This is my Aunt Belinda. She was volunteering at a women’s shelter 35 years ago through her church when she met my biological mom.
My biological mom was not in a place in her life to take care of me, and my Aunt Belinda immediately stepped in.
That is who she is. She is kind, loving, and always thinks of others before herself.
After learning a little more about the situation, Aunt Belinda called my mom and dad who were 4+ hours away and said, ‘We’ll take her!’
I was picked up from a motel room not long after and was privately adopted into an amazing family—my family.
People always say, ‘Do you mind talking about being adopted?’ because they think it might be upsetting or a sensitive subject for me.
It’s actually the complete opposite. I’m beyond grateful for the selflessness that goes with adoption.
I can’t imagine being in a position knowing I could not care for a child I gave birth to but still making an incredibly tough—and beautiful—decision to give that child a better life.
Aunt Belinda is the glue that brought me together with my amazing family I was adopted into at just 9 months old. She saved me before my first full year of life and multiple times in my adult life—especially these last few years.
Adoption is beautiful. I know every adoptee doesn’t have this same story or a happy ending, but I hope all those looking for their forever family find a beautiful and happy one.
Credit: Ginger Segrest-Wormell
