If we could do it all over again, we would’ve been wide open. But like many other couples, when my husband and I started the adoption process we were fearful and overwhelmed with all the “boxes.”
Years have flown by with our daughters. When we adopted them, they were — by all accounts — the result of healthy pregnancies and prenatal care.
Last year, though, one of them had serious health concerns. We spent a lot of time in the children’s hospital and watched our sweet daughter get pricked and prodded more times than we could count.
It was terrifying.
The uncertainty of the future was daunting.
In this season of unknowing, my husband and I realized that regardless of what “special needs” we may or may not face down the road as her parents, we still loved her the same. Our capability to love her came without bounds, and our willingness to provide for her came without limitations.
Biological or adopted, no one knows what the future holds for any of our children. None of us can predict which diagnoses or special needs any child may face down the road. A mother can do everything careful and “right” during pregnancy, but her baby can still end up facing significant medical challenges.
Special needs, often times, are simply out of our control.
However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with what boxes to check in the adoption process, you may find the following resources helpful.
Exposures and Special Needs: //adoptmed.org/articles
Medication Exposures During Pregnancy: https://mothertobaby.org/
Adoption With Opiates, Methadone, or Hepatitis Exposure: https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/accepting-adoption-match-opiates-methadone-hepatitis/
Tobacco Exposure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2745235/
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