To an adoptee, the meaning of adoption can be difficult to put into words and it often involves complicated emotions. Every adoption story is unique so every adoptee will have a unique understanding of what adoption means to them. Some adoptees will need to process why their Birth Parents chose adoption for them and some will have to face that adoption may have been the only option to remove them from a dangerous and unhealthy environment. Other adoptees will have to comprehend the circumstances that brought them to their adoptive family in the US from another country and others will know what it means for a stepparent or relative to adopt them. Depending on the adoptive family, as an adoptee grows up they may need to address what it means for them to be a part of a transracial or multicultural family. An adoptee’s personal meaning of adoption will be determined by their own living experience.

Adoptees generally live a regular life similar to someone who wasn’t adopted; however, they have experiences that are unique to being adopted and these experiences may have an impact on their lives at various times throughout their lives. While not all adoptees will go through these struggles related to their adoption, some may have to overcome feelings such as loss and grief, questions about self-identity, or a lack of information about their medical background. Regardless of a happy adoption, an adoptee may have to understand that their adoption began through a loss. Birth Parents may decide to part with their child, circumstances might require adoptees to part with their birth family and for some Adoptive Parents, they learn that they can’t have a child on their own. Adoptees may be left with a sense of grief and loss towards their adoption. This can create mixed feelings for adoptees, joy at being placed with their adoptive family and sometimes guilt or grief for being curious or missing their birth family. While this complex mixture of emotions can sometimes be difficult for you and even harder for your adoptive family to understand, it’s important to recognize that everyone within the adoption triad has experienced both loss and gain to some degree, including adoptees. Some adoptees may never experience this loss the way other adoptees do.

For adoptees, forming a healthy self-identity can be a challenge if the adoptee doesn’t feel like they fit in with either their birth or adoptive families. Some adoptees feel split between the two, or they feel different from peers who were raised by their biological families. This sense of alienation that some adoptees experience can create an adoption identity crisis, which can sometimes contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. An adoptee’s identity crisis can be improved with some work, support and patience from family and friends. Some adoptees face the problem of having little to no information available to them in a closed adoption. Although almost all adoptions today are open, there are many adoptees who struggle with the negative effects of a closed adoption. These difficulties include: A lack of medical or social history, making it difficult for these adoptees and their children to diagnose health problems. With open adoption increasing over the years, the effect of these issues happening to an adoptee has decreased dramatically. Adoption is an ongoing journey for everyone involved, so don’t feel afraid to reach out for support if you’re struggling with your journey.

Adoptees come in all shapes and sizes. Some were adopted as infants, some were fostered, and others placed with an adoptive family at an older age. Some adoptions happen within the birth family, when a relative of the child gains custody in lieu of the Birth Parents. Others are placed in families across state lines, across borders, or in other continents. Some adoptees learn of their adoption in childhood, and others find out later in life. Adoptees can be international, intercultural, and interracial. The adoption experience has many variations. Click here to read the names are adoptees and their Adoptive Parents who have brought adoption awareness to the world.

For many adoptees, your personal meaning of adoption is a loving family and living life to the fullest. For private US newborn adoptions, adoptees may see their adoption differently at certain stages in their life, but at one point in their adoption they understand the difficult choice their Birth Parents went through in placing them for adoption and a genuine appreciation for making that decision in their best interest. Understandably, an adoptee’s personal meaning of adoption will be determined by their own experience living through their adoption. Children whose adoption stories are openly discussed will usually view their adoption in a more positive way than children from whom the truth has been hidden or is not an open topic of discussion. Always remember you were wanted by your Adoptive Parents and loved by both your Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents at the time of your adoption and that love for you will always continue on.

Adoption Coach: 

Dear Reader:

I was born October 15th, 1979 to a young mother of 20 years old. She was living a life she wanted me to be raised in. With only three options (abortion, adoption, or parenting), she chose adoption. Both our lives would be forever changed with that decision. She held me for a couple hours. She looked over, inspected, and memorized every little part of wrinkled skin on my new little body. She took in all of my sights and sounds, placing them in their heart and putting a lock on it. No one had the key except me!  On December 13th, 1979, I went to my forever home and graced my adoptive parents with the second adoptive child they never thought they would get.

I grew up in a nice neighborhood. I didn’t know want or need. I had more than I ever needed and even more than I wanted. I was raised a typical child of the 80’s and a regular teenager of the 90’s. Although my wants and needs were minimal, my biological ties had a profound place in my heart and mind. So many questions and so little answers. The questions always started with who? or why? God bless my adoptive parents, they answered as much as they could with the little information they were given. My adoption was a closed adoption—very little information was relayed to my adoptive parents.

As an adoptee, birthdays stirred up so many unanswered questions.

With every birthday that passed, I always thought of my biological mother. Was she thinking of me? Did she remember my birthday? My family celebrated each birthday in typical fashion, with cake, ice cream, and presents I had asked for. For months leading up to my birthday thoughts of my biological family was the only thing I really had on my mind those days. I learned to eventually not look forward to my birthday. It always raised so many unanswered questions for me that couldn’t be answered.

“I think your birth mother is looking for you.”

Two months after my 18th birthday, I received a letter in the mail. The return address said “Judicial Court” on it. As I tossed it on the table, I huffed as images of jury duty filled my head. The fact that they nailed me two months after turning 18 was a disturbing thought to me. My adoptive mother picked up the envelope and said she didn’t think it was for jury duty. She said, “Sarah, I think your biological mother is looking for you.” All the 18 years of burning questions in my mind came rushing to reality as I opened that letter. I thought to myself, “it’s not supposed to happen this way, I was supposed to look for her when I was ready. Am I ready?” Well, ready or not, here she was!

As supportive as my adoptive parents said they would be, I never expected them to be so emotional. Could I blame them? Absolutely not! But no matter how much I reassured them, it seemed my words meant nothing. I thought long and hard about everything. I tried to weigh what mattered most—questions that would finally be answered or my adoptive parents current emotional state. After weighing the options for some time, I decided that at just 18 years of age, I was emotionally and mentally responsible enough to take this on. I was finally going to meet my biological mother and be able to ask the questions that burned a hole in my heart and mind for 18 years.

I found answers to most of my questions.

After talking a few times over the phone, we made arrangements to meet at a local Italian restaurant. As I pulled into the parking lot, I knew she was driving behind me. My heart pounded out of my chest. I couldn’t park fast enough. When I got out and took one look at her, only one thing came to mind—the thought of finally being home. A familiarity came over me that I don’t think I could ever put into words, and I found a comfort in her arms that I have never felt before. The second we embraced, my heart handed her heart the key to the lock, and it has been unlocked for 16 years now. I also found answers to most of my questions. I learned that I had two siblings anxious to meet me, and I them.

As the years went by, I started a family of my own. When my first child was born, I felt a surge of anger towards my biological mom. Time eventually healed my anger, although having a family raised more questions. I learned to answer them within myself. You see, being an adoptee, there are always little questions that still linger. Even though all the major questions are answered, there are always some little ones that never quite get answered. I had to learn that it was ok.

From adopted to adopting from foster care.

I went on to give birth to four children, two boys and two girls. My husband and I live in a small 3 bedroom house that maxes out just over 1,100 square feet. After our 4th child we decided it would be best if I had my tubes tied. Two years after that, we found out that our great nephew had entered foster care just 2 1/2 hours away from us. At 18 months old, he fell victim to a life of crime with his parents. Selling drugs was more than a lifestyle for them, it was a way of life past down through generations. Crime was nothing new for that side of the family. Our great nephew’s grandfather is sitting in prison at 38 years old with a life sentence, and the baby’s father was just sentenced to 32 years at only 19 years old. What that precious little boy experienced in the first 18 months of life, most adults would be afraid of. The violent gang task force and FBI were involved in the case. At 17 months old, he was in the vehicle while his father, in a fit of rage, committed a drive by shooting. The police were involved and he fled.  He was finally arrested and the baby taken into foster care. During the investigation, they even found photos of our great nephew laying down with loaded handguns in his diaper.

After entering foster care, his biological mother was ordered to abide by the court’s rules. When followed, she would get her son back. She was just 18 years old and put minimal effort into it. She sought comfort in drugs, and also in the biological father. Termination of parental rights followed 6 months after he entered foster care. After that, there were five competing parties that wanted this beautiful little boy. One party was the foster family, the other four families were all relatives. We were an appropriate fit as my husband had separated from that side of the family at a young age and had changed his last name, and we lived quite a distance away. The remaining relatives still had contact with his biological mother or father and could potentially put him right back in the same situation—a life of gangs, drugs, and poor education.

We inquired about our great nephew in May of 2012. Parental rights were terminated and we had our home study. I called every week from May until we started our visits in December to see how he was doing and how the process was coming along. The thoughts of having a nephew so far away in foster care weighed heavily on our minds. We wanted to make sure he was being taken care of and if he needed anything as we would provide it even if we weren’t chosen. Finally in January, we got the recommendation from the agency. They were recommending us for his adoption. We were ecstatic!! But we still had a long road and a bit of a fight ahead of us.

He is ours forever.

In March of 2013, we received the recommendation from the Michigan Children’s Institute who joined forces with the agency to have him placed in our home. On April 10th, 2013, our little boy came home. He arrived scared and confused, carried to our front door by the adoption worker. But finally, he was home! We no longer needed to call weekly to check on him, or drive 5 hours for a 2 hour visit every two weeks.

Then, the biological grandmother filed a section 45 appeal and the evidentiary hearing was set. The best interest of our little boy was in the mind of the judge that day and the appeal was denied. Our adoption was finalized November 2013. He is ours forever. He is happy, healthy, thriving, and getting a second chance.

Adoption is such a huge part of my life. From being adopted, to adoption reunion with my birth mother and then to adopt our nephew from foster care—I’ve come full circle. God is good.

Author: Sarah Laroe

This is your adoption story and how you joined our family.

Your adoption story

On one sunny morning, Stephanie, your “tummy mommy,” found out she was going to have a baby. That baby was you. She knew she loved you so much that she wanted you to have a better life than she could give. She had decided to choose adoption. She was scared, but knew it was the best choice for you.

Stephanie worked for your dad, Ira. One day while at work, Stephanie was talking to him about how she had chosen adoption. During their talk Stephanie found out we wanted to adopt. Stephanie and your birth father CJ, decided together that they wanted to meet us. Stephanie and CJ wanted to make sure that they liked us and see how much love we had to give. We met up at a restaurant and talked. All four of us were nervous. We all talked and became friends. When we left the restaurant, Stephanie and CJ  told us they would keep us in mind as parents for their baby, but still needed some time to think.

They picked us

It was at work on December 24th, that Stephanie told Ira that they had picked us as their family! Later on that night, we opened one gift before Christmas. Your dad gave me a present, a book titled What to Expect when You’re Expecting. My eyes began to fill up with tears as he said,” Chrissy, Stephanie and CJ picked us!” He explained that Stephanie told him earlier that day and wanted us to get excited for the new baby. It was the best Christmas present that I could ever imagine!

We were so happy and excited for the days to come. Stephanie even said that I could come to the doctor appointments to see you and hear your heartbeat. The first time Mommy heard your heart beat, I was amazed at how beautiful and peaceful it sounded. We went to many doctors appointments and still didn’t know if you were a boy or a girl. I guess you decided to keep it as a surprise.

You were born

On the day of your birth, we were all at the hospital. We could not wait to meet you. At 9:34 pm you came into the world. We were in the waiting room when CJ came through the door and said, “Its a boy!”  Your dad and I looked at each other and smiled. Then CJ walked over to us and said, ” Would you like to meet your son?” Of course we said yes, but that is not the end of your adoption story.

We walked in the room and I went to see Stephanie and make sure she was ok. She was doing good, just feeling a little shaky. When we saw and held you for the first time it was amazing. It felt like the world stopped moving when I rocked you in my arms. You were so handsome. You were 7 lbs and 9 oz and healthy. You were perfect in every way.

When you and Stephanie were released from the hospital, we went to the adoption agency to sign the adoption papers. We were all very emotional. We all signed the papers and started to say our goodbyes. We told Stephanie and CJ that it was not a ‘goodbye,’ but a ‘see you later.’ Still crying, we all hugged.

After leaving the adoption agency, we went home. Bringing you home was so surreal. We couldn’t believe you were home and we were all together as a family. We introduced you to your big sisters, Jordynne and Montanna. We watched their eyes light up with joy when they saw you. They had big smiles on their faces and couldn’t wait to hold you. They were so excited to have a little brother.

The adoption was finalized

The days passed and before we knew it, it was your adoption day. We went to the courthouse to see the judge and have our adoption finalized. We met with our lawyer Mrs. Krause. We went into the courtroom and met the judge. The judge’s name was Judge Kelly. He said that you were so handsome and looked so happy. After talking for awhile the judge said your name, “Dylan Robert Loomas” and “Congratulations Christine and Ira!”  We all took a picture and you became our son!

We will never forget what happened on that magical Christmas Eve night—the Christmas Eve we found out you were coming to our family. Adoption is a wonderful way for children to find a mommy and a daddy. Adoption is when your birth parents love you so much that they do what is best for you. Your adoption story is just as special as you are. We chose adoption because we wanted a child to love. We wanted Jordynne and Montanna to have a brother or sister that they could love and give hugs and kisses to. We love you so much and are proud to call you our son. We will always be here for you. We love you always and forever. We are family.

Love,
Mommy

Many adult adoptees graciously share their adoption stories rich with deep emotion—both good and bad—stemming from being adopted. Trading adoption stories with these adults has made me look at parenting an adopted child a little differently. It has caused me to stop and think about how my kids will feel growing up.

My husband and I have always been very open about adoption with both of our kids. We never shy away from discussing their adoption stories. My daughter is now 5 years old and very verbal about her adoption, so I decided to interview her so that people can gain perspective on adoption from a child’s point of view. I was surprised by her responses since we have always explained adoption in clear terms and have never shied away from sharing her adoption story with her.

My daughter is usually a very outgoing child with plenty to say, but she seemed a little reserved when I started interviewing her. I purposely didn’t lead her in any specific direction with the questions (only restated as indicated) because I wanted her responses to be as honest and unbiased as possible to share with all of you.

What does it mean to be adopted?

I don’t know.

You are adopted so what does that mean?

I was in C’s belly. Then my parents got to keep me.

How do you feel about being adopted?

Good.

Who is C?

My birth mother.

Do you want to meet C one day?

Yes.

What would you like the other kids to know about adoption?

That I’m adopted too and it feels good.

What would you like to tell all the Mommy’s and Daddy’s who are thinking about adopting?

That kids are on their way forever.

Who do you like sharing your adoption story with?

Nana.

Do you know anyone else who is adopted?

Yes, my brother.

How did it feel to talk to your birth mother for the first time?

I liked talking to her. It felt good to talk to her since it is a little sad that I don’t get to see her.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about adoption? 

A baby grows in another mommy’s tummy. Then parents adopt them.

Notes from interview: I should mention that recently our relationship with my daughter’s birth mother has changed from no contact to a phone call. For her response to what it feels like to be adopted, I would like to hear more and I am hoping she didn’t feel like she had to give the answer she did! Also, I really loved her openness in her response to speaking to her birth mother for the first time. Overall, I was really surprised that she didn’t have more to say and I actually thought she understood adoption a little better. My family and I will continue talking and learning together!

These seemingly common family experiences aren’t common at all for me, actually. They’re miracles. I’m 37-years-old and I have parents for the first time in my life.

My early years in foster care

I grew up in the 70s, raised by my single, hippy mom. She had long brown hair swinging down to her waist and carried me in a backpack to college with her. I got bounced back and forth a little bit between my relatives, who took turns watching me. But really, nothing was unusual about my childhood. It wasn’t until I was 8-years-old when it changed dramatically.

We were living in Illinois then, with my mother’s first husband, Gary. I was in third grade, attending a small Lutheran school while my mother worked as a graphic designer. Gary was a stable man and a good provider, but ultimately my mother didn’t love him. Their marriage fell apart just a few years into it, and my mom had her first nervous breakdown. At the age of 8, while my mother went through her crisis, I was placed with a foster family who then later adopted me. It was an open adoption, and I saw my birth mother frequently. After six years of living with this family, the adoption failed, and I went to live with my biological grandparents in California. My birth mother and I stayed in touch through phone calls and care packages. But this living arrangement also failed. I ran away from my grandparent’s home when I was 15 and was again placed in foster care. I called my birth mother from a pay phone at school and begged her to help me. For the next year I lived in a group home, attending high school while my mother fought for custody of me. We were reunited when I was 16.

Nothing good came of my childhood experiences. I don’t have to hash out the details of mental illness, foster care, divorce, neglect, or child abuse—you get the point. My birth mother wasn’t any more prepared to parent me when she regained custody of me than she was when she’d relinquished her parental rights. We lived together for two years and then went our separate ways when I turned 18.

My life went forward without my birth mother

Subsequently, my twenties were tumultuous. But I thrived. I moved to Manhattan, and had a satisfying athletic career. Unbeknownst to me, my mother was quietly struggling with her own private issues. Namely drug addiction and mental health. Always a lonely character in my life, she would surface from time to time. Often staying with me, wherever I was living. Our fragile relationship cracked under the strain of misunderstandings, and we went our separate ways. When I was 26, we stopped speaking to each other for ten years.

My life went forward without her. I enrolled in college, and began writing. Later, in my thirties, I moved to Los Angeles and took a gig as a ghostwriter. My career blossomed into publishing, media, and entertainment. My life was still tumultuous—but in a good way.

It’s not like I forgot her all those years, or made a point to hide myself from her, but I definitely kept silent. I was surprised when I got an email with her name on it that simply said, “Let’s talk” in November of 2012. My mother found me through one of my online publications, or maybe Facebook, where my email address was posted, and had finally decided to make contact.

You only get one mother

Those two simple words launched an all-out war between my head and my heart. How can I have her in my life without her destroying it? What does she want? How can I trust her? Finally, I turned it over to my closest friends who counseled me to answer her. “You only get one mother,” they said. So, I answered her.

When I heard her pitifully nervous, awestruck voice on the other end of a phone line for the first time in a decade, it was the first piece of healing ever to fall into place for me. And one of the most surprising plot twists of my life. My mother was well. She’d gotten sober. And she’d grown up. Both literally, and figuratively.

“I came back to be a mother you can be proud of,” she said. And this was the start of what is now my first experiences of real family.

I don’t blame my mom for placing me for adoption. She was a teenager when I was born—she was a kid. I know that she’s struggled more than I ever struggled, and despite everything that happened between us, I am proud of her. I never cried when I was adopted—it just seemed matter of fact, but I remember everyone else around me being upset. My adoptive parents, my grandfather, and my aunts screamed at me that my mother didn’t love me. But I knew she did. I kept a secret place in my heart for her to come back to when she was ready to be my mother, I filled it with goodwill and understanding. It was so secret that sometimes even I couldn’t find it. Regardless, our hearts are the most powerful things we possess. Love is like a heartbeat. It is steady, endless, and tireless. And it will never cease working to reunite us with those who can give us our greatest happiness.

For the past ten years, I have wondered where I really came from. I find myself questioning more and more who my birth dad is, where my other brothers are, and whether or not I will ever find out about my family back in Ukraine. It’s been difficult for me, being adopted, to not know the answers because I feel as though a part of me is missing.

I remember my birth mom telling me a story about my birth dad. She said he was Armenian and she was being forced into an arranged marriage. She was pregnant with me when she was supposed to be marrying her fiancé. The night before her wedding, she took my older brother, left her ring on the bed, and ran away. She didn’t love my birth dad and ran away to Russia where I was born. I still find it amazing and incredible how strong she was to run away and start over somewhere else. I am frequently reminded of her, because I do the same thing when I’m unsure of steps I am supposed to take next in my life—I run to new places hoping to find something different, something better. I always end up coming back home because that is where my family is now.

To this day, I wonder where my blue eyes come from. No one in my family has blue eyes, except for me. I know that I am partly Armenian because of my birth dad, and Russian because of my mom. I feel blessed to have been the only girl in a family of boys. My mom told me another story once about how she had been pregnant with a girl before me, though she ended up dying in the womb. My mom didn’t want to try anymore—scared that it would happen again—but did anyway. After I was born, she had two more boys after. I think God had an amazing plan because I ended up taking care of both of my brothers.

It is crazy to think about the past ten years. I feel as though I have lived in United States all my life, yet I have this whole past behind me. I find myself questioning and researching, but nothing seems to add up.

I don’t know if being adopted means I should just move on from what happened in my past. 

It still bothers me that every time I go to the doctor, I am asked about my family medical history and I have no idea.

Being adopted, I think I am always going to wonder about my past. I’ve never been someone to just leave things unanswered. It sometimes bothers me that I don’t have baby pictures, or any pictures of my birth family. I know most people think this shouldn’t make a difference, but to me it does. My friend recently sent me some pictures from the orphanage I hadn’t seen before and they helped to fill the void.

Finding my baby brother someday would mean the world to me. I want him to know more about our birth mom. I don’t want him growing up thinking he was abandoned and she didn’t want him. I want him to grow up knowing that she loved him, but she wasn’t strong enough to take care of him.

I want to figure out where I came from and where I belong.

I know most parents may not like the idea of their adopted children finding out more about their past, but I truly think it’s important to be open about it. I sometimes feel as though I can’t really discuss my past in my family. I feel like I am hurting my mom when I am trying to research finding my birth mom. I think it’s difficult for me because I was ten when I was adopted. It would have been a little different if I was a baby, but I wasn’t. I remember the first half of my life back in Ukraine. Most people don’t have that, so I am allowed to have questions about being adopted. I want to be able to put all the pieces of my life together so I can tell the stories to my kids someday. I want to be able to know where I came from, who my family is and was, and figure out where I belong.

As much as I don’t like living in the past, I think I will continue until I figure out some answers about my life. I believe going to Ukraine someday may help me put some pieces of the puzzle together. Until then, I will continue to research, write, and try to figure out where exactly I am supposed to be.

Adoption is much more common than you think, but due to the lack of representation in most media forms, save for shock value, adoption is still viewed as highly rare. Most people only have experience with families where the parents and children are biologically related, so it makes some sense that the idea of adoption is still viewed as some rather uncommon, though this is far from the truth. In fact, some very high profile people have been touched by adoption, either by adopting children themselves, or having been adopted. Whether these are actors, artists, or even athletes, people from all walks of life, even those in the media spotlight, have ties to adoption. With the 2016 Olympic Games ending in Rio, Brazil, it’s time to shed some light on Olympians, past and present, who have been adopted or participated in adoption.

Notable Olympians Who Were Adopted: Past and Present

Just four years ago during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Reese Hoffa, competing for Team USA in Shot Put was one to join the ranks of adopted Olympians. A winner of the Bronze Medal at the last Summer Olympics, many fans and watchers were unaware of his journey from an orphan to a full-fledged Olympian. Hoffa is not unique, however, as far as adopted Olympians go. In fact, over the span of the last few decades, there have been various Olympians who come from backgrounds where adoption was a prominent and important aspect of their life.

Some Olympians, like British Gold Medalist Tessa Sanderson, along with her former British Olympian husband, Densign White, have participated in adoption. Sanderson and White, at ages 58 and 52 respectively, adopted twin babies born eight weeks prematurely in 2014. Sanderson has been widely outspoken in recent months as she’s introduced her twins to the world through different media outlets, saying that the twins are her and her husband’s “world.”

By these two simple examples, anyone can see that adoption is more common than it is not, and should be viewed as a beautiful and heart-warming experience. The following individuals, though they came from muddled or difficult background and childhoods, are living proof that parents and children do not have to be blood to be family.

Adopted Olympians

• Simone Biles: A competitor for the coming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Biles is an amazing gymnast who comes from a colorful background that includes adoption. The 19-year-old, who was one of eight children, went with three other siblings with her paternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, after her birth mother was unable to care for her. Though they were unable to adopt all four of the children they had taken in, the Biles adopted Simone at age 5 and her younger sibling, Adria, at age 3, while her other siblings were adopted by other family members.

• Toby Dawson: An adoptee from South Korea, Dawson competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He used the publicity of the games to help him find his Birth Parents in Korea, and remains an adoption advocate who volunteers at the Korean Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families.

   

Source: Getty Images

• Magic Johnson: Perhaps one of the more recognizable and notable names on the list, acclaimed basketball player Magic Johnson represented the USA in the 1992 Olympics as part of the famous gold-medal winning “Dream Team.” Today Johnson has several children, including an adopted daughter.

• Jessica Long: A competitor in the Paralympic games in 2004, 2008, and 2012, Long is a swimmer who was adopted from Russia when she was just 13. Due to her fibular hemimelia, a serious condition that cost her her legs before she was two years old, Long has never competed in the Olympic games, though she has brought home gold, silver, and bronze, each time she has competed.

• Paige McPherson: McPherson is an Olympic taekwondo star who is also one of five adopted children. She competed in the 2012 Olympics as the youngest member on the Olympic taekwondo team.

• Alonzo Mourning: A gold medalist for the US team at the 2000 Olympic games, Mourning spent time in foster care during his teen years. Mourning has been quoted in crediting his foster mother in helping him become who he is today.

This list is simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to adopted Olympians over the years. In fact, there are many athletes, Olympians and otherwise, who have been touched by adoption and made amazing names for themselves.

Featured Image Source: nghiem vo

How Many Adoptees Are There in the US?

The dependency system started an investigation and discovered that the baby’s father was one of three men. DNA tests were performed, and it was determined who the biological father is. G’s Birth Father, who we’ll call Brian, never knew that the Birth Mother, Carly, was pregnant. In fact, Brian met his son for the first time just prior to the court system awarding him full custody.

Brian quickly found himself on his own. The court system did not help him or his new son or offer any direction. The system did not set up review hearings or any type of reunification plan with Carly, but allowed her to hold on to her parental rights to G… she simply was not allowed to have physical custody of him. It was as if the system simply handed this child over to Brian and then washed its hands of the situation.

Brian moved in with his father, took on two jobs and went back to school. He tried his best to care for his son but soon realized that he was not equipped to give his child the life he deserved. So, when G was one year old, Brian called us at Adoption Network and shared his story. Could we help set up a private adoption plan to give stability, security and love to Baby G?

At this time, Carly was in jail in Northern California and was not easy to get in touch with. We reached out to attorneys in the area to help, but none wished to be retained to talk to Carly about forming an adoption plan for her child. If an adoption were to happen, it would be up to us to work it out.

The first thing to do was to reach out to Carly and approach the subject of adoption with her. Over the course of several months, Adoption Network attorney Wendy McGreevy became Carly’s “pen pal” while in jail. She wrote to Carly, introduced herself, and let her know that Brian wished to give their son the gift of a loving, adoptive, forever home. How did she feel about placing G for adoption? Carly was understandably emotional. She did not say “yes,” but she also did not say “no.” There was a small window of opportunity to make an adoption happen, but we knew that she would need time, space and respect to come to a decision herself.

While Wendy worked the legal angles of the potential case, Adoption Network Client Liaison Danielle Stevens and Adoption Adviser Tammy Ramsay were instrumental in finding a family that would take the huge leap of faith of caring for sweet Baby G in the meantime. J and L were those parents. They took Baby G into their hearts and home, without the guarantee that it would result in a permanent placement.

For five months, J and L parented G while Adoption Network kept the line of communication open with Carly. Those efforts and faith paid off. When Carly got out of jail, she reached out to Wendy with more questions, and eventually… on her own time and within her own comfort level… decided that placing G for adoption with J and L was the best thing for everyone.

Carly and Brian voluntarily surrendered their parental rights of little boy G in favor of a private adoption when he was 19 months old. After an official post-placement period, a judge pronounced little boy G’s adoption final, and he had a forever home.

Now G is an engaging and sweet little boy. He loves his big sister, his parents and trucks! His future is secure thanks to the selfless and courageous decision by his Birth Parents and the love of his Adoptive Parents.

This story certainly shows that each adoption is unique, and sometimes, thinking “out of the box” can result in a beautiful thing!