Just as every family is different, each story of adoption is unique. While the end result is the same — a growing family and outpouring of love to a child in need — the paths vary.
The Powers Family
Kimberly Powers and her husband Don of Twinsburg wanted another child. Kimberly, who had daughter Alix, now 13, from a previous relationship, says the couple decided to adopt a school-age child after unsuccessful pregnancy attempts.
Her search began with Google and the keyword “school age adoption in Northeast Ohio,” which led to Northeast Ohio Adoption Services appearing on her screen.
The family’s adoption journey began with an interview at the agency in Warren and then classes.
The couple did have some fears. “My biggest fear was not loving (the child) the same,” Kimberly says. “I just kept chugging forward. These kids need homes and families, I have all that to offer them.”
When the family met Jasmine, 12, at the agency’s event at the Wagon Trails Animal Park in Youngstown, which brings prospective families and children seeking adoption together in a casual, fun environment, Kimberly says, “We knew immediately we wanted her in our life.”
After the event, the Powers family began the process to adopt Jasmine. Kimberly says they had already explained to Alix, who was 9 during that time, about adoption and she took part in a lot of the process.
“There were struggles at times,” Kimberly says. For example, and as with any new sibling, Alix and Jasmine had to adjust to living together in the same household, along with sharing.
That was two years ago and now Kimberly says it’s like Jasmine, now 15, has always been part of their lives — including being typical sisters with Alix.
“They have grown closer and closer as time has gone on,” Kimberly says.
Currently, the couple hopes to adopt another school-age child. “My husband and I look at, no matter how old a child is, they still need your love,” Kimberly says.
The Booth Family
Brianne Booth of Medina never planned on adopting. In fact, she’d always wanted to marry young and have her own children. When her plans were taking a little longer than she thought, she decided to become a foster parent in 2009.
“I was 26 and still single when I got licensed,” she recalls. “I saw fostering almost as a stopgap until I had my own family. The only way I saw myself adopting is if it was an infant placed with me from the hospital. I never considered a school-aged child.”
Now, she can’t imagine life without her 7-year-old son, Aidan, who she began fostering in 2011 through Summit County Children Services in Akron.
“There are just certain kids who just click with you, and you have more of a special bond,” Booth says of Aidan. “As the months went on, I found myself being more protective of him, getting more worried about him as the case progressed and we found out some (issues) about his birth family.”
There wasn’t an exact moment when Booth knew she would adopt Aidan. However, after about a year and a half, he started calling her “Mom,” she says, “It just changed my whole outlook.”
Then in February 2013, Summit County Children Services asked Booth to consider adoption because it seemed likely that Aidan would not be reunited with his birth family.
She adopted him the following January.
Aidan was in therapy through the whole foster and adoption process, which helped him to understand what was happening, Booth says.
Though the entire journey was unexpected, Booth thinks it was meant to be.
“If I had gotten married and had my own kids like I planned, I wouldn’t have Aidan — and I can’t imagine that,” she says.
The LeMaster Family
Alana and Joel LeMaster of Marysville decided to adopt after medical issues made pregnancy not an option for the couple.
For Alana, who had always wanted to adopt, it wasn’t an issue. Initially she thought about school-age adoption, however, the couple eventually decided on trying for a newborn.
The couple went through the adoption process through Caring for Kids, an agency in Cuyahoga Falls. After being approved in April 2013, their search for a child began.
It wasn’t until December that year when they met birth mother Amber, who was 24 weeks pregnant with twins.
“You don’t really know how to act or present yourself,” Alana says about her first meeting with Amber. “So you are trying to be yourself and I am sure it was equally nerve-wracking for (Amber).”
While Alana says during that time, Amber wasn’t sure about adoption, they still exchanged phone numbers, along with texts and Alana was sent ultrasound photos.
However, once the babies were born, things just fell into place. The couple met the babies, born prematurely on February 13, along with Amber’s family when they got to the hospital.
The twin boys, Dominic and Rex, were adopted and named by Alana and Joel.
“Joel and I always say, her whole family adopted us into their lives rather than we adopted Amber’s children,” Alana says. “I was emotional and had a lot of struggles. I thought about Amber and feeling her pain. It was hard for me to balance those emotions at the same time knowing her and her whole family were grieving.”
Nine months later, both families are still very close.
“We talk every single day and send each other photos,” Alana says. “Amber has come visit and stayed with us a number of times. I feel so strongly that Amber and her kids were meant to be our family.”
The McCallion Family
Nicole and Robert McCallion of Perry always considered adoption.
“With four kids, we had a pretty busy house, but we still found ourselves with that pull,” Nicole says, adding the couple originally planned to adopt, but decided to become a foster family after learning of the great need for foster care.
The McCallions had just gotten licensed in 2012 through Lake County Department of Job and Family Services when they learned about James, their first foster child and now their adopted son.
Between Down syndrome and neglect, 2-year-old Jay, as the family calls him, was very behind physically, mentally and socially.
“He had been in a very good foster home, but due to his high level of needs and the foster mom’s full-time work schedule and other children, she decided it would be in his best interest if the agency looked for another family that could meet his needs,” Nicole says.
Though she had experience with kids with special needs, Down syndrome was unfamiliar territory for Nicole. Between online resources and local support, she began the learning process.
The McCallions’ children welcomed Jay as if it were the most natural thing in the world, according to Nicole.
Jay, now 4, is still a bit behind but is making progress. “We just take it one day at a time,” Nicole says. “Every little thing is a victory. Recently he learned to put on his own shirt. It was a big deal.”
The Medina Family
A few years ago, Kate and Jose Medina of North Canton felt pulled toward adoption through their faith. She adds the couple particularly felt called to international adoption.
With two daughters, ages 9 and 7 at that time, the Medinas decided to adopt an older child. After a little research, Ethiopia seemed to fit the couple’s needs.
“The more we learned about Ethiopia, the vast amount of orphans there broke our hearts,” Kate says.
Working through Cleveland’s Bellefaire JCB, Kate and Jose welcomed Zavier, then age 6, into their home in 2012. He fit in so well with their family that they decided to adopt from Ethiopia again earlier this year, welcoming home Leona, who was 5 at the time.
“We can’t even comprehend how different life is here in America from what they know,” Kate says. “Zavier’s transition was seamless; however it was hysterical to watch him react to things we do and see every day — an escalator, sliding doors or a tub of popcorn at a movie theater. It was neat to see the world through his eyes.
“Leona was different,” she says. “It seemed like nothing wowed her, which may have been because she was younger. She goes along with everything and jumps in after watching what her peers or siblings do.”
The Medinas, who believe it’s important for Zavier and Leona to know where they came from, make an effort to keep a connection to Ethiopian culture.
“We get together often with other families that have adopted from Ethiopia,” Kate says. “We have several friends from Ethiopia who have retained the Amharic language and together we celebrate Ethiopian holidays and the beautiful culture. We watch a lot of videos about the country and listen to the music, as well as keep a lot of Ethiopian food in the house.”
Kate encourages those interested in adoption to seek support from an agency and other families who have adopted, adding, “No adoption is without bumps in the road as far as paperwork hassles and timeline setbacks, cultural differences and communication issues. You just have to sit back and trust things will work out.”
