After several failed attempts to get pregnant, a married couple lost all hope, thinking they were destined to be just aunt and uncle. But an unexpected call one day changed their lives for the better.
The joy of parenthood is precious, but it is also rare, and many couples spend their lives yearning to become parents. That’s where foster care and adoption come in, serving as a beacon of hope and offering people the chance to complete their families.
Adoption is always an option, and unconventional families are just as beautiful as traditional ones. The story of Sadie and Jarvis Sampson proves that love is the only force that unites people.
Missing the Family Trip
It all started when the Sampsons missed a four-day family cruise to Mexico because they were tired from work. Sadie had started a new job two weeks earlier, and her husband had started his a few weeks before that.
Before heading home, Sadie realized she had forgotten to bring her younger sister’s life jacket, so she drove home, retrieved the vest, and decided to drop it off at her aunt’s, who was also going on a cruise.
On the way, she received a message from her best friend. She asked if Sadie and Jarvis were interested in fostering or adopting a child. Sadie hesitated, thinking it might be an expensive option, like IVF. However, her friend had more information to share.
Struggle to Become Parents
“A friend of mine and her boyfriend are considering foster care or adoption for their son. I told them I thought you would be a great choice,” Sadie’s friend replied. The Sampsons were well aware of the desire to become parents.
The couple had been actively trying to conceive after their wedding in January 2018. They tried everything from ovulation tests and prenatal vitamins to cycle tracking apps and fertility monitors. Unfortunately, nothing worked.
The Unexpected Call
After receiving several negative pregnancy tests, they sought medical help. “Lose weight and you’ll get pregnant right away,” every doctor Sadie saw said. In February 2019, Sadie underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost 28 pounds in the first month.
But despite multiple visits to gynecologists and fertility specialists, the Sampsons still weren’t pregnant. Eventually, they gave up, thinking they were just meant to be aunt and uncle. A week later, Sadie’s friend contacted her again, followed by a social worker.
The social worker informed Sadie that the birth mother had asked if they would foster the child for six to twelve months while she received treatment. The Sampsons were concerned about becoming attached to the child, but agreed to foster him.
Becoming Parents Overnight
Shortly after, the social worker called back and informed the couple that the birth mother wanted them to adopt the child. Sadie and Jarvis were shocked. They had gone from having no children to fostering a child and becoming parents overnight.
Then the Sampsons found out that the birth parents wanted an independent adoption, so they called their lawyer and quickly prepared the necessary paperwork. Sadie decided to share the exciting news with her mother.
“YOU’RE GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER! We got a call about a 2-week-old baby boy we’re adopting!” Sadie exclaimed. She heard her mother squeal with joy. After the birth parents signed the paperwork, Sadie and Jarvis went to meet their child.
Welcoming Little Ezra
They drove to the hospital’s NICU and saw their son for the first time. He had been born seven weeks early, at 33 weeks, and weighed four pounds, five ounces. The baby was swaddled in a blanket and was so small he fit in one of Jarvis’ hands.
Being born prematurely, the baby had a feeding tube coming out of his nose. Sadie and Jarvis juggled work and spent their remaining day with the infant at the hospital. Finally, the day came when his feeding tube was removed.
The Sampsons were told they could take him home. After following doctors’ instructions, they brought their little bundle of joy home. Ezra Lee’s adoption was finalized in October 2020, and he has filled his adoptive parents’ lives with happiness and love.
Families Don’t Need to Correspond
After welcoming little Ezra, the Sampsons realized their parenting struggles. The new parents were deeply grateful for their son and began documenting their journey on social media.
In 2021, Sadie and Jarvis became parents to twin girls, Journee and Destinee, through embryo donation. True to their family motto, “Families don’t have to match,” the Black couple became parents to three white children: a boy and two girls.
Sadie and Jarvis have one message for anyone who judges or whispers against their beautiful family: their family is built on the strongest foundation there is, love.
Love Above All
Choosing to adopt children of another race can attract unnecessary attention, including harsh comments. Like Sadie and Jarvis, a black mother in Connecticut faced criticism when she adopted two white siblings.
From being labeled a “kidnapper” to accusations of preferential treatment of white children, the woman has been judged for her adoption preferences. But through heartfelt maternal sentiments, she has shown the world that love transcends racial discrimination.