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Kerry Barrett ReportingIt's definitely one of the biggest decisions a family could ever make. It's nerve- wracking and it can be gut- wrenching, but it's also a decision based purely on love. It's adoption.
November is National Adoption Month and a few families are sharing their personal stories with KSL's Kerry Barrett.
Meet Mark and Stephanie Schaerre, and then meet their significant others -- Grace Elizabeth Epiphany and Benjamin Mark Jacob. Only a month apart, they're the center of Mark and Stephanie's life.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "You get tired of hearing people say, 'Oh you don't know how it is. You don't have kids. 'And I thought, ‘Well you don't know the pain I've been trough trying to have kids.’
So, they decided to adopt. They filed the paperwork in the beginning of April and just about a month and half later there came a call. As excited as they were, Stephanie admits she was on pins and needles, until she spoke with the birth mother.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "And it just flowed. They finally had to cut us off. We were just talking too much. The birth mother and I just really clicked. And she said, 'I just want you to know, when you come down here, you're going home with this baby.'"
The couple chose an open adoption, with comunication between both them and the birth mother--in this case the right choice for everyone.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "Being there with the birth mom, I felt an instant connection and I just knew this baby was both of ours."
And so it was heading down to Louisiana they planned on returning with a baby boy. But life has its little surprises and medical science is not always a sure thing.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "They popped it out and said, 'Here's your little girl'. And the birth mother was like, 'What?' And I was like 'What?' And it was Grace."
Grace indeed. Despite mother natures change of plans they felt sure Grace and them were meant to be a family together.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "There's no way we weren't taking her. She had to wear a lot of blue clothes for a while (laughs)."
But that's not where this story ends. Just a short time later they received another call from another birth mom. This time though, their decision was much easier.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "Grace was ready for a little brother."
And she had one, just a few days later.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "The whole hospital knew this was an adoption and they went out of their way to make me feel that this was just like I had given birth to this baby. This was my son. They let me in the room alone with him. And you can't know what it feels like to have your family just be complete all the sudden."
The Schaerrers both know Grace and Benjamin wouldn't be with them today if it hadn't been for the most unselfish act of love of all.
Stephanie Schaerrer: "I just... I can't even tell you how grateful we are for these birth moms."
Adoptive parents should know Utah has a 24 hour law. It means 24 hours after birth parents have signed the paper work, the adoption cannot be reversed.
If you'd like more information or have any questions, click on the adoption link. Or call The Adoption Center of Choice at 224-2440.
