August's family

We have always considered adoption as one of the ways we would become parents and grow our family. We are passionate about the sanctity of life, and we want to do our part by living out our words by our actions. Adoption of a child with Down syndrome was our first choice for growing our family. I, Maddie, have been passionate about both adoption and serving individuals with Down syndrome since I was at least 12 years old. I first learned about the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network (NDSAN) when I heard Stephanie sharing on The Lucky Few podcast back in 2019 while I was driving home from working at a camp for children and adults with disabilities. Although I was only in college at the time, I knew then that working with this organization was something God had for me and my family’s future. I brought up adoption, specifically adoption of a child with Down syndrome, to my husband Adam on our first date, and he has always been 100% for this plan.

We started inquiring with the NDSAN and a local social worker in March 2024, and we were listed on the NDSAN registry by April 2024. We had the privilege to speak with two other birth families, before matching with our sweet August and his amazing mom in July! August had not yet been born, so we expected to have 3-4 weeks to prepare, but due to some complications he came a little earlier than expected just 2 weeks to the day after we had matched. We received the call that his mom was going to the hospital around 7 PM on a Friday night, hastily completed last minute paperwork that we had been putting off for Monday, and booked the first flight we could get to California the next morning. Our brave boy August was born while we were in the air and we got to see his first picture via plane wifi! We got an Uber straight to the hospital and met him and his sweet mom for the first time in the NICU.

Meeting August was the sweetest and most crazy day of our lives. During his time in the hospital we got to spend extended time getting to know his birth mom, birth dad, bio grandmother, and bio aunt as well. We are so grateful to have formed a deep connection with them, and that they are a part of our family now too! The courage, strength and love August’s birth family has for him is remarkable and we feel so honored that they chose us to parent him! We look forward to many years of friendship and visits in the future. August is the bravest, sweetest, and most calm baby ever! He spent 4 weeks in the NICU, has already conquered one surgery for his stomach, and will have open heart surgery in October of this year. Despite all he has against him health-wise, he is growing well and loves to snuggle! Being home with him and introducing him to our community has been the sweetest experience. We cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned for August’s life and are so very thankful we get to have him as part of our family!