“You’re too late for this procedure, ma’am,” muttered the clinic’s nurse. She shoved a crumpled referral list of some sort into my sweaty hands and practically pushed me out the front door. Fighting back the tears, I smoothed out the page of adoption agencies and dialed the number of the one named “Legacy.”
I didn’t expect for the lady on the other line to be so friendly and reassuring that everything was going to be okay. She arranged for me to meet with an adoption counselor that same day at my house! Relief and anxiety welled up inside me— relief because I really need to figure this out and my car is a lemon so, glad they are coming to me but… gosh, what are they going to think when I say I don’t know the father? It seemed like the doorbell rang that instant.
Two smiling and confident-looking women walked into my mom’s house. The blonde one introduced herself as the one on the phone. I let out a sigh and sat down. They asked me questions— lots of questions, but not judgmental ones. My favorite question that also caught me off guard was, “Lilly, what are your aspirations?” Gosh, no one has ever asked me that before, yet I answered right away! Cooking of course; how could anyone not love food? We went through other things about how the adoption could be tailored to my preferences. I thought they just told you how it works… that’s kinda cool.
My adoption counselor took me to like all my doctor’s appointments! And as if that wasn’t enough, on multiple occasions, she sat in the waiting room with my 6-year-old daughter while I went in my appointment; I just didn’t want to have to explain to a 6-year-old my reasons for placing my child for adoption and I didn’t have to.
Later in the process, my counselor used my preferences for a family for my baby and presented me with 3 books with pictures and their life stories. I was nervous. What if I didn’t “click with” any of the families? I wouldn’t want to be rude and say “no thanks,” but I want it to be someone I’m comfortable with.
I opened the first book and I knew. I know that sounds crazy but…this family was a gift from God! No, seriously! They were perfect! It’s like they were custom-made for me. They were so cute, their pet names show they have a sense of humor, and he is an engineer (like my dad) and she is a counselor. What perfect parents: critical thinking and empathy. My counselor had me open the other books in case, but when I told her my decision still, she was SO happy for me. I guess this agency is a gift from God too because I was in a dark, stressful place and of my life and they not only pulled me out of it but helped me find a positive avenue.
