open adoption, but upon reviewing their profile, she realized she just had to meet them. and we're so glad she did! The son they now forever share will benefit from the friendship they're building, and that, in itself, seems to qualify this as a Christmas miracle. So happy for all of them, and especially, for their beautiful baby boy.
-
Two birthparents who both have different partners now set aside their differences to plan the best possible future for their baby girl. There wasn’t a lot they agreed on, but they did come to agreement on the right family, Sausage Smugglers of 8/18 who already had two adopted sons and wanted only a baby girl. We wish them all continued unity and pride in the life of the newborn daughter they now share!
-
They came to Abrazo more than ready for something to happen, having tried unsuccessfully to adopt elsewhere. They matched with one of Abrazo’s expectant mothers and attended the What Brings You to this Conversation? of November, 2019. But their dreams seemed to be crushed when their match ended in a disappointing change of heart after the birth. They went home empty-handed but took the high road, and flew back in a heartbeat when the baby’s mother realized they were her son’s best future. They are now joined at the heart, forever, as the family they are. (Dreams DO come true... keep the faith!)
-
Last month, this TN couple was just another set of hopefuls at our What Brings You to This Conversation? orientation weekend. They had a completed homestudy and a prepared profile, but now idea how long the journey ahead might be? To their amazement, just after getting home, they got The Call from a prospective birthmom, and yesterday, she enabled them to become the proud parents of her beautiful baby boy! It’s a big adjustment for all of them with such a quick turnaround, but we have every faith in each of them. God bless!
-
In August 2018, when a local couple who’d previously adopted elsewhere joined our Bag ‘Em & Tap ‘Em orientation, nobody could’ve imagined the journey that lay ahead of them. They loyally encouraged their group members, talked with a few prospective birthparents, but then put their file on hold while waiting to see if their child’s birthparents might need them again. A dream match in the spring ended in disappointment, but come fall, they matched with the first mom of the baby who was meant to be theirs! And last week, they became proud parents of the son they truly needed, thanks to her. Blessings, all!
-
It was 9/8/19 when a Minnesota couple first messaged Abrazo about wanting to adopt, but their adoption journey had begun (and seemingly stalled out) long before that. They were ready in every way to become somebody's parents, though, so they raced through the inquiry and application paperwork for Abrazo and attended our What Brings You To This Conversation? orientation the first weekend in November.
Little did they know that that very weekend, a young woman in San Antonio had just learned she was pregnant and delivering a premature baby boy, for whom she needed a loving and ready home. Already having their homestudy completed, this couple was definitely in the right place, at the right time, and today, they were forever entrusted with the honor of being his parents.
Blessings, all! May the road you travel together from here continue to be filled with love and light.
-
Two-and-a-half weeks ago, they were attending our What Brings You To This Conversation? orientation of November 2019, during a cold snap... and now, Texas is nearly back to shorts weather, and this WI couple is back taking placement of a beautiful baby girl, thanks to her loving birthparents' courageous choice. Blessings to all of the members of this newest forever family, as they adapt to their new roles, and in record time!
-
In a hospital out of town today, another couple from our Hold On, Heather’s Here orientation of May 2019 went from being a childless couple to proud parents of a baby boy, thanks to one loving birthmom. May this child always know how adored he is by each of them!
-
The Abrazo staff was informed today of the recent passing of adoptive dad Joseph Defosse in Mississippi in August. Joe and his wife Lisa adopted their daughter Jamie here in 2003; they were part of the Los Misionarios orientation group of February 2003. The family traveled this summer to Hawaii for the trip of a lifetime, but five days after returning home, Joe suffered a stroke that later led to his death. His obituary can be read here. Please join us in lifting Lisa and Jamie in your prayers as they adapt to this great loss in both their lives.
-
A match shortly after the Hold On, Heather’s Here (May 2019) orientation weekend led one TN couple to the depths of heartache when it led to a failed placement plan. But this couple found the courage to keep going with their adoption journey. And just three weeks later, they jumped on a plane on a moment’s notice to return to Texas for the baby that is truly Meant to be theirs! God bless the broken road... and their new son, and all the parents who love him!
-
We're happy to announce that Abrazo did successfully find a loving home in March/April for the four-year-old boy (above) and his younger brother, who ended up being placed with him... and after many, many months of searching, we are today participating in the placement of the little girl with hydrocephalus, mentioned above.
There IS a loving home out there for every child. Sometimes, it just takes a lot more searching to find families special enough to say "yes" to some of them.
-
Birthgrandparents, be sure to let us know if you want to be added to Abrazo's secret Facebook group for adoptive grandparents and birthgrandparents!
-
The last remaining couple from Abrazo's This Is Me Excited orientation of February 2018 had had a number of calls from prospective birthparents, and were even chosen by a couple of placing parents, but nothing felt right to them until they were chosen this year by an expectant mother who bore a striking resemblance to the prospective adoptive mother. They said "yes" to the match, and today, they are the proud mom and dad of a ten pound baby girl. We wish them all the best, and we hope this is just the beginning of a close and meaningful family relationship with the brave and selfless birthmom without whom they would not be parents, today.
-
Abrazo just had to cancel next weekend's planned orientation, because we didn't have enough applicants with paperwork on file. We hate to do that to the couples who did get their paperwork in! but it takes at least five ready couples to make an orientation weekend a success, and right now, Abrazo's greatest demand is for childless couples. (Wonder why? Read this week's blog: Childless Couple, Interested in Adopting.) The childless couple who took placement of a newborn here today and felt as if they'd been waiting f-o-r-e-v-e-r just finished their homestudy in December 2018... if you're done with infertility treatment and ready to move on to open adoption instead, please complete your inquiry and application form ASAP and let's get you on your way to FAMILY!!!!
-
They'd attended Abrazo's October 2018 orientation, Sausage Smugglers, but it wasn't until December that their homestudy was in and their profile started getting distributed. Being people of faith, they trusted in God's plan for their lives, but still, it was hard to keep their spirits up when all around them, matches were happening and placements were occurring, while still, they waited. A failed match further tested their patience, but today, the reason for every delay became evident. For today, they met the baby girl that was intended just for them, and the birthmother who needed them just as much as they needed her. As they grow into their new roles, we lift each of them in our thoughts and prayers and we thank Heaven that truly, it's "not if but when," when it comes to God hearing and answering our most desperate prayers. Blessings, all!
-
1
-
-
We were saddened to learn last week of the death of a beloved Abrazo birthmom, just a day before her 44th birthday.
Vilaylak Phomsouvanh (known to us as "Vee") contacted Abrazo over two decades ago, when she was a pregnant nineteen-year-old from a culture that shunned unmarried mothers.
She made an adoption plan with an Abrazo couple who would've loved to keep in closer contact with her over the years, however, Vee did not seek an actual reunion until her placed daughter turned nineteen. She took great pride in the talented young woman her daughter had become, but sadly, she did not find the courage to actually meet with that daughter before her death. She did, however, live to hear her father say he understood the choice she had made in opting for adoption, and that he was proud of her. That meant the world to Vee.
Her family is planning no memorial service. If you wish to contribute to her burial, click here.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to both Vee's son and daughter, to his family and to her adoptive family, as well.
-
They attended Abrazo’s October 2018 orientation, Sausage Smugglers, but homestudy delays held them back. Then a failed match happened, seemingly causing further delays. Little did they know, though, that these apparent impediments were actually blessings in disguise, ensuring that they’d be readily available when the right match came along. And it did... nine months after that orientation weekend, they found themselves in a San Antonio hospital with a beautiful mother who’d known from their first phone call that they were meant to be her baby’s parents. May the daughter they now share always know her adoption was, truly, meant to be.
-
Back when the Sausage Smugglers (October 2018) orientation was taking place, one childless Tennessee couple could not have imagined what excitement their summer would entail-- or maybe they could, because the adoptive-mom-to-be took a huge leap in faith by giving up her job this month, to stay home full-time with the baby they didn't have yet. They did have a match, with a beautiful mama who was apprehensive about openness and who declined contact for this reason. But she had a dream for her baby's future, and this couple was part of that dream, so today, they became the proud new parents of a gorgeous baby girl. We wish for each of them joy and peace, and we wish for this little girl the chance to grow up knowing firsthand how very beloved she is by all of them, always.
-
1
-
-
It's another baby boy for our February 2019 orientation, C'mon Tom! This little guy made his appearance a month early, so he'll be enjoying luxury accommodations in a local NICU while he grows big and strong, but he has his adoring birthmama and his sweet adoptive parents to dote on him, in the meantime. We wish each of them strength and joy in their respective journeys, as they grow as forever family... blessings, all!
-
Abrazo recently learned that local attorney and AbrazoDad Michael Panzarella died in San Antonio last July, at the age of 62.
Mike and his former wife Teri adopted through Abrazo twice. We are saddened to learn of his passing, albeit late, and we hope his family draws strength from their many happy memories together.
-
Abrazo has a secret Facebook group called "GRANDPARENTLAND" which is for Abrazo birthgrandparents and grandparents-by-adoption... if you wish to be added to the membership, just message the Abrazo Facebook page, and tell us the adoptee's name and we'll get you in! (No secret clubhouse password is required, wink.)
-
They come from a town known for great German food, so it seems only appropriate that their 10/18 orientation group name was Sausage Smugglers but around the time of WurstFest last year, this childless adoptive couple couldn't have had any idea how soon their lives were about to change, in the most amazing way.
They also couldn't have imagined the struggle another couple was experiencing, not far away, as they contended with an unplanned pregnancy and the reality that it was too soon for the family of the daughter they'd previously placed to adopt again. Nonetheless, this birthcouple knew another open adoption was in their coming baby's best interests, so they searched for another Texas family who would commit to an open adoption with them all.
Because of this brave birthcouple, their newborn son was welcomed into the world by three families; that which is his from birth, that which is his by adoption, and that which is his because he has a large extended family eager to embrace him forever, too.
May their connections grow strong and prove to be forever lasting, for his sake-- most of all.
Baby Announcements 2020
in New Arrivals
Posted
A military mama who endured untold trauma did her best to care for her baby boy, but felt he was meant to have parents better prepared to meet his needs. She painstakingly made a loving plan to place him with a childless couple from our Hold On, Heather’s Here orientation of 5/19. They are grateful for her faith in them and their relationship is designed to forever assure him of their shared love for him and for each other.