TESTIMONIALS

It is a blessing to grow up in an open adoption family. Knowing who my birthmother is, has given me a sense of security. I could not imagine it any other way. My birthmother, Tracy, is a wonderful person and is a best friend to me. My birthmom now has 2 daughters, which are my half sisters. If I wasn’t in an Open Adoption family, I may have never known or met my sisters.

I don’t have to worry about finding my birthmother as I get older. I am so glad my parents have chose for me to know her. From the day I was adopted, I saw my BirthMom about 2 or 3 times per year. Now that I am older, I see her about once every other month.

My adoptive parents love me very much and I am blessed because I have a relationship with my BirthMom and my half sisters. I would never change this for the world.
Molly R. Marotta
Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed being on the Creative Adoptions Board of Directors for three years. It was a fabulous experience being the Vice Chair and I enjoyed the people I worked with.

Mostly, because of my adoption, I firmly believe in open adoption. Creative does wonderful things out in the community and I’m proud to say I was involved with it’s process.
Stacey Kisluk, Spaces
As you know, I’ve been involved with Creative Adoptions for over two years. I’ve worked closely with your employees and your Board of Trustees. I’ve helped create pieces of information to be shared with the public about Creative Adoptions’ mission. Not only am I impressed by your mission, but by your resolve.

I’m drawn to your organization because of the commitment of developing a family when there might not have been an opportunity. I believe you provide hope for many involved in the adoption process.

Thank you for continuing to use my services. I’m greatly appreciative.
Christa VandeZande Rost, Figure 11 Studio
Karen and I are parents in waiting. We are also clients of Creative Adoptions. Since the moment we walked through the door, we have been treated like family. Our questions and concerns have been addressed with kindness and forthrightness. When we wonder, as all adoptive parents do: “Will anyone choose us?” we are assured that our baby is out there and that he or she will find us in their own time. The fact that we are a lesbian couple has never made one ounce of difference to the staff at Creative. We are a family waiting for a child, period.

From the beginning, Geri and her staff have assured us that we will find a match. They have also been honest about the fact that our same sex family will require just the right birthmother. They believe that she is out there, and so do we. It may take a little longer than the “average couple,” but it will happen. As we go through our days - waiting, we are comforted by the fact that Geri, Beth, Jennifer, and everyone at Creative is working to make sure that our dream of having children is realized.
Amy Mitchell and Karen Turnball
Let me set the stage for you. My wife and I are sitting in a doctor's office discussing a medical issue regarding our 13 year old son. The doctor begins his questions by asking each of us for as much family medical history as we can provide. My wife is able to go into great detail for several generations including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, etc. When the doctor turns to me I had to admit that I have no medical history. But really that isn't true. The fact is that I did have a family medical history, it was just unknown to me.You see, I am an adoptee and a product of a closed adoption system, a system under which most adoptions still take place.

I had been questioned before about my family medical background during my own routine physical exams. While it did bother me somewhat that I couldn't supply what is clearly important diagnostic information, somehow when it was about me and merely routine, I gave it little thought. But now I needed the information for my son. It hurt deeply to not be able to help. In fact I clearly remember feeling like I was failing my son, a feeling I had never known and I couldn't get over it. Fortunately the medical concern turned out to be nothing, but it started me on a quest. I was angry, angry at the system, angry at being given away with no thought of my future or my children's future, angry at my adoptive parents for not thinking to demand such fundamental information. For the first time I was beginning to feel anger and resentment at being an adoptee. Up to that point I had never really given much thought to what it means to be adopted. My parents did a wonderful job of making me feel like one of their own and I always viewed myself as well-adjusted.

Thus began a search for my birthmother, a painstaking journey that went on for 14 years before I finally found Martha six years ago. It was interesting for me to note how the need to continue such a painful process for so long changed as time went on. What had started out as a need to discover my family medical history (very practical, right?) evolved into something much more esoteric. It became a quest to fill a hole in my soul. So to those of you who have chosen an open adoption process, I applaud you; you are doing the right thing for your son or daughter and possibly for generations to come. I know that the medical issue is only one reason behind the concept of openness in adoption and there are many more equally compelling reasons. This just happens to be my story; and in sharing it I hope that it will strengthen and even further your commitment to the concept of open adoption and Creative Adoptions. I am very pleased to be a member of Creative Adoptions’ Board of Directors and hope to be able to help the very dedicated staff and the board take the concept to even new heights.

Postscript: I have a good relationship with my birthmother, however, she still refuses to share "the rest of the story." So I still have only one half of my history. But I can be persuasive and expect to eventually prevail.
Bill Herbstreit