Kiley Willis and Scott Zito

We have BIG news to share… after years of heartbreak, we are beginning the journey of becoming parents through adoption. This isn’t the road we originally imagined, but it’s the one that has been laid before us, and it’s filled with hope, longing, and a love that has only grown stronger with time.

For nearly ten years, we’ve carried the heavy road of infertility and loss. We’ve endured every test, countless appointments, 4 IUIs, 3 full rounds of IVF, and 2 embryo transfers with the healthy embryos we worked so hard to create. Both transfers brought us the joy of seeing our babies’ heartbeats at the first ultrasound, moments where we let ourselves dream, name, and plan. But both times, at the very next appointment, we were met with the devastating silence of no heartbeat. Twice, our joy was shattered. Twice, we said hello and goodbye to baby girls we never got to hold.

We’ve prayed until the words felt empty, fought until our bodies and hearts were exhausted, and grieved in ways that only those who’ve experienced this kind of loss can truly understand. The financial toll, the emotional weight, the physical pain, it has been a long season of heartbreak. And yet, through it all, one thing has never wavered: our dream of becoming parents. That dream has carried us through the darkest moments and is what now carries us into adoption with full hearts.

After these losses, we came to the realization that carrying our own biological child is probably not possible for us. That truth was devastating, but slowly- through time, counseling, and leaning on each other- we began to see a new path, one that feels like where we were always meant to end up. Adoption has become the way forward for us, and we are ready to open our arms to the baby who is meant to be ours.

We are now Home Study approved for a baby (newborn to 6 months old) and officially waiting to be matched. Somewhere out there is an expectant mother making the most courageous decision of her life, and we pray every day for her heart, her strength, and her child. And we pray that child may someday be ours.

For those who know us, Kiley as a Kansas City Realtor who loves nothing more than helping families find their perfect home, and Scott as a small business owner running his flooring company, you know that “home” is at the center of everything we do. Our dream now is to create a home filled not just with dogs (all six of them!) but with the laughter, mess, and love of a child. Our precious dogs Ashley, Charlie, Jemma, Ava, Olivia, and Lexi may not know it yet, but they’re destined to be the most loyal protectors and best friends to their little brother or sister.

What many people don’t realize is how overwhelming the cost of adoption can be. We’ve been told that our agency adoption could be upwards of $75,000, covering everything from legal and marketing fees to agency services to supporting the birth mother. After years of medical costs from fertility treatments, well over $100,000 spent out of pocket and none of it covered by insurance, the financial weight can feel daunting. But our hope is bigger than our fear.

That’s why we’ve launched a fundraiser through AdoptTogether. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to holding our baby in our arms. And every single person who contributes becomes part of the story we will one day tell our child… that they were wanted, prayed for, fought for, and celebrated by an entire community before we ever met them.

We can’t thank you enough for being part of this chapter with us. Your kindness, generosity, and love mean more than words can say.

With full hearts, Kiley & Scott