From an Empty Car Seat to a Full House: Shawn and Shannon’s Incredible Story [S5E3]

Lori Tapparo and her husband Kenny tried for 16 years to have biological children. After she had an emergency hysterectomy, the couple decided to pursue adoption through the foster care system in Colorado. Within 1 year and 2 months, they had 4 children! Lori shares the ups and downs of their journey and what it is like to adopt bio siblings. She also talks about what she did when one of her sons was unexpectedly reunified with his birth mother. She ended up getting him back with a huge surprise!

13 Des 201842min

Adrienne Elliott has worked in all aspects of the child welfare system including intake, child protection, permanency and adoption. She is now the Executive Director of Adoption Options. On this episode April Fallon sits down with Adrienne to ask YOUR questions about adoption. What do you need to start the adoption process? Should a family adopt an older child and bump birth order? How do you talk to your child about their adoption story? April shares funny stories of parenting moments she wished she had done better and how Adrienne has helped her! Don’t miss this episode!!

6 Des 201844min

Jack and Adrian are birth parents who placed their baby girl up for adoption when they were in college. They wanted a better life for her, although later they would find out it wasn’t exactly what they had hoped for. Jack shares from a birth father‘s perspective on how he moved forward after leaving the hospital without his daughter and Adrian shares what it was like as a birth mother grieving the loss of her baby. They went on to get married, have 3 more children together and then they adopted a baby boy! They share their experiences as adoptive parents and the emotions they went through helping the birth mother through her loss. Then they reconnect with the daughter they placed and she wants to be a part of their family. This episode is filled with so many aspects of the adoption journey!!!

29 Nov 20181h 7min

Becky Fawcett is an adoptive mother of two children. As she was adopting she realized the cost was so high that she had to do something to help other families bring home their children. She started helpusadopt.org, an equality based organization that seeks to reduce the financial burden of adoption by awarding large, life-changing, problem-solving grants. Her non-profit has given over 2.6 million dollars away to adoptive families! She could help you if you’re on the adoption journey❤️

15 Nov 201834min

On this episode, our featured guest is Mallory Fogas, who started the company Arrow and Root to create modern adoption profile books. Today, you will not only hear how their adoption profile books help adoptive families, but you will hear the story of how these adorable kids became a family! Mallory has a passion and heart for all things adoption because she is half adopted and she has 5 adopted siblings with Down Syndrome. This is a story of how amazing it can be to say yes to adoption!!

8 Nov 201838min

Nellya and her husband had two biological children and they were fostering a child when they decided to adopt a baby from India. In the process they found out they were pregnant and then said yes to 3 more foster children! Their house was full as they waited to bring home baby Millie. When the agency went silent on updates, Nellya found out some devastating news. On this episode we see a mother’s heart to save a child no matter the cost.

1 Nov 201854min

Meg was adopted from Seoul, Korea at the age of 6 months to a family in Northern Minnesota. She grew up shy, introverted and misunderstood by many of her teachers and peers. Although she attached to her adoptive parents, whom she loved very much, she struggled with depression. On this episode Meg talks with April Fallon about the repressed grief she did not know she carried and her journey to find peace with her adoption story.

25 Okt 201845min

On today’s episode, Cherie Burton shares her story as a birth mother in an open adoption and an adoptive mother. She is an author, international speaker, and former Mrs. Utah. She and her husband have two biological children together and they have adopted two babies. She talks about the heartbreak and peace she experienced as she did what she felt was best for her first daughter. Cherie also opens up about the challenges she faced while going through the adoption process and what it was like to become an adoptive mother. This is a very unique story told from two sides of the adoption triad.

18 Okt 201848min