Couple adopts baby with the help of Facebook

Couple adopts baby with the help of Facebook


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LAKE CHARLES, LA — People may say you have no privacy on Facebook, but that worked out well for one Louisiana couple. Through the ability to instantly reach thousands of people on Facebook, Jake and Jessica Hance were able to see their dream of starting a family come true.

The Hances waited for years to add a child to their family, and with the help of friends and strangers on Facebook, they finally did.


I opened the mailbox and there was a note attached to it that said they loved us and wanted us to take the financial blessing as a way to start our family.

–Jessica Hance, adoptive mother


Plagued with expensive bills from fertility treatments and doctors' appointments, the Hances decided to look into adoption. But adoption was just as expensive as fertility treatments, and they didn't know where to begin until they received a generous donation via an anonymous letter in their mailbox that included $700.

"I opened the mailbox and there was a note attached to it that said they loved us and wanted us to take the financial blessing as a way to start our family," Jessica Hance told KSLA.

To help make more money for the adoption, Jake took on a second job as a bus driver. They expected to have a while to raise the money needed.

"I contacted an agency in July of 2011 just to talk about the legal stuff and ask questions," Jessica said. "I only left her my number."


Okay Everybody, here's an update on the progress! As of today with our savings and the donations from members of our church, we have in hand $17,077! That's not including the bunch of calls from friends, family, church family members from former home congregations! I'm certain that's a few thousand more. God and His people are soo soo good!

–post from Jessica on the Help Jake & Jessica Adopt Facebook page


Most couples wait for years to have the opportunity to adopt. By the beginning of 2013, the Hances had over $17,000 in savings, some of it from donations from members of their church. But they still hadn't officially started the adoption process. That changed quickly when Jessica received a phone call from that agency at the end of February.

"She told me who she was and said she spoke with me in 2011. She said she knew we wanted to adopt and asked if we were still interested," Jessica said.

The agency had a birth mother who had not been able to find an adoptive family that she liked and was due at the beginning of March. She eventually chose the Hances to adopt her baby by the end of February, but there was one major obstacle left for the couple.

"They told us we needed $32,250 and we needed it within 72 hours after the baby's birth," Jessica said.

The Hances brainstormed for ways to get the rest of the money they needed to adopt the baby and they decided to start a Facebook page. On February 24, Jessica created the page Help Jake & Jessica Adopt with a plea to help the couple raise the rest of the money needed.

"Okay Everybody, here's an update on the progress! As of today with our savings and the donations from members of our church, we have in hand $17,077!" Jessica wrote for the first post on the page. "That's not including the bunch of calls from friends, family, church family members from former home congregations! I'm certain that's a few thousand more. God and His people are soo soo good!"

Within three days, the Hances had garnered over 500 likes and received enough donations to pay the agency's fee.

"There's no other explanation for it, but God's hands are totally on this," Jake said. "A few days ago, we were ready to throw in the towel and a few days later, God met the need."


There's no other explanation for it, but God's hands are totally on this. A few days ago, we were ready to throw in the towel and a few days later, God met the need.

–Jake Hance


They brought home their new baby girl, Eliana Hance, on March 3 and updated their page with their new family picture.

"We will never be able to express our gratitude to y'all for the incredible way in which you have blessed our lives!" Jessica wrote on the page. "We are a Family because you so generously gave from your heart with so much love! How can one even begin to say what it means us? We will always love you for what was accomplished through you! I only hope Jess and I can hug your necks soon and remind Eliana how much she is loved and by so many!"

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Tracie Snowder

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