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Family portrait: Kevin and Allison Ellison’s adopted son Carter was born in September. It took the couple more than three years to go through the adoption process.
Happy ending: Couple adopts son after 3-year wait
Published Wednesday, October 28, 2009
When Kevin and Allison Ellison of Thorsby decided to adopt in June 2006, they understood that a long road lay ahead of them.
The couple, both Jemison High School graduates, married in April 1999 and desired to become parents. But after six years of aggressive medical options, they found themselves unable to conceive.
After a second miscarriage in December 2005, the couple were at their lowest point both physically and emotionally.
“We knew medically everything was done that we could possibly do,” Allison recalled.
There was one option left — adoption — but it was not a decision that could be taken lightly.
They spent much time in prayer and sought counsel from friends and family.
Allison made the decision to adopt long before her husband, but the two couldn’t move forward until they were in agreement. She had to prepare herself for a possible future without children.
“You have to be 100 percent committed,” she said.
Finally, summer arrived and the decision was made to adopt. The Ellisons decided to go through Lifeline Children’s Services, a Birmingham-based, non-profit Christian organization. They were immediately told that the process could take between three to five years. The paperwork alone took six months.
“We had multiple interviews with the adoption agency, and a social worker had to come out and do a home study,” Allison said. “We had to submit a profile, which is basically everything about us.”
The profile, or scrapbook, is what birth mothers refer to when deciding who the parents will be. Birth mothers have more rights than they used to in the adoption process, she explained.
“Adoption is becoming more open,” Allison said.
Then there were fingerprints, background checks, medical screenings and drug screenings. But the most difficult part by far was the 5-day period when the birth mother could have decided to keep her child.
“That was the worst week of our life,” Allison said.
But on Aug. 15, the couple got the news they had been waiting for. They were going to be mom and dad. As it so happened, Aug. 15 was Kevin’s birthday.
“That was a pretty good birthday present,” he said.
The baby was due Sept. 15 but was born two weeks later at Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham. On Oct. 1, they finally got to hold little Carter, and eight days later they brought him home.
Understandably, it took a little time for the whole concept to sink in.
“In our hearts, he’s ours,” Allison said. “But it takes a while to get to that point.”
The Ellisons would recommend adoption to those who have the patience to endure the process.
The words of 1 Samuel 1:27, “I have prayed for this child,” they claim as their own.
“Just realize it’s not going to happen overnight,” Kevin said.
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Comments
Posted by IamJimIam (anonymous) on October 28, 2009 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Choosing to allow adoption as the answer to one's pregnancy, esp. a crisis pregnancy, is THE MOST admirable, unselfish act a woman can do. This little guy will know his parents love him, and his birth mother loved him enough to give him life and share her love with the Ellisons. Unplanned pregnancies do not produce unwanted or unloved children. It simply takes an unselfish person to realize this and find the right family for the baby. Thanks for writing this story. We need more good news in this world and this article is good news!
Posted by nanny444 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the Ellisons! Sounds like they will be ideal parents for baby Carter. What a wonderful story to begin our day. It would be so nice to read more of these.
Posted by my2cents (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the Ellisons! And what an admirable decision the birth mother did also. It's kind of sad to think about how both sides making wise decisions had to go through so much turmoil when so many children get abused or neglected everyday.
Posted by guesswho (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin and Allison, I am so happy for ya'll. Ya'll are going to be great parents for Carter.
Posted by proudnanax3 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was such a wonderful story, and really hit my heart because I am the Nana of this wonderful baby. He is truly a gift from God. Allison & Kevin have been through so much to become parents but we know it is because we had to wait on Carter!! He was the one for us! Our entire family has welcomed this precious little one in our lives and everyone in our county have joined in with everything Carter needs. We are forever grateful to the young teenager who gave us this gift. A big thank you to Scott Mims for the wonderful article, you covered it so well.
Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just love IamJimIam's statement. It is so very true and it just touches my own heart. Thank you IamJimIam for your heart felt words. Yes , little Carter has two loving parents and he was brought into this world by a wonderful woman who realized that, for whatever reason, she could not care of him in a way that he deserved. She did what she had to do ... and for this I will always respect her! Little Carter will be loved far and wide and I am adopting him too ... I declare myself to be his uncle ... if he'll have me :)
Posted by scoobydoo (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations..I don't know you all, but this story is so beautiful..May God bless your family with much happiness and prosperity as you raise this precious child..
Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
scooby -
Don't worry about it. I don't know these people either; but love knows no bounds. It was so nice to read something positive in the paper ... for a change. Little Carter has two loving parents, a wonderful Nana, and now an uncle way out here in California. God bless Allison and Kevin for their unselfish spirit.
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the new parents, there is nothing as wonderful as a baby.
Posted by opinions1 (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now this is an awesome story! I went to school with Kevin and Allison both. They are two wonderful, caring, kind hearted people!! Congratulations to you both! I know you will be awesome parents for lilttle Carter! I know he will have very loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, just so many people will give him so much love. God Bless you all and your new little bundle of joy! :-)
Posted by rolltideroll (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations! What a beautiful story! God is good & answers prayer in many different ways. May He continue to bless the three of you!
Posted by hoosier267 (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Kevin and Allison, it really was worth the wait. God just had to take some time to find your baby!
Posted by FredaWhite (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God answers Prayers. We have recently adopted our 6 year old granddaughter, although a little different circumstances GOD brought us through after 3 years of turmoils. You are in my Prayers, GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY.
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