CONTINUED from Facebook and Instagram...
We were closing in on the last few days to make a decision about Sangram’s file, and we knew at this point that we needed to seek some professional medical advice...
So, just when we needed it, a family (that we don’t even know) donated to our adoption. They gifted us with just the amount that we needed to be able to pay for a pre-adoptive phone consultation with a doctor at the International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
It was a Friday night, and Dr. Chambers had used her after hours to fully review little Sangram’s medical files in preparation for our phone consultation with her. We nervously awaited her phone call that evening, but as soon as we began the conversation, all of our reservations melted away. Her voice and attitude were upbeat and positive, and she set us at ease immediately. The clock was ticking, and we had only a few days left to make our decision about this file while it was still ours to reserve and consider. Dr. Chambers had also reviewed his pictures and videos as part of her assessment of him, and we nervously laughed as we shared with her that we still hadn’t let ourselves look at him yet and that it was absolutely killing us! She teased us by saying that he was a VERY cute little guy, and that she was impressed by the developmental skills that she could see in his videos. Our hearts leaped! She literally told us, “He doesn’t match his files.” Meaning— he could already developmentally do things that his diagnosis and X-rays showed as impossible. She was very optimistic about his entire case, and even added that she was encouraged to see a child that looked this good in an orphanage! Wow! We were completely blown away!
We asked a million questions and picked her brain about several other things in his medical files, and we ended the conversation feeling a huge weight lifted. We looked at each other as we hung up the phone and tears filled our eyes. The most joyful tears I have ever cried in my life! Peace and joy washed over us both as we clung to one another on our grey sectional couch on our open living room floor. I grinned from ear to ear and met my husband’s eyes, saying,
"Let’s take a look at our son."
So Steven and I spent the rest of our night indulging in the sweetest reward of the entire adoption journey up to that point: we looked at the photos and videos of our son for the very FIRST TIME, and knowing 100% in our hearts that he was ours, we fell totally and completely in love with him, and have never looked back.
We knew that we were saying YES to 9-month old “Sangram Unknown” regardless of whatever medical circumstances may arise in our future with him. No matter if the doctor’s predictions were spot on or ended up being way off. We didn’t care what his needs may be or how severe his condition, we just knew that the special boy looking back at us was our son.
We knew that very night that we had a 9-month old baby boy waiting for us in Pune, Maharashtra, India and that he was the chosen child that God had planned for our family from the beginning of time.
And it just felt like a really sweet bonus that he happened to be stinking adorable! I love that God led us to choose him before we ever knew that, though. He definitely went above and beyond with the cuteness, though. And I ain’t complaining! 😉
And so it was on February 6th that we were able to sign all of the necessary paperwork declaring our utmost desire to move forward with a match with this precious child. And now, for the first time publicly we are sharing some of the photos and a video that we first got to see of our sweet Aaro back in February!!
Here we are 8 months later, and we have prayed countless prayers for healing over his tiny body since the day we first knew about him--and many of our supporting community have, too. Though we know not what the future holds for his development and growth, we can already see so many ways that the Lord has touched Aaro’s body and healed him and made him whole. He is a living, breathing testimony of God’s goodness and redemption! His life is a beautiful example of answered prayers and defying the odds. Though we have only been together for a little over a month, we are constantly amazed by how smart, clever, fun, and typical this little 17 month-old bundle of joy-and trouble- is!! We cannot wait to continue discovering all of the ways that God has fashioned and wired this young man to step into all of the great purposes and plans He has for his life!
We celebrate Aaro’s life, and we are forever grateful for each and every person who has invested in him by prayers, financial support and other tangible blessings. We have walked in the fullness of God’s goodness throughout this entire adoption journey- through every high and low and everything in between. And our God has remained faithful through it all!
Comments
Post a Comment