Matteo's Story

Jan. 15, 2021

It all started as I was making dinner and my husband was sitting at the counter chatting with me while I cooked. I casually said to him, “would you ever consider adopting a baby with Down syndrome?” I had been researching and thinking about it for a while, but I honestly thought my husband would be scared off by the idea. In answer to my sneakily nonchalant question he replied, “of course I would!” We spent a few months praying, researching and discussing the idea. We both knew that God wanted us to continue to pursue adoption through the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network.

Once the decision had been made, we began the home study process and started our family profile book. We also told our 3 biological children about our plans and everyone was very excited. We joined the NDSAN registry in December and in May we got the call that we were matched with a baby boy who was due in September! 

It was fun to get to know the expectant family via FaceTime calls and text messages as we were all planning to have an open adoption. We also had plenty of time to prepare our home for a baby, which was so fun. In early August, I got a text message that mom was heading to the hospital because she thought she was in labor. Our plan was for me to be in the room with her as our son was born, so I booked the first available flight out that morning. On the drive to the airport to catch my flight, Matteo’s birth mother sent me a photo of our 5lb 6oz son, born 4 weeks early and only 2 hours after mom arrived at the hospital. He spent 5 long weeks in the NICU, during a pandemic, with many complications including surgery for an intestinal blockage and liver disease. When I was finally able to bring Matteo home, his big brothers and sister were ecstatic to finally meet him! Matteo has a long road ahead of him as he needs a liver transplant, but I wouldn't trade him or my experiences with him for anything. Matteo is an absolute joy and my family is so lucky that he is ours forever.