Stork Central

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!

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.

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. Michael Panzarella’s Obituary

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.

Sometimes, it's not newborns who most need a loving new home. This was surely the case for two little boys, whose mama called us a month or more, seeking a safe and stable home for her sons. She'd done what she could for them, but she and the boys' dad agreed these kids needed and deserved so much more than either birthparent could give them... and so Abrazo began searching the nation for a suitable home for these little ones. Meanwhile, an Alabama couple with plenty of love to offer had reached out to resources across the country, too, and by the grace of God, they all found each other through Abrazo. We wish these precious boys a lifetime of love-- and the certainty that their forever family truly will be there for them, forever. Blessings, all!

Thank you! We are also now seeking homestudy-ready families who would be interested in adopting a four-and-a-half year old Anglo boy. Please submit profiles and homestudies to abyrd@abrazo.org if you'd like to be considered.

Two mothers who attend our birthmother support group both were contemplating adoption fir their baby boys. Each had two other children they were parenting on their own. Neither found their open adoption plans supported by their families. Yet both mothers found the support they were lacking at Abrazo, and both found the right families for their babies in Abrazo’s February 2019 orientation, #CmonTom. And now, both baby boys get to grow up with open adoption stories that can forever surround each of them with truth and light and love. So blessings, all. Your journeys have been entwined in the sweetest of ways, and we can’t wait to watch where each of your futures lead.

When a sweet mother in labor first contacted Abrazo a couple months ago, we didn’t know all the complications that lay ahead... but God did, and He surely had greater plans for this precious baby boy. After a national search for parents was launched, the birthmom found her son’s perfect parents in Iowa, and after attending our 2/19 orientation weekend, #CmonTom, plament is now complete! We wish this new forever family much joy in their merged life path... blessings, all.

Abrazo is seeking a wonderful adoptive home for a 14-month-old Anglo girl with hydrocephalus who was a preemie. She does have a shunt already, but she's going to need a family with a lot of patience and optimism to help her reach her full potential. Her teen mom loves her dearly, and wants her to have a nurturing family who can provide her more stability, care and developmental guidance than she herself is able to offer. This will be an open adoption through Abrazo's special needs placement program, so infertility is not a required prerequisite for placement in this case. If you know a homestudy-ready family who might be interested, please have them forward their homestudy and adoption profile to our Family Services Coordinator, Amy Byrd (abyrd@abrazo.org.) Thanks, y'all!