A Shropshire woman who built her family through adoption is sharing her heart-warming story, describing the decision to adopt two biological half-siblings as the best she has ever made.
From a Single Hope to a Family of Three
Sarah, who is 44 and lives with her parents, first considered adoption over a decade ago. Her journey was initially paused when she became a full-time carer for her elderly grandparents. After their passing and following the Covid-19 pandemic, she revisited her dream of becoming a parent.
Having been told a healthy pregnancy was unlikely after an abnormal smear test result, Sarah felt strongly that adoption was her path. "I had no desire to be pregnant and actually give birth to a child," she explained, adding that she wanted to "make somebody else’s life a little bit better than it currently was."
In 2021, she began the assessment process with Adoption Focus, a charity and adoption agency based in the West Midlands. The approval process took around 18 months, a period she found invaluable for preparation, especially with the support of her mother.
A Life-Changing Email and a Swift New Beginning
In July 2022, Sarah received the email she had been hoping for. It contained the profile of a 17-month-old boy who needed a permanent home. "I went and sat outside, read this profile, and that was it," she recalled. "I got butterflies... I knew that he was mine."
Because the boy could not remain in his foster placement, Sarah welcomed him under a Foster to Adopt arrangement. Remarkably, he moved in just ten days after that first email, allowing him to settle into what would become his forever home while legalities were finalised.
While adjusting to life with her new son, Sarah learned his birth mother was expecting again. She made it known she could be a potential carer if needed, though she stressed she was only "plan B," believing the ideal was for children to stay within their birth family.
A Christmas Day Baby Completes the Family
The baby girl was born on Christmas Day 2022, but was unable to remain with her birth family. Sarah began formal adoption proceedings, and on 5 December 2023, her daughter joined the household, just in time for her first birthday and their first Christmas together as a trio.
"We were slightly on tenterhooks as to whether she would be here before Christmas," Sarah said. "And then, of course, you’ve got Christmas, which is carnage in the best possible way with small children."
Now, nearly two years after her son's arrival, Sarah focuses on making every day special for her children, who are supported by their doting grandparents. "If I see in a shop a toy or something that I think they’d like, I’ll buy it, because it doesn’t have to wait until one single day a year," she said.
She emphasises the importance of consistency for children who may have experienced trauma. "If you can show them that you aren’t going anywhere and you’re there forever - if it means that once a month they get a treat - then so be it."
Supporting The Long Wait Campaign
Sarah is now backing Adoption Focus's The Long Wait campaign, which highlights the average 18-month period children wait to be matched with an adoptive family.
"That could be two Christmases that they don’t know if they’re going to be safe, they don’t know if they’re going to be loved," she said. "For a grown up, 18 months is a long time. But when you’re only little, it’s a big chunk of your life."
Her story stands as a powerful testament to the joy adoption can bring, and she hopes it will encourage others to consider opening their homes and hearts.
