THE CRADLE’S FIRST OPEN ADOPTION
Published March 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern Susan Cahill was very familiar with The Cradle when she and her former husband, Matthew Schaefer, came here two decades ago to adopt a child. Her dad, John J. Cahill II, had been placed through The Cradle more than 50 years earlier, in 1942. But she and Matthew didn’t […]
THE MORE THE MERRIER: TESS AND CARRIE’S REUNION STORY
Published August 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern The holidays are always interesting for Cradle adoptee Tess Berger. Her family has been expanding ever since her parents took her home from The Cradle Nursery in 1986. Tess says she now has five different sides of the family – her mother’s, her father’s, her husband’s, her own and […]
Q&A WITH MEI KELLY, ADOPTEE: ON ADOPTION AND IDENTITY FOR TEENS
Published July 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern When adoptive parents think about discussing adoption with their kids, they usually picture talking with young children. But Mei Kelly’s Senior Studies project at Evanston Township High School tells us that adoption is not a one-time discussion—it’s an ongoing conversation. Mei, who was adopted from Guangdong Province in China, […]
ALL FOR ANABELLE
Written September 2015 Baby Anabelle was born August 2014 with a rare genetic condition called Aicardi syndrome. This disorder primarily affects newborn baby girls, causing brain abnormalities, developmental delays and seizures. The prognosis is uncertain. Anabelle’s young birth mom was struggling with her own health issues and already parenting a toddler, so she knew adoption […]
BABY AUDREY’S STORY
Written August 2014 Audrey was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes low muscle tone, developmental delays and blocks the feeling of fullness from eating. Those with Prader-Willi spend their lives feeling perpetually hungry, and require lifelong care and monitoring to avoid eating themselves to death. In January 2013, Audrey found her forever family with Amy […]
BABY HANNAH’S STORY
Written September 2014 Hannah was born January 2014 with serious neurological problems that could result in paralysis, developmental delays or other lifelong issues. Her birth family knew they simply didn’t have the resources to manage Hannah’s care, so they turned to The Cradle for help. Hannah needed a special family who could see beyond the […]
