Since the beginning of their
marriage, Chelsea and Paul Gour, began exploring adoption. And
even through the birth of their four biological children, they
continued researching their options. ?We knew we were meant to
provide a home for a child that might not otherwise have one,?
says Chelsea.
What Chelsea and Paul didn?t know
was that their family's path to finally adopt would become
miraculously intertwined with another?s.
During their home study, the family
discussed with their social worker what medical needs they might
be open to. At first they leaned towards mild and correctable
special needs, but soon discovered that they were one of many
families that would jump at the chance to parent a mildly
affected child.
?When the list began to include some
harder to place children, I began to find myself considering
them,? says Chelsea. ?If no one looks at their files then they
will not get a chance at a life with a family, right?
I
began to think, ?Is it too much to ask to have us step out of
our comfort zone and think about parenting one of these
children? What if I had given birth to a child with a major
disability? We know we wouldn't turn our backs on that child so
why were we limiting ourselves just because we had a choice???
In February, Chelsea and Paul found
their daughter, soon to be named Claire. But they were not the
first to see their daughter?s sweet face. They were the second.
The first family to request Claire?s
file was so excited to bring the young girl with spina bifida
into their home. Her online photo listing was captioned ?Being
Reviewed.?
A week passed, and the Gours saw
that Claire?s file was available once more. ?I wondered at the
time why they decided not to pursue her adoption but I did not
think I would ever know,? says Chelsea. ?Now I do.?
Through a chance communication,
Chelsea was contacted by the first family via e-mail. She
shared:
"Claire stole my family's heart
immediately and we were able to review her file the day her
info was posted. We were SO excited and began making plans
to bring her home as soon as possible.?
She was so excited, she didn?t even
call her husband before submitting a form to request Claire?s
file. At first, the family found Claire?s condition daunting.
But the more they researched it, the more the diagnosis wasn't
nearly as severe as they had originally thought. Preparing for
the worst, the family decided they could and would face any
challenge Claire?s spina bifida might bring.
Just as I began to accept [her
condition], I began hearing a whisper in my ear, "She's not
your daughter." I really didn't want to listen, so that's
when I began praying for a complete peace and maybe a sign
that another family was waiting for her. On Saturday night,
I again looked at the site and saw "pending" over Claire's
picture. I knew I had my answer. At the same time, a dear
friend from church had an overwhelming feeling come over her
telling her that this is not the right time for us. She felt
such urgency, she had to fight calling us in the middle of
the night. When I saw last week, that CHI had placed her, I
was ecstatic. I couldn't believe it! She had a family!!
?I still can't read her e-mail
without tears,? says Chelsea of the family to first review her
daughter?s file. ?Hearing their story was so much confirmation
for us.?
Chelsea and Paul are preparing to
travel in May to finalize Claire?s adoption and bring their
fifth child home to South Carolina to complete their family.
?I truly believe that all things
happen for a reason and that the way things happen is God's
providence. We will forever be grateful to this family and our
hearts go out to them during their wait and search for their
daughter.?
If you would like to share your
thoughts, experiences or stories about your adoption, email:
Jennifer.Newcomb@ChildrensHope.net
We would love to post your family pictures!
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