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When we first considered open adoption as a way to build our family, we will be honest that we experienced enormous fear about what to expect, nervous about whom we would meet and how it would work.
By the time we met Sinéad’s birth mom, Stacie, we felt we had come full circle in our commitment and desire for an open adoption. Open Adoption puts the child first. Stacie and Jen are the same age and made a strong connection fast. We grew to know, trust, respect and love each other over the course of our relationship. Jen joined Stacie for every doctor appointment, we all attended birthing classes, and enjoyed family time with Stacie and her kids.
Unfortunately, Sinéad’s birthfather chose not to be in our lives. We have never met him nor do we have photographs. On January 13, 2005, Sinéad Michelle Olsen Donery was born and her birth was an unforgettable experience for all of us. Stacie stayed with us for the first few days after the birth and continued to pump breast milk for Sinéad for the first six months. We will be forever grateful for her love and commitment. Stacie and her children have moved out of state. Although we don’t have the chance to get together as easily or as often as we did when she lived locally, we talk and email regularly. Sinéad is probably the most photographed child on the planet (thanks to digital cameras), so Stacie and her family get photos all the time. We are planning to visit soon and she always has an open invitation to visit and stay with us. It is immensely important to us that Sinéad know and have a relationship with her birth family. We are all family.
We think Stacie is an amazing, unselfish, courageous woman and through our daughter, we share an important and unending bond. Open adoption is about forming incredible relationships and we feel privileged to be building our family in this way. |
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