Real Stories About Adoption

A BIRTHMOM SHARES HER ADOPTION STORY WITH THE CRADLE ADOPTION AGENCY

A birthmom shares her adoption story with The Cradle Adoption Agency

A REUNION STORY: A BIRTH MOM AND DAUGHTER FIND EACH OTHER THROUGH THE CRADLE

A birth mom and daughter find each other through The Cradle Adoption Agency in Illinois. A reunion story An adoption reunion story A birth mom

10 THINGS EVERY BIRTHMOTHER WANTS ADOPTIVE PARENTS TO KNOW

By Patricia Dischler I often told my son’s adoptive mother how much I loved her and was thankful she was a part of my life. But,

MICHELLE CHOSE OPEN ADOPTION WITH THE CRADLE ADOPTION AGENCY FOR HER DAUGHTER

Michelle chose open adoption with The Cradle Adoption Agency for her daughter

MEGAN CHOSE ADOPTION WITH THE CRADLE FOR HER SON

Megan Chose Adoption with The Cradle Adoption Agency for Her Son

“I FELT LIKE I HAD TO DEFEND MY DECISION.” LISA’S ADOPTION STORY

Lisa, who chose an open adoption for her son talks about being judged for her decision. Lisa Discusses Being Judged for Making an Adoption Plan

MIRANDA’S ADOPTION STORY

Published May 2012 There is a time that each individual is faced with a hard decision. How you decide when making a choice is what

JESSICA’S STORY ABOUT DECIDING FOR ADOPTION

Hear Jessica describe how she felt when learning she was pregnant and how she went about considering adoption. A birth mom who chose an adoption

A BEVY OF BEAUTIES: MEET THE THOLKES FAMILY

Published February 2015 By Shelbie Bostedt, Intern There is never a dull moment in the Tholkes household. With four girls eight-years-old and under, two of whom were

“I DIDN’T THINK I COULD PARENT THE WAY I WANTED TO PARENT.” CASEY’S ADOPTION STORY

Casey became pregnant when finishing up college. She chose adoption in order to give her daughter the kind of life she wanted for her. When

JOURNEY OF HEALING: A BIRTH MOTHER’S STORY

Published February 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern For Bonnie Bartel, finding the daughter she placed through The Cradle 45 years ago has enabled her to heal,

REBECCAH’S ADOPTION STORY

Rebeccah recalls how she announced her adoption decision to her friends Rebeccah describes her family’s reaction to her placement Rebeccah shares advice for parents considering

ADOPTION: ANOTHER WORD FOR LOVE

Published March 2015 By Shelbie Bostedt, Intern Katie and Dave Bochenek both grew up in large families and dreamed of a house full of children of

OUR MIRACLE: KATIE GRACE

Published March 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern When Maggie Oswald and Ken Paquette decided to pursue adoption to build their family, they chose The Cradle, which

DOUBLE DELIGHT: THE THOMPSON TWINS’ ADOPTION STORY

Published February 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern Sherece and Darren Thompson struggled with infertility for seven years before making the decision to come to The Cradle.

“YOUR ANSWER IS YES!” JEREMY AND AMBER’S ADOPTION STORY

Published May 2015 By Maureen Kelly, Cradle Staff Sixteen-month-old Charlotte is one busy baby, as she has recently learned to walk and run all over. In

“I WAS 36 YEARS OLD…” CARRIE’S ADOPTION STORY

After Carrie’s son was born, she wanted to talk to someone about adoption – but getting information was difficult. Then she contacted The Cradle. Carrie

A CRADLE LOVE STORY

Published July, 2012 By The Cradle Staff Marcella Erickson is a resilient woman. Compelled by circumstance to leave home at age 16 and fend for

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

SUMMER’S STORY

Published May 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern Summer was born in late December 2011 and lived with her birth parents for the first 21 months of

FOR THE LOVE OF ALEX

Published May 2015 By Samantha Spengler, Intern Dave and Maggie Brown applied to The Cradle’s Sayers Center program in September 2010 and went on the waiting list

CRADLE MOM WENDY ON WCIU’S “YOU AND ME THIS MORNING”

Cradle mom Wendy Willis went on WCIU’s “You and Me This Morning” with her two-year-old daughter Micah to discuss her experience as a first time

REMEMBERING BONNIE

Published Summer 2014 The Cradle and The Cradle Foundation mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Bonnie Krasny, who passed away in March

LISA DISCUSSES ADOPTION IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Lisa discusses how there is a lack of adoption education in the African American community Choosing Adoption in the African American Community

CRADLE MOM JESSICA ON WCIU’S “YOU AND ME THIS MORNING”

Cradle Mom Jessica Murnane went on WCIU’s “You and Me This Morning” to talk about her experiences being a first time mommy after adopting her

Coming Home: Jerry’s Adoption Reunion Story

Hear Jerry’s emotional birth mother reunion story and how, after nearly three decades, they made an instant and emotional connection. When Jerry Janes walked through

THE HARDEST CHOICE

Published October 2015 Heather Cange was a college student at North Park University in 1999 when she became pregnant. After telling her parents, they introduced

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

MAKING A HOME FOR MEKBIB AND MEKDES

Published October 2015 By Shelbie Bostedt, Intern When Megan and Timothy Boarini returned home to Chicago in August 2011, they were accompanied by a little boy

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

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