Deep Breath.
Here goes:
Hello,
friends of Leanne and Wes Munn! (And the friends you will become with
them once you read their story.) My name is Tanya and I'm a friend
of this wonderful couple- this Mommy-and-Daddy-in-Waiting and I just
wanted to talk a little bit about this adoption journey from the
point of view of this mommy who never felt it laid upon her heart to
go that route the way the Munns have.
Getting
pregnant was easy for my husband and I. Staying pregnant was another
story. We mourned our losses and even thought that parenthood might
not be in the cards for us. We only considered adoption once but once
the financial aspects of it were explained to us we realized that
parenthood might always be just beyond our grasp. I was beyond hurt
and the hole in my heart seemed to grow every day.
For
some reason, I was under the impression that you just needed to be a
good person and a good couple with a steady income and a desire to be
a mommy and daddy in order to be considered by a potential birth
mother. What I've learned from my limited glimpses into the Munn's
journey through the adoption process is that A) In the ten years
since I made my first call to the adoption agencies, the financial
aspect has only increased and B) Now, thanks to the Internet and
sites like gofundme.com. It is now easier than ever to be a part of
bringing together one of the greatest gifts God ever intended for a
lot of our lives. I mean, if a man can get thousands of dollars from
annonymous donors online to buy supplies to make the best potato
salad ever, surely we can help to find a forever home for a sweet and
needful baby. What's that saying? “It takes a village to raise a
child.” Will you or someone you care about be a part of that
village? Oh, how I hope you will. Once upon a time we didn't have to
ask for a village to help. It was expected; it was freely and happily
given and appreciated and absolutely essential. This is an essential
time now. What will your loving heart have you do tonight, next week,
next month? You mothers and fathers who remember that first cry, that
first giggle, that first terrifying fever, that first time you left
them in the care of someone else for just a couple of hours so you
could feel like a grown up again.
What
was your first step toward parenthood? Perhaps you were taken by
surprise and you tripped over your dog and fell into the bathroom
sink. Perhaps you used charts and thermometers and gave each other an
obligatory hug before scheduling little Ryan's entire life on your
ten year calender. Perhaps you put it all into the hands of God. No
matter how it came to be, I'll bet that no one did a background check
on you when your stick turned pink.
For
Wes and Leanne the first step was to get Wes well after he was
diagnosed with CML (a form of leukemia) five years ago. He's done it!
We are all so glad he's still with us! The next step was to complete
a long $500 preliminary application where they paid for
fingerprinting, undergoing background criminal checks, a couple of
adoption classes and , because they are going through a Christian
Adoption Agency, they had to write out their testimonies. They've
passed all those tests with flying colors. (I knew they would...) But
now they need to move forward because, let's face it, they are stuck.
Stuck in the financial adoption doldrums. Stuck in their beautiful
home with an empty crib. They need to take the next step which is the
Home Study with a Social Worker. However, the home-study is not
inexpensive.. In fact, it's 3 times more than the application. Ouch!.
And let's not forget, if they're chosen they will have to come up
with at least $10,000 at the moment the baby is handed over.
I
think back to when I was finally expecting my first child and how
thankful I was that my co-pays and blood testing and ultrasounds were
covered by my insurance. Nothing was due up-front and once my special
son, the boy I waited my whole life to meet, was born I was able to
make a payment plan that didn't strain our budget.These babies are
already gestating in their adoptive parents' hearts. I wish this
meant that they could get the kind of coverage that a biological
parent can get but maybe one day...This is a very real concern for
potential adoptive parents, as I see it, anyway.
The
Munns are not only a loving couple, they are a hard working couple
who both work at the same college. Wes teaches Anatomy and Physiology
to Nursing students and Leanne is Assistant Director in Assessments.
They give their jobs everything they can and take pride in working to
help others. They put nothing, however, before God and they delight
in making surprise dinners for each other, taking their dog for walks
together, leaning hard on faith and are often quiet in their
prayers for their hearts' greatest desire. So let me, their loud,
unabashed friend, put it out there “They are ready for that baby!!!
They are financially, emotionally and maritally stable. They are
creative and loving and they share these gifts with each other and
anyone who's lucky enough to stand in their light.” They simply
don't have all the funds needed at one time. Again, think back to
your own pregnancy or a friend's and ask yourself “Did I have to
pay off that $10,000 at my check-ups?”
Wes
is the best photographer this side of the Mason-Dixon Line (ok,
that's just my opinion.) with great prices and a willingness to work
wherever you need him to and Leanne often goes along as his more than
able assistant. This is a couple doing all they can to get on that
Waiting List. They're not just sitting around waiting for you to
donate your hard earned money. They are thankful for every penny and
all the love they feel everytime someone or their donation says “I
believe in you and your family. Here's my donation.” It takes a
village to raise a child. Yes, it does. But sometimes, it takes a
village to make a family.
Here is the link where you can help out
with either donations or words of encouragemnt.:
Here is a link to Leanne's heartfelt
blog:
P.S. August is Leanne's birthday month
and she is the biggest coffee lover. For her adoption challenge she
and anyone who wants to help with a donation is being asked to forgo
the cost of one cup of coffee a week until September 1st.
Thanks so much! I know you'll give it much thought and if it feels
right to you, you'll find a way to help. It's the one thing I
remember the most about the people out West.
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