Baby Flannery Adoption

I have never been more compelled to write and ask my friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers for help than I am right now.  I ask not for myself but for my dear friend Alex and her wonderful husband Todd.  I met Alex over three years ago when she began teaching my son at his school.  I have always been an anxious parent who never liked the idea of leaving my children with anyone but I finally was able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that my son was in such capable and compassionate hands.  Needless to say, my son had a wonderful first grade experience, and my daughter was fortunate to have Alex teach her the following year.  I have become very close to both Alex and Todd over the years and I have never met two people who love life, family, and children more.  Alex is the type of person that makes you want to try to be better, to be more like her.  My daughter describes Ms. Flannery as "someone who cares for everyone, she always smiles, gives hugs when I need them and makes me feel safe."  My son says "Ms. Flannery is so sweet and I am glad to have her in my life."  To see her surrounded by her kids in the classroom is heartwarming.  She loves each and everyone of her kids at school and refers to them as her "school family" .  
Todd is a former college football player.  His stature is big as well as his heart.  He is an unique individual.  My children feel more comfortable being around Todd than they do some family/friends that they have known their whole life.  Todd has a calming presence and naturally interacts with kids when he is around them.  We have gone to plenty of dinners with the Flannery's and it is always so nice to be able to bring our childern with us.  They are always included in the conversation and can't wait to see them for the next get together.
The following is some background information about Todd and Alex that will give you further details into the reasoning that adoption is the only fit for their family.

Todd and Alex knew before they met that they wanted children.  They met while Alex was student teaching. Todd had been teaching already for three years as a K-5 Physical Education teacher. They both adored children and knew that was in their future. In the summer of 2012, five months before they got married, Alex underwent surgery to extract thyroid cancer. After her recovery, Todd and Alex were glad to look forward to a wedding and a healthy and happy life together.

Unfortunately, they did not get to enjoy their wedded bliss. About a month after they were married, Alex was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disorder called Scleroderma. Scleroderma is when the body overproduces collagen and it affects the connective tissue in the body. A local doctor told her that she would never have children. It was a complete shock and a life-changing day for the both of them. Their plans of starting a family would have to wait. Alex spent months in unbelievable pain. She went from running 3 miles a day and being active to figuring out how to get in and out of bed without evoking too much pain. The disease began taking over her body and local doctors did not have any treatments that she could begin to help slow the progression of the disease.  

Alex and Todd, along with family, began a search for a doctor that specialized in Scleroderma and could provide them with hope. They learned about Dr. Khanna, a Scleroderma specialist at the University of Michigan. After a visit with him, they learned how devastating this disease could be. It only affects 100,000 in the U.S. and could affect internal organs and can lead to death.  The disease can not be cured and the hope was that it had not spread internally. Alex began a treatment plan with hopes to feel better. They learned it had not spread to internal organs.  However, the medication she was taking was not safe to take while being pregnant. After being on the treatment plan for almost three years, Alex began to show significant improvement and has remained in stable condition. However, there is no cure and Alex must remain on her medication.

Alex and Todd are now ready to start a family. Alex is feeling great and you would not even know that she is dealing with Scleroderma on a daily basis. Her doctors are very happy with her progress and they have told her that the disease has most likely reached the worst and has stabilized. 

Alex and Todd feel that adopting a child would be the best thing that could ever happen to them, the truth is, this child would truly be so very lucky to have the two of them for parents.

Please help them get the chance to adopt a child and complete their family.

Aimee Cherry