Hello everyone!
We are a married couple living in Bloomington, Indiana. Since getting married in 2011, we always anticipated that one day we would have one or more children. However, things have not gone according to plan.
In 2013, we became pregnant for the first time. It was somewhat unexpected. However, 11 weeks into the pregnancy, we suffered a miscarriage. It was very rough and traumatic, as Sara hemorrhaged profusely, lost half of her blood, and required several transfusions.
For the next few years, we were not actively attempting to become pregnant, still recovering from the trauma of the miscarriage experience, and waiting until our finances stabilized.
Starting in 2017, we began actively trying to conceive again. And, in May of that year, we had a positive pregnancy test! Everything was going well and as expected until the 20-week ultrasound. We figured out that we were having a boy, but unfortunately also found out that he would have severe deformities due to a rare and extreme case of Amniotic Band Syndrome. This would cause him to not develop proper coverings for his abdominal organs and skull bones. We were told that if he were to live at all after birth, that it would be extremely brief.
After being reassured that the baby was not suffering, and that Sara's life was not at risk, we chose to carry the baby until birth, desperately praying that God would heal him, so that he could live on this earth with us. On November 2, 2017, Sara went into labor, two months premature. The following day, our son was stillborn. God had healed him, although not in the way we wanted. We named our son Everett Jude.
Needless to say, these events were quite traumatic and took a significant toll on us. However, due to God's grace and support from loved ones, we are in the process of overcoming the pain and suffering caused by this experience.
We are still wanting to raise a child. However, we are extremely hesitant to try again biologically. While we have not ruled it out completely in the future, as of now, our focus is one hundred percent on adoption. We believe that this is our best option to raise a child, and save a life in the process.
However, the entire adoption process can be quite pricey, often totaling around $50,000. We are able to apply for grants to cover some of the cost, but are only eligible after our home study is complete. And, the fees required in order to complete a home study total approximately $10,000. This is why we are reaching out to you, our friends, family, and anyone else who appreciates our story and circumstances, and would like to help us complete our adoption story.
Thank you for reading, and for your support!
Nate and Sara Howell
