Thursday, January 3, 2008

A Sad Phone Call

When you are adopting in the way we are, you have a 1-800 number. If a "potential birthmom" happens to see your website and wants to get in touch, they can call that number, or email you.

In the time we've been waiting to adopt (10 months now) no one has ever called us out of the blue to chat on that number. Nor has anyone (except easily identifiable scammers from Cameroon) ever emailed us. We've had two contacts (one a potential match that we turned down, and one a match that led to our failed adoption). Both were arranged by our adoption agency.

Tonight I got a call on our 1-800 number. It was a teenage girl, and she said she found our website and thought we looked nice. She started telling me a really sad story, about being abandoned by her mom, then living in a group home, and not getting along with her family. I listened and asked some questions, and then I said, "So you're pregnant?" "No," she said. "I must have misunderstood your ad." Oh no. She wanted us to adopt her. What a brave and lonely call to make for a 13 year old.

All I could say is that I was glad she told me her story, and that I would be thinking about her and hoping for her to grow up strong, and to take care. I am sitting here hoping she will find her place.

6 comments:

mati rose said...

ok i'm going to cry now.

thanks for giving me some perspective- whoo!

Margie in Oakland said...

That is so sad. I'm glad she found you though.

Kim said...

Ohmigosh! That is one of the saddest stories ever. (Reporter Kim says did you get her name, phone number. Her story should be out there.)

lindsay said...

Heartbreaking. What a strong girl she must be. I hope she finds good things in life.

tb said...

I feel like I'll be thinking of that girl for the rest of my life.

Sarah Goss said...

Oh! I don't know what to say. That story really touches me. Must have made a powerful impression on two such warm hearts. I hope the best for her, though that sounds so inadequate somehow.