When a family requests a match off of the waiting child list, a panel of “unbiased” agency experts meets to discuss. We knew the panel was meeting on the 22nd, so, when we got the call on the afternoon of the 22nd, we were elated. Because we were new on the wait list, we knew that there may have been other families who also requested a match, so we certainly weren’t a sure thing. We had written a thoughtful letter, explaining why we would make excellent parents for this baby, who had already been through much (including bouts with pneumonia, sepsis, and even a potential meningococcal infection). We were well aware that he would likely require all sorts of early intervention services, and even more medical care. Like I said, we were in love. And honestly, it was a love I didn’t even know I was capable of feeling until I became a mother months later. He was all I thought about, morning, noon, and night.
So today, I celebrate him. And what he has given us. He allowed us to love in ways we didn’t know were possible. He opened up our hearts. He gave our faith back to us. He brought our family together. From thousands of miles away, I know he felt our love, and we certainly felt his.
I want everybody to see our beautiful little boy, appropriately named “Miracle.”
Accra Time
Little Tamirat was a Christmas miracle and my first grandchild. Sharing your grief at his grave site, near Horizon House, was an experience that no mother wants to see their daughter endure. It truly is a miracle that two years later, as we celebrate Tamirat's life, we realize how much love he inspired. He opened the door to welcoming two more grandchildren from Ethiopia and will always be in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and yours during this time....
ReplyDeleteI read this last week on my phone but wanted to save it for a solid read on my computer. I'm thinking about you and your sweet Tamirat.
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