Mark and Maureen already had three children and wanted to have one more, but they found they were unable to conceive. They knew they wanted one more child, but they hadn’t originally considered adoption. Their family just felt like it was missing a second daughter though, so they finally applied to adopt.
They thought that once they were approved for adoption, the process would go quickly, but things were slow-going. In the meantime, they prepared their nursery, bought clothing, and prayed. Finally, a text arrived letting them know that their baby girl was on her way. The day Olivia was born, everything was fine for about the first two hours, but then Mark and Maureen were informed that their daughter was having trouble breathing.
The first time they got to meet her, she was in the NICU hooked up to a bunch of tubes and wires. There were some low points where it was unclear whether or not Olivia would survive. She spent ten days in the hospital, her parents visiting her often, holding her, praying for her.
Today, she is a healthy, happy baby. Mark and Maureen’s biological children have embraced their new sister, and Olivia fits into the family as if she was always meant to be there. Other families who have been through the adoption process reached out to Mark and Maureen and offered support throughout the adoption process. The process, which does take a long time, was made easier by having support from other families who had done the same thing, and by having faith that eventually they would have their baby girl.
Mark and Maureen – An Adoption Journey from Zach Daulton on Vimeo.