Donate to pay for attorney fees for adoption.

Hi, my name is John, and I’m attempting this as a way to get the ball rolling for full adoption of Corrine and Calliope. Honestly, I hate asking for anything financially from anyone, and it’s really difficult for me to do this.

As many of you already know, Katherine and I got the once in a lifetime chance to offer our home to two smart, loving, caring, and beautiful girls. Without getting too deeply into the details, kids haven’t happened for us, and we’ve both wanted them for years. Katherine has known the girls’ maternal family for over twenty years, and knows that the parents have had issues supporting their kids for various reasons. When we found out over two years ago that they might need a loving and supportive home, we offered ours immediately. For a 3 and 5 year old, they haven’t had an easy time in life. There hasn’t been a steady home or parental figures for them really until us. Their aunt had full custody of them until she found out that Katherine and I were interested in taking them in. With five kids of her own, it became difficult for her and her family to provide for everyone. Knowing that we wanted kids of our own, it seemed like a natural fit, and it has been. After an interview process, everyone involved with the girls’ long term care decided that we are the best option for their safety,long term success and happiness.

This experience has been life changing for all of us, and completely amazing and wonderful. Our little family now feels complete, and these girls now have multiple families that offer love and support. Although it’s only been eight months or so, we love them deeply, and want them to be ours forever. Even though it’s only been a short period of time, we can’t imagine not having them in our lives forever.

There’s already been three custody hearings, and the girls were assigned a Guardian Ad Litem  by the county of Portsmouth, Virginia where they were born. I also want to thank Mrs. Ireland and Judge Willis who, through this process, have seen for themselves that the girls are happy, fully loved and taken care of. They have been amazed at how easily and fully the four of us have meshed.

The financial obligations are starting to add up. Katherine was able to add them on to her insurance through her employer, and for the first time in their lives, they have proper medical care. It was pretty painful for us to have to watch them go through their series of shots (the second series is today, actually).We’re learning more, and loving them more every single day. I could go on, but you’d probably get bored of reading about our every day lives.

So here’s the big ask. We’ve talked to a Family Law Attorney, and full adoption will cost between $15,000 to $20,000 from start to finish. We are of average means, and with a mortgage and the cost of everything in the world skyrocketing right now, $15,000 to $20,000 isn’t feasible for us. We’ve gladly incurred the cost of everything from shoes to toilet paper, (I’m still astonished by how much we go through ) and wouldn’t have it any other way. They shouldn’t be, and now won’t be anyone’s financial responsibility but ours.

If you have it in your heart to give, it would be greatly appreciated by Katherine and myself. As much as it bothers me to ask, it bothers me that this process costs so much. It shouldn’t cost this much to adopt, and it comes as no surprise to us that more people don’t solely because not everyone has that kind of cash readily available. I also realize that we are asking for the high end of the financial spectrum, but we’d love to have the cost covered in totality. Anything and everything left will be donated to another family that wants to adopt but can’t afford to, as an attempt by us to help “pay it forward”.

I realize that this has been long winded, but we want to be absolutely clear on what and why we’re asking for donations.

Thanks for your time.

With much love,

John, Katherine, Corrine and Callie