SUCCESS STORIES

Hi! We are Sara and Mike.

We cannot express enough how awesome and wonderful Everlasting Adoptions has been in our journey to becoming parents. We
are blessed with our Hudson, born on December 19, 2013. He is so beautiful and precious (and a good sleeper) that sometimes I still
have to pinch myself to make sure this is all real.

Our journey began 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. We knew immediately that instead of postponing treatment to
harvest eggs, our path to having a baby would be through adoption. I was adopted myself, as was my cousin, so adoption was always going to be
part of our plan; we just thought we would be able to have a biological child, as well. The decision for us to adopt was easy, finding the right agency or person to put our hopes and dreams in? Well… after finding Everlasting Adoptions, that was easy as well.

We interviewed with several other nationwide agencies and/or facilitators. They made use feel like a number, like they had this checklist, and it was very obvious to us that we were just means to an end to them. Then we talked to Carol Shepherd. She emailed us back immediately, talked to us over the phone, and in the end, made choosing Everlasting very simple. I had a feeling after hanging up the phone with Carol that Everlasting would help us find our baby.

Sheila Neuman was amazing as well. She answered every email, and there were many, and returned every phone call, and there were many. She was supportive and kind and always had patience. She constantly assured us that a match would be coming. We signed on in January 2013, went live in April 2013 and were matched in September 2013. I remember speaking to Ceal Shapiro for the first time and she asked “Its a boy, do you want him?” YES was the answer! Ceal was wonderful, working with our birthmother and her mother, as well as checking in with us regularly and helping us stay calm during the entire process.

Before we knew it, December was upon us and we flew to meet our son. We were open to all forms of adoption: open, semi-open and closed. Our wonderful birthmother chose semi-open, and we will be always grateful for her. She gave us our son. She handed Hudson to me and said “You are a mommy.” He is just perfect and wonderful, and because of this brave woman and Everlasting Adoptions, we are a family. I am a mother and Mike is an amazing father. Within 12 months, we became parents, and it is due to Everlasting.

I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Thank you Carol, Sheila and Ceal. Thank you.

Love,

Sara and Mike

Hello! We are Scott & Allison and we are so blessed to have our new baby boy, Thomas! We are soaking in every second with our angel. We chose to adopt because of fertility issues, but instead of continuing with treatment, we chose adoption. We wanted a family…it didn’t have to be a baby with our DNA! We did our research in agencies and our options. When we found Everlasting, we liked what we saw and really liked the staff. We waited about 8 months before we were matched with our birth family and at about a year with Everlasting, we were placed with our baby. Waiting is hard, I won’t lie, but it’s totally worth it in the end. Our relationship with our birth parents has been wonderful and we chose an open adoption. I would encourage adoptive families to truly consider being as open as possible because it has made it much easier on everyone in our situation. Adoption is an amazing journey, with many ups and downs. If your heart is telling you to go for it, don’t hesitate!

Choosing adoption was the most fulfilling life decision we have ever made. After 5 years of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts, we decided to contact Everlasting Adoptions at last. We were welcomed by Carol, and from then on, it was “full speed ahead.” As soon as we went “live” in February, we were contacted by our birthmother in July, and by October 28th, we welcomed the birth of our daughter Mila Gabrielle!

Our birthmom was absolutely incredible. She was very adamant about the fact that we immediately bond with Mila. So, this meant I participated in the delivery and was able to cut the cord!! Mila held on to my finger and locked eyes with me shortly thereafter–just as our birthmother had hoped for. Our experience was amazing and, again, our birthmother was an angel. We knew it was a good fit from the start, and we had a strong feeling that this was meant to be. The process was not as intimidating as we thought. We were walked through every little process, and when we had questions, our liaison, Ceal, was very patient in answering all of them.

Our entire journey was a whirlwind! Sometimes when we hear her cooing or crying, its unbelievable that she is truly ours. What a wonderful way to celebrate this coming holiday season. We could have chosen other adoptions agencies and/or alternative options, but Everlasting Adoption was our right choice in helping complete our family.

Thank you!!!

With all our love,
Marc, Maggie, and Mila Weiss

Our journey to parenthood wasn’t quick or easy, but it was Everlasting Adoptions that connected us to an amazing birthmother, and ultimately to our precious baby girl. We always knew that we wanted to adopt, but planned to have our own children first. After seven years and many fertility appointments later, it became clear that adoption would become our avenue toward achieving our dream of parenthood.

After much research into various agencies and services, I contacted Everlasting adoptions and had a lovely conversation with Carol. As an adoptive parent herself, she truly understood the apprehension with beginning this process. She assured us that our feelings were normal, and patiently answered all of our (many) questions.

After the completion of our profile, we had two connections in the first six months. This was so exciting, but they both fell through for different reasons that were out of our hands. I mention this because Carol, Ceal, and the Everlasting team were completely professional, caring, and empathic during those very difficult setbacks. They allowed us to heal at our own pace and move forward with their gentle encouragement when we were ready. We picked ourselves up and decided that the third connection would have to be the charm, and it was.

Our ultimate connection with our birthmother was different, better, than we’d imagined in every way. To be honest, we started the process thinking that we wanted as little contact with the birthmother as possible, simply out of the fear of the unknown of such a relationship. Our view was changed for the better when we got to know this phenomenal young woman. Her strength and dynamic personality were contagious. She shared our fears of the other party changing their minds after the commitment. We all learned together that we just had to have faith, and that we were going to be a team, the bond of which would last forever.

Since the arrival of our beautiful daughter, we have been blessed with the feelings of complete joy and love, and again want to thank the Everlasting team for all of their work in producing this connection. If you are considering giving the gift of life to a waiting family, or adopting a newborn into your family, please know that there is much love out there, and that it is truly an incredible team effort that results in lifetime bonds.

Thank you all for sharing this beautiful, life-changing journey with us. Our experience with Everlasting Adoptions has been so wonderful. We were matched a few times in the 7 months after we went live with Everlasting, which was a pleasant surprise since it can take years to be matched once through a traditional agency! The team at Everlasting was always so prompt and courteous when answering questions, returning calls, or emails. We thank you for your support and professionalism.

Our birthmother and her family were more than we could’ve ever hoped for. Our birthmother was funny, strong, and resilient! Her strength was so motivational to every person she touched at the hospital. She played no games, and she was confident in her decision before she reached the hospital. I’m sure the staff at Everlasting Adoptions helped to prepare her for the emotional rollercoaster ride of the impending adoption. Her family was equally supportive and the most honest and down to earth people we’ve ever met. Our birthmother and her family were educated and prepped by Everlasting, for the hospital adoption experience. Because of this, the hospital staff was well informed, welcoming, and equally supportive of the adoption. It was truly a match made in heaven!

Our new addition has brought so much joy to our lives. She’s filled so many empty spaces. It seems, we were waiting for her all along.

Thank you for helping us to find the perfect match in our birthmother! Thank you for helping to answer the prayers of our son, by finding him a little sister! Thank you for helping us to find our princess!

No measure of words could ever express our love and gratitude to everyone who was involved in our adoption, but we thank you again, and again, and again..

With Love,

Eric, Keisha, and E.J.

A friend of ours who already adopted through Everlasting Adoptions over a year ago, recommended them to us. Without their guidance and support, Rick and I would not have our own family together today! Carol’s encouragement, positive nature, support, reassurance, guidance, and even her sense of humor helped us through the entire adoption process and helped us maintain our optimism each step of the way. Each of the staff’s phone calls, texts, and emails calmed our fears and answered our litany of questions throughout this wonderful journey. We are eternally grateful to the birthmother who they matched us with, and are now savoring and cherishing every moment with our sweet baby boy. He is such a blessing to us, and we truly have Everlasting Adoption’s to thank for him!

The staff continually went above and beyond and exceeded our expectations by praying for us, comforting us, and genuinely caring for us as we were led to our miracle blessing just shortly after Easter Sunday. “Just let go and have FAITH!” Those six words from Carol were a constant reminder that God is in control, and that He has a special plan for all of us! We really cannot fully express how pleased we are with their professionalism and kindness. We had a truly remarkable experience and have already recommended Everlasting Adoptions to several other couples who are hoping to build a family too. Yes, Carol and her staff helped make our dream come true in just 10 months! Our appreciation and gratitude for them will never end.

Rick and I want you to know that if you are pregnant and considering an adoption plan for your baby, or if you are considering adopting a newborn, we whole-heartedly recommend Everlasting Adoptions. The staff’s dedication and expertise will undoubtedly make your experience a positive one.

We knew adoption was God’s plan for us after only 6 months of fertility medication. We chose Everlasting because of their warm welcome and unexplainable compassion. When Jenna from Everlasting called us to tell us about a possible match it was only a month after we went “live” on their website. I emailed the birth mother that night and automatically we knew, we were a fit for each other! I texted with the birth mother daily and that led to us meeting. Looking back, it seems like we were meant to know each other. She was 3 weeks pregnant when we were matched so we went through her pregnancy with her and her fiancé. On December 8 we had a baby shower and the birth mother attended and met my family and friends. Ten days later…. I received a phone call from the birth father that the birth mothers water broke; the birth mother was 33 weeks 6 days. Me and my husband rushed to be by their side. That evening, I watched our angel come into the world in the delivery room. We spent 9 days in the hospital while she learned to eat and cue for her feeds, all the while, the birth parents were by our sides. She’s healthy, happy and home now and is just perfect! I never dreamed our baby would be in our arms so quickly and I also never dreamed we would gain amazing friends that are part of our family now (her birth parents). Thank you Everlasting, for making our dreams come true and helping to answer our prayers!

When Kevin and I first started with Everlasting Adoptions, we had already been involved with another company for one year with no results. So when we were matched with a birth mother in Florida we were beyond excited! However, ultimately when she gave birth she quit answering the phone and kept the baby.

After a couple months we decided we were ready to try again. The second birth mom seemed much more promising and stable, and we purchased everything we could need for a baby boy due in the winter … hats, coats, literally everything.

When she too changed her mind about placing the baby for adoption, honestly I thought my heart was unfixable. All I’d ever wanted since I was 5 years old was a baby of my own! I was beyond sad. I closed the door to the perfect nursery I had so carefully decorated, and even avoided walking through that side of my house as much as possible. The hurt it caused just took my breath away.

Then 2 weeks before Christmas I was at work when Jenna from Everlasting Adoptions called me with an “urgent” message. At this point my heart (previously thought to be unfixable) began to pound in my chest because Jenna’s voice was so excited. She told me about a baby boy born that morning 3 states away, whose mother had chosen our profile and was asking for us to come pick him up.

By this point my stomach was involved with the pounding of my heart in my chest as well. Have I mentioned I thought my head would explode?! After everything we had been through I didn’t know if I could try again, especially not in a state with a 7 day grace period for birth mom to change her mind. But God gives us the strength we need in times like these. I spoke to the birth mom over the phone and assured her that her son already had everything he needed, sitting in the nursery I must have been building for him all along. The relief in her voice at that moment was worth all the pain I’d held inside for the past 2 years. She asked what name I would like on the birth certificate, and all I could think of was Jeremiah 29:11…for I know the plans I have for you, saith The Lord..plans to give you a future and a hope.

From this point life became surreal.. I was sure that I would wake up at any moment to realize I had only been dreaming. The 10 days we spent with Jeremiah and his birth mom were unbelievable. I learned so much from her about being a mother, by her truly unselfish act.

Everything I thought I knew about life has been turned upside down, and I am so grateful for the experience! We were allowed to bring our new baby home on Christmas Eve, giving me the greatest Christmas gift I’ve ever hoped for!

This morning I feed Jeremiah breakfast and lay him back down in his crib for a nap, tucking the blanket around him with his arms out exactly how I know he likes it. And at this moment I realize, no one else knows Jeremiah like I do. We were meant to be. I wouldn’t trade this baby for anyone else. And I wouldn’t even trade the pain I’ve felt, because I may have had to miss the joy I’m feeling right now. Adoption is truly a miracle, and you’ll know what I mean when it happens to you.

May God bless you on your journey.

After having our fertility tested and going one round of hormones, we decided that going the medical route to have a baby was not for us. We both wanted to be parents, and in our heart it did not matter about biology.

We met with a lawyer who was recommended to us from a family friend. She was/is fabulous and spent a lot of time with us. We loved that she was an adoptive mother herself. We began the home study process as well as marketing our website on several adoption sites. We were not getting any birthmothers contacting us and time was ticking by. We interviewed several agencies and facilitators and made a decision that for us a facilitator was the way to go. We selected Everlasting Adoptions!

Carol was awesome from the start – she gave us many references of parents who had used Everlasting’s services, before we signed on with them, and to this day, I keep in touch with one of the mothers. I emailed a lot in the beginning, and Carol and her team always responded very quickly. When our birthmother started to communicate with us directly, the Everlasting team was there offering support for a full day of emailing back and forth with the birthmother. We all had some reservations about the birthmother, and the team at Everlasting expressed concern, but also encouraged me to follow my heart – I really loved how they were right there but gave me space to listen to what was feeling right for us. As a result, we have a beautiful baby girl who is now one month old.

I would choose a facilitator from the start and not to wait to “see” if a birthmother finds you. Everlasting Adoptions was exactly what we needed!

If we decide we want another baby, we will not hesitate to contact Everlasting Adoptions again.

Everlasting Adoptions was an answered prayer!

We contracted with Everlasting in March, and got our baby in October! This agency is AWESOME. Carol, Jenna, and the rest of the staff at Everlasting Adoptions are WONDERFUL and truly care about both the adoptive families and the birthmothers. Whenever we had questions, they were just a phone call or text away. Never did we feel that they were out of touch. Our adoption experience was such a positive one. If we decide that we want to adopt again, we would not want to use any other agency!