Real Stories About Adoption

JESSICA’S ADOPTION STORY – MAKING THE BEST DECISION FOR MY SON

When I think back to all that went into my decision to place Ryan for an adoption, I remember how intense the process was. My

CHLOE’S ADOPTION STORY

Published November 2011 By The Cradle Staff Meet The Wallace Family How did you end up adopting through The Cradle? Lenell: It was a discovery process.

LYDIA’S ADOPTION STORY

Reflections on Adoption “How has Lydia changed my life? There are so many answers to that, although there is one thing that stands out more

The Wolowicki Family’s Adoption Story

Barbara and Norman Wolowicki share their story of forming a family through adoption, their ongoing support for The Cradle and the role the adoption agency

JOHN’S STORY AS A BIRTH FATHER

John, a birth father, talks about why he chose open adoption for his son. A birth father discusses choosing open adoption Before I learned about

Father Ken’s Adoption Story

“The Cradle has always been a real source of grace in my life,” says Rev. Kenneth C. Simpson, pastor at St. Clement Church in Chicago’s

WHAT DOES ADOPTION MEAN TO YOU? FROM THE CRADLE, AN ADOPTION AGENCY

What does adoption mean to you? From The Cradle, an adoption agency

CECE’S ADOPTION STORY

Fran + Ann + Cece = A Happy Family Published July 2013 By The Cradle Staff DePaul University professors Francesca Royster and Ann Russo had

COMING FULL CIRCLE – KELLY’S ADOPTION STORY

Published July 2014 By Shelbie Bostedt, Intern When Cradle baby Kelly Karl became a nurse fouryears ago, she never imagined she would one day be caring

LAURA SHARES HER FAMILY’S ADOPTION STORY

The Best Decision We’ve Ever Made Meet Laura – A Mom through adoption In some ways, we have a typical story and in some ways

ADOPTING IN THE EARLY YEARS OF OPENNESS: THE NEUSTADT FAMILY

Published January 2015 By The Cradle Staff Julie Neustadt and her husband, Jon, came to adoption the way many couples do – with a familial

KERRY’S ADOPTION STORY: “I WANTED A ‘NEW FAMILY'”‘

As soon as I realized I was pregnant, I looked into adoption. I had my first child when I was 17 years old. I got

DELANEY’S ADOPTION STORY

My name is Delaney, and I was adopted from The Cradle. I am twelve years old. I have a mom and dad living with me

OUR FIRST YEAR WITH AIDEN – THE BELL FAMILY

Published August 2013 By The Cradle Staff We had been married five years and had been through a few years of frustrating infertility treatment without

THE LOFTUS FAMILY ADOPTION STORY

A Thousand Words…. Although pictures are worth a thousand words, a thousand words are not enough to show our happiness and love we have for

GRATEFUL FOR GABE

Published January 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern Gabe Studer was a vampire this Halloween. In school he checked out vampire books at the library, his favorite

WHY NORA CHOSE OPEN ADOPTION, “OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS BLOSSOMED OVER THE YEARS”

Amid all the questions I faced when I found myself pregnant at 16, I also grappled with a few undeniable facts. I knew I wasn’t

BIRTH FATHERS DISCUSS ADOPTION

Several birth and adoptive fathers discuss the unique relationships they have developed. Cradle Birth Fathers Discuss What Adoption Means to Them

A BIRTHMOM WHO CHOSE ADOPTION FOR HER DAUGHTER SHARES HER STORY

A birthmom who chose adoption for her daughter shares her story

ANNE’S ADOPTION STORY

I don’t remember the first time I learned I was adopted. It wasn’t like in the movies: There was no shocking revelation or teary-eyed confession.

AMAZING LOVE: THE TAYLORS’ ADOPTION STORY

Published September 2013 By The Cradle Staff When Angela and Jason Taylor decided to adopt, they already had some insight into the process. Angela was

THE PETRICKS’ ADOPTION STORY

Bringing Home Teddy By The Cradle Staff According to Stacey Petrick, the hardest part of meeting her future son Theodore was coming back to the

THE DUNN FAMILY ADOPTION STORY

Since Roger’s arrival in 2005, our lives have grown in many ways with tremendous joy and a true sense of family that adoption has been

BIRTH PARENTS DISCUSS THEIR ADOPTION

John and Lisa chose adoption for their son. Birth parents discuss how they answer questions from their child Birth parents discuss their open adoption relationship

LUPE’S ADOPTION STORY

Published August 2007 Lupe was a frightened and overwhelmed nineteen-year-old in an abusive relationship, trying to care for her toddler daughter and infant son. Fearing

FAMILY TIES

Article from The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) Published: April 5, 2005 By Greg Stanmar ROCKLIN, Calif. — Two thousand miles of Interstate 80 and 56 years

ADOPTING BELICIA – THE CALL THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES

Published January 2014 By Shelbie Bostedt, Intern On June 23, 2012, Sandy Thomas received a phone call that would change her life forever. Her Cradle Counselor

TATIANA & VICA’S ADOPTION STORY

By The Cradle Staff December 24, 2004 was a Christmas we will never forget. It was the day we brought our daughters Tatiana Katarina (3

THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY ADOPTION STORY

All three of our children are Cradle babies! Antonio became our son in 1999, followed by our son Enrique in 2001, and then in 2003

Rachel’s Open Adoption Story

Rachel had apprehensions about having an open adoption at first. But after learning about the adoption process and open adoption, and being able to select

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