Zachary & Morgan Waggoner

“Not of my flesh, nor of my bone, but still miraculously my own.” — Fleur Conkling Heyliger

Hello, we are Zach and Morgan Waggoner! We’ve been married for 14 years and are proud to call Chicago our home. Though we haven’t had children yet, adoption has always been a part of what we wanted for our family. We picture our life filled with neighborhood walks to the park, messy art projects at the kitchen table, and bedtime stories on chilly evenings. We’re choosing adoption because we want to give a child the security, joy, and steadfast love of a family, and can’t wait for the everyday moments that will make our house truly theirs.

For five years we pursued fertility treatments—countless doctor visits, bloodwork, ultrasounds, 4 rounds of IUI, and three rounds of IVF—each step requiring time off work, emotional energy, and substantial financial outlay. The process was draining but also clarifying: it showed us how deeply we wanted to be parents and how committed we are to that goal.

We have currently started our home study, and have completed the necessary preliminary steps with our agency; gathering paperwork, personal references, and home-safety preparations so we’re ready for the visits and interviews. We feel calm, focused, and excited to move into this next phase—sharing our home, story, and plans with our adoption counselor and continuing the intentional path toward welcoming a child into our family.

We have been told that adoption will cost around $50,000. While that feels like a daunting number, we are looking to raise 20,000 in support while applying for grants to assist in that goal. These proceeds cover the costs of agency services, legal and court fees, home study and background checks, travel, and post-placement needs. Your support—big or small—helps make our family possible, and we’re thankful for the care and encouragement of our community.