Help Create a Family - Support Marta's Adoption

Marta has made a crucial decision in her life – she's chosen to adopt a child. Approaching adoption with maturity and ongoing commitment to learning, she is ready to create a stable, loving, and safe environment for a child.

Where it all Began

Around 7 years ago, I met Marta at a coffee shop in Montrose, Houston. We connected instantly over our shared interests in design, writing, and research. Marta's story touched me deeply. She grew up in a small hamlet in northern Spain, where her parents, who were farmers with limited education, taught her the value of hard work. Marta, the only one from her village to attend college, spent summers working on the farm and didn't know much about vacations or travel.

Marta's dedicated work eventually led her to move to America and earn a position teaching at the University of Houston. She is an outstanding educator and her commitment to teaching and

her care for her students had a lasting impact on me. Attending her events, reading her work, and learning from her ideas not only inspired me but also influenced my artwork. Marta is truly inspiring, spreading light, kindness, and joy wherever she goes.

How did Marta decide to adopt?

Marta has long felt a spiritual calling to become a mother and to care for a child in need of a loving home. She spent considerable time and thoroughly examined the decision to adopt, considering hopes, fears, and motivations. Despite the challenges of a complex, lengthy, and expensive adoption system, Marta's goal is to create a nurturing, safe home, providing emotional, educational, and social support for a child in need. She's ready to love, nurture, and fully embrace the role of parenthood.

Marta’s Experience

With a decade of experience teaching a diverse range of students, Marta has cultivated a strong sense of emotional intelligence, acting as a mentor, supporting the well-being of her students, and fostering meaningful connections. Her simple upbringing instilled a strong work ethic and compassion for others. She learned to care for sick grandparents and neighbors and her empathy and concern for others are a foundational part of her character.

Marta has a relationship with children from a previous relationship, having embraced the role of stepmother, and she has maintained this connection to the present day. Her ex-partner frequently commended Marta for her special connection with the children, playfully referring to her as a 'hypnotist' to them. Recognizing the importance of love and security for children, Marta prioritizes being fully present with them. The children value and listen to her.

Support network/emotional and financial stability

Marta is ready for the challenge of adoption with a strong support network. Surrounded by a large group of great friends, including those in their 60s with grown children and peers navigating parenthood, Marta feels embraced and supported by a wonderful network, like a village. In addition, she has loving relatives in Spain, including parents who have been together for four decades, a brother, a sister-in-law, and her joyful 92-year-old grandmother.

In addition to her strong circle of friends, Marta has a secure job for life as a tenured professor, providing financial stability. While her salary is modest, her job will ensure a healthy life, a good education, and a comfortable nurturing environment for a child in need of a home.

The cost

I've witnessed Marta's spiritual commitment and unwavering determination to offer a child a life filled with love, joy, and care. She has investigated all available options, but the cost is a significant barrier to reaching her dream. Marta has been living a spartan lifestyle to save money for adoption expenses, but domestic adoption typically costs about $70,000.

Marta is ready to adopt today, but based on her income the adoption process is prohibitively expensive. As an alternative, she considered becoming a foster parent and went through the training but found that nowadays the foster care system prioritizes reuniting children with their birth families. This made it less suitable for someone looking to create a long-lasting bond with a child.

How we can help

I know that sharing her story makes Marta feel vulnerable, but she has shared her story with me and other friends as she searches for a way to fund the high costs of domestic adoption. That is why I initiated this campaign—to help her raise the needed funds to fulfill her dream of welcoming a child into her life.

So many worthy causes need our attention and support, but this season, I hope you will give whatever you can to help provide a loving family for a child. Let’s raise $25,000 toward creating a new family filled with love and our support for Marta. Each one of us can make a difference.

If you donate, this money will cover the two first phases of the process cost:

• Agency Fees: Covering matching, administrative fees, training, and background checks.

• Home Study Expenses: Assessing prospective parents and their home.

• Legal Fees: For an adoption attorney handling procedures and finalizing the adoption.

• Birth Mother Expenses: Covering medical bills, counseling, and potential living expenses.

• Travel Costs: For meetings, court hearings, or bringing the child home.

• Post-Placement Supervision: Counseling for birth mothers and adoptive parents after the adoption is completed.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

I wholeheartedly believe that Marta will make an incredible mother.