I’ve wanted to be a mother from the time my mother taught me how to swaddle my baby doll in the purple granny square blanket she made me. I’ve also known since my late teens that I wanted to adopt. In the last five to seven years as I’ve seriously worked toward this goal, I’ve learned a lot and been discouraged by a lot.

Here’s the thing. When people think of adoption, they think of traditional adoption. Problem is, the average cost to adopt is over $40,000. That was nearly double my yearly income at the time! Additionally, most adoption agencies prefer couples rather than single women. Just facts. Traditional adoption seemed very unlikely for me.

So I began looking into foster-to-adopt. The cost was much cheaper and foster parents are always needed. I seriously considered this option as well. I researched how to become a foster parent in NC. Even looked into how to take the classes required. But eventually, I realized that this route also was not for me. I definitely am not equipped to deal with the emotions of being a foster parent. Foster parents are very unique individuals and I have so much respect for what they do!

With the two obvious options out, I thought I would have to put my adoption dreams behind me. Until I heard about a third option: embryo adoption. Have you ever wondered what happens to embryos after a family pursuing IVF has completed their family? They can store the embryos indefinitely which is extremely expensive, especially if they know they are finished having children. They can have them destroyed, which is heartrending because of everything they went through to create that little life!

There are no official numbers, but I’ve seen the number of frozen embryos estimated from 700,000 all the way up to 1.4 million! It’s estimated up to 24% of these embryos are abandoned every year because it’s easier to do so than to continue paying expensive storage fees or making the decision to destroy them. Thankfully, there’s a third option! More and more couples are choosing to allow their embryos to be adopted, giving these children a chance at life.

About three or four years ago, I made the decision to adopt an embryo. Unfortunately, things kept happening. Most notably, my MS diagnosis in 2020. But I am not letting that stop me! I’ve started the official process with a local group here in NC. It will involve components of traditional adoption such as a psychological evaluation and learning generalities about embryos' histories, but it will also include components of IVF such as reproductive tests, medications, and, of course, the embryo transfer itself.

While not nearly as expensive as traditional adoption, embryo adoption does have its expenses. I’m estimating it will cost around $10-15,000 for the entire process. The base cost is $7300 with the other costs coming from evaluations, medical tests, medications, and monitoring. I am both excited and terrified about the future! And I’m asking you to share it with me! I know adoption is a passion for many even those who are unable to adopt a child themselves. I would like you to consider supporting me in this journey. I am stepping out on faith knowing that this is what I’m supposed to do, and I know God will provide. Will you consider being a part of that provision?

Thank you. Thank you from me. And thank you from the child that will be given a chance to live!

Matthew 18:5 ~ “But whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

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By Christine Wilson

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