I could write a thousand pages on why ABC was so important to me financially; there was no way I could've paid for the counselling, guidance and support I received there.  Instead I'd like to tell you how they helped me get through the most emotional time of my life.

How many times have we heard "life is full of difficult choices?"  I for one would have preferred to have never heard those words again, but at the time I couldn't ignore them.  That's when I felt the bottom fall out of my world.  I was a single 38 year old mother of a precious 10 year old boy, with a very stressful job, who had some very unfortunate and sad things happen in my life that I couldn't control.  The last thing I wanted to hear was that I was pregnant.  Not ever hearing of open adoption, it was brought to my attention by a very dear friend.  With some tender support and coaxing, I finally got the nerve to call.  I wanted to hang up as soon as the phone rang but I had to at least give this a try, after all I felt like I was running out of options and time.  With the first phone call I felt empathy, not sympathy, but empathy, and such a non-threatening attitude.  Believe me, I'm not the kind of person who trusts easily, especially when dealing with such a highly emotional issue.  The phone call eased me enough to at least keep this first appointment that I had made.  I've never felt so alone, scared or confused in my life.  I managed to talk myself to the office for the first time, and it was like someone had given me a secret place to go for refuge, just for me and people like me!  Until I stepped through those doors I was convinced nobody could ever understand how I felt.  No one at ABC ever made me feel like I was less of a person and they gave me the hope and respect that I was missing terribly.  The quiet comments and looks that people were giving me because of my decision were finally getting to me, and I had too many more months in my pregnancy to live with this.  I was very near the end of my rope.  Going to ABC and making the decisions myself of just what was going to happen to my baby helped me to get some control back in my life.  Another great thing that I learned was that I was not alone, there were all kinds of different people that were just like me, which was so soothing.  It's been almost eight years now since the first time I walked through those doors, only now I feel privileged to belong to this special club of mine.  Yes, Lucas is a beaming, healthy, happy seven year old now and when I visited his house for the first time in Edmonton, I cried all the way home to Calgary.  But I've never cried after a visit since.  A woman said to me once, "oh I could never do what you did, I'd never be able to live with myself."  To which I replied, "I didn't do it for me."

- Cathy

"There are not enough words to thank you for everything you have done for us.  You were there for us through this entire journey.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

- Terena

"I had a very good experience working with ABC and the staff who work there.  The staff are always quick to address  any concerns/questions that arise, and they do not pressure you into making any decisions.  
They are very supportive and are very good at keeping information confidential. 

I have been asked a few times by the agency to participate in seminars and to speak at High Schools about my experience making an adoption plan for my son.  I believe that this has helped me to embrace and accept my decision"

- J.L.W.

Hi! My name is Jennifer. I have an open adoption plan with Pat, Trish and Michelle. I began building my adoption plan when I was four months pregnant.

When I found out I was pregnant, that was the happiest and scariest day of my life. I was really scared. I knew I couldn’t have an abortion, and there was no way I could give my baby away, not knowing where it was or how it was doing. So, I decided right away to keep my baby.

My mom and I had a huge fight and my step-dad hadn’t spoken a word to me since discovering I was pregnant. I felt forced to leave, and unwelcome there. I moved into Emma Maternity Home a few days later. I met a girl there (Kim), who was building an adoption plan for her baby. Just after Kim released her son, Michael, Carol Lamb came to see her. It was then that I decided to look into adoption, and start building an adoption plan. Cameron (Michelle’s father) and I went through several files, narrowing our choice down to Pat and Trish. We liked them the best and we had Carol arrange for an interview.

We were all pretty nervous. I had a huge list of questions to ask them, and I needed to know in my heart that these were the parents that God had meant for my baby to be with.

Cameron and I saw Pat and Trish on several different occasions before Michelle’s birth. We visited them in their home, saw them transform an office into a beautiful nursery, and we went through baby names trying to select one that all four of us agreed on.

My parents and I had completely reconciled, and they were supportive of my decision to release Michelle. I was in and out of the hospital with pre-term labour for the last month of my pregnancy. Pat and Trish came to see and to make sure we were both doing fine. They told me if I needed anything at all, to let them know. It was good to know they were helping to take care of this baby even before it was born. 
I had an easy labour and birth, and Trish got to see and hold Michelle, right after she was born. It was very special seeing them bond right away.

We decided in our adoption plan that I would take Michelle home for a few days after being released from the hospital. When Michelle was two days old, Pat and Trish came over for a visit (ironic that the adoptive parents are the ones visiting!). We invited them over to reaffirm that we were holding to our decision to release Michelle. Before they left, Trish hugged me and started to cry. She said "thank-you" and "I love you" to me. I just looked down at Michelle and realized just how very important my little angel was to two very special people.

The four days I had her, I was a wreck! I was so happy to be holding her and kissing her and telling her how much I loved her. Yet, I was also crying a lot over the loss of my daughter even before she was gone from my arms.

The night we released her, Cameron and I cried a lot. We told her how much we loved her through our tears. Prayers were said, along with words of encouragement; there wasn’t a single dry eye in the room. I placed my sweet angel into Trish’s arms knowing in my heart this was what was right.

Since then, we have had many visits. They get better as she grows older. (She’s now two). It feels great to be able to see my birth daughter grow up happy and healthy. Pat, Trish, Michelle, Cameron and I all have a very special relationship. We will always be a part of each others lives.

My biggest thanks goes out to my family, Carol Lamb, the Russell Family (former house parents at Emma House), Jutta (my counselor at P.C.C.); also my labour coach, Margie Ronca; and Kari Rota from the Kara Program, and especially Pat, Trish and Michelle. I love you all, and I thank you greatly for your love and support.

- Jennifer

Benefits of open adoption

The most heart breaking event in our lives was walking towards the hospital elevator without Harrison. It was as though a knife was twisting and slicing through us.  It hurt, it ached, and the pain was burning and choking us. It felt very unnatural to leave Harrison behind with a family of strangers who were unknown to us, who had no bonding moments, who had not shared our lives or understood how this decision came to be. At the time, I felt and was sure if I would never be part of this little boy’s life. I was after all just the ‘bio- gran’ and this literally tore my heart out.

I supported Christie’s and Curtis’s decision for open adoption. As a parent, my primary role is to guide, support, pick up the broken pieces or stay silent and stand back watching emotions and pain unfolding and hoping time will dull the ache they were feeling as a consequence of their decision. It tested their relationship, as not all relatives were supportive. Family , friends and co-workers were too opinionated and insensitive. We felt this in the hospital even and at Dr. Appointments. People, in general are too quick to pass judgment and stereotype without knowing the facts. I am proud of their decision as they had the best intentions for their baby’s future.

Six years later … I am truly blessed.

 I am so thankful that Jeff and Lisa were chosen to parent Harrison. They embraced us and helped guide us through this unchartered journey. From a painful dark beginning there is light, the pain dulls, the guilt dissipates…it’s still there I don’t think it ever goes away fully but there is definitely more joy and sunshine in knowing and loving.  

A full open adoption has given me peace of mind knowing that Harrison is safe, healthy, happy and very much loved and that he  loves in return. His family is very much part of my life, his parents, his sisters, we have developed personal relationships based on respect for each other’s roles. Jeff and Lisa are truly good people, they open doors and welcome you in, no judgment and only have the best intentions for their children. I receive hugs and kisses, FaceTime’s, and I love you’s. I extend my love to his sisters as they are an important part of his life. You can’t really love one without the other. This is so very special to me and I treasure each moment. This has comforted me and is allowing me to heal. My relationship with Harrison is different from what Christie and Curtis share with their birth son. I can see the pain in their eyes still, how excited Christie gets at the thought of visiting him or how sometimes she is scared to touch or hug him.

Open adoption not only communicates family history and health information, it opens up limitless boundaries of love and acceptance for everyone involved. No child has ever said ‘I am loved too much’ but they do feel the sting when they are loved too little. Unfortunately, this can manifest into something ugly, producing negative thoughts and affects. Like a garden with the goal of a healthy and bountiful harvest, one needs to start with providing a means to support healthy root development. Only when one has healthy roots can one support the leaves that aid in growth. As adults in the child’s life our job is to nurture and aid in the child’s growth by providing values, morals and thus self-esteem to become productive society members. It’s all about the child.

"Hi, my name is Kim and I am a birth mom to a beautiful baby boy, Jacob. I had been a serious relationship for two years when I unexpectedly found myself pregnant. Jacob’s birth father and I were both full time college and university students and we were both still living at home. I remember telling Jacob’s birth father about being pregnant and hearing what his reaction was. He was not going to let this affect his life. He had many questions that I could not answer and he got in contact with the  Calgary Pregnancy Care Centre (CPCC).

Because I felt I was not prepared to take on the role of being a full time single parent, I decided to place my son into an open adoption. This way, Jacob and I would have the best of both worlds. He would have a great family, who I chose, to love him and raise him and I would be able to see my son grow. He will always be an important part of my life.

The CPCC helped me find Adoption By Choice. I remember being so nervous and scared the first time I went to ABC. I had an appointment with Gayle and I did not know what to expect. Gayle and I sat and talked for a long time that first visit. She answered all of my questions and concerns. She helped me find David and Jennifer. They are the couple who adopted my son.

I think of my son all the time. There hasn’t been a day gone by that I haven’t thought of him at least ten times. I wonder how he is doing, what he is doing and what new things he is learning. I think about David and Jennifer and how special they are. I never thought my life would lead me down this path but I have met so many wonderful and supportive people. David, Jennifer and I have a great relationship that its only going to grow and get stronger as Jacob gets older.

There are good days and bad days when you have placed a child for adoption. At the beginning, there are more bad days than good and on those days I cried a lot. The bad days are coming fewer and farther between. The days that Jacob will experience all his first are going to be hard, his first steps, his first birthday and the first time I hear him say "Mom" and he is not going to be saying it to me. Even though I know they are going to be tough, they would be even tougher if I didn’t get to see him and experience them in some way too.

I love my son and I know he has a bright future. He has so many people who love him. I had to make the most important decision of Jacob’s life as well as the hardest of mine but I know it was the best one for both of us.

- Kim

When unexpected surprises happen in life, thank goodness for Kathy and Adoption By Choice.  With their caring support and willingness to acknowledge our concerns, we were able to do our very best for baby - with love.

Thank you SO much! 
We love you.

- Jaime