Now that my blog is private and I have gotten permission from my little sis Becky to share her story, here it goes.
It was just last week we were all so excited anticipating the arrival of a brand new bi-racial baby girl to Becky and Wes and kids. Mom was down from Idaho to stay with the kids so Becky and Wes could fly down to Az to pick up their new baby girl.
Tuesday night (Aug. 3rd) they had plans to meet with the birth mom for dinner and visit with her before the scheduled induction the next day. When they got to the place for dinner, there was no birth mom and really no sign of her showing any time soon. Their agent reassured them that it was fine and she would see them in the morning at the hospital. I can't even imagine what Becky was feeling that night, but I am sure a lot of emotion after the last time they were chosen, the 15 year old birth mom decided to keep her baby.
When I talked to her on the phone Wednesday morning she said she didn't know what to be feeling yet because she still hadn't heard from her agent. She didn't know whether to be excited because this was the day she was going to get a sweet baby, or to be sad because they weren't. Frustration set in on my end of the phone wondering why the heck the agent didn't answer their call that morning. She was supposed to be at their side pronto any time they needed her, right? I reassured Becky that the birth mother probably was just emotional and didn't want to meet them for dinner because it was a hard and emotional time for her as well. I made phone calls to my siblings letting them know the news and we all said little prayers for them. Hours went by and I still didn't hear from Becky. I didn't want to call her and bug her if she was in the delivery room (during a conference call a few weeks earlier, the birth mom requested that Becky be in the room during delivery). I called Mom and she still hadn't heard from her either. After a while I decided to call and get the scoop. No answer. A few minutes later she called back. I could tell in her voice there was something wrong. No, not again. She then explained to me that the agency found out that the birth mom was never pregnant!!! There never was a baby! And they didn't figure that out until the morning of the induction. The girl was scamming the company for money and poor Becky and Wes were the victims. She had forged doctors notes and the hospital even had her scheduled for the induction that day. We cried together on the phone and she said they were on their way over to her friends to book a flight home. She just wanted to get home.
As I called my siblings back we talked and felt for Becky and her situation. We also started to question this agency and why it took them that long to figure that out. Hello!! That's why you have an agency. To protect yourself from nightmares like this from happening! It was like a crazy show you would see on 60 minutes or something. Apparantely there are a lot of people out there that will pull adoption scams like this for the money. There is a lot of money involved.
Poor Becky and Wes. She went through all the stages of grief after feeling like she was going through a death of a baby that she never had or never even existed. My dad is an attorney and counseled them on a few things to be prepared for when the owner of the agency came to their house Monday. There were a lot of things that didn't add up with the agency and she really doesn't know who to trust. Was it the agency the whole time just scamming them? Was there ever a girl? She now has an adoption attorney working for them so they can get their money back and then some for all the emotional distress, travel, hotel, and Wes being out of work. My dad also warned her that this could get really messy and be a long drawn out process. She isn't talking openly with everyone yet because of all the legal stuff that could be going on, so if you are reading this and you know Becky, please don't mention it to her on her facebook or anywhere anyone else may see it just to protect her. She would love an email or a phone call though, I am sure.
Becky is looking on the bright side of things and every day gets she feels a little better. She is grateful that she does have three healthy kids and feels for those women who don't have any kids and have a hard time adopting a baby. It's times like these that you really do count your blessings, focus on the positive, and move forward.
Found this praying mantis on a pole in the drive-thru on our way up to Logan. Daddy took him and put him in our car. We named him Lafe (name close to leaf).
Enjoyed our cool new pet. Kids and Daddy each took turns holding him and teasing their mom as she shrieked. Concluded mom may need counseling for her phobia of bugs. Mom agreed.
Got to Logan. Found multiple bugs to feed to Lafe: little bug, not interested. Wasp, dropped him after he got bit. Grasshopper, success. They all watched closely as Lafe enjoyed his lunch one limb at a time. Mom is happy to report that they found a new home in the trees for Lafe. Daddy grew quite attached to the little guy. It was fun while it lasted.
We're so excited for Dan and Sadie! After a really fast delivery, they welcomed their newest addition Lewis to their family early this morning! Congratulations you guys!
