Adoption Diaries

Whittney, 28, and Greg Zumdahl, 33, both grew up in rural Illinois, and were high school sweethearts. Whittney is a physical therapist and Greg works in insurance, and they both run a farm of their own. The Zumdahls knew right away they wanted lots of children, but after four miscarriages, Whittney saw a specialist who told her that she had an auto immune condition that results in her body rejecting a pregnancy. Whittney and Greg’s pastor had adopted a child through the Independent Adoption Center, and he recommended that they look into it as well. After several months of waiting for a birthmom to pick them, they received a phone call from Kolene Zittel, 26, a pregnant young woman from Omak, Washington. Kolene is responsible, educated and has a good job as an X-Ray technician, but she isn’t ready to be a mom. Kolene herself was adopted and had an understanding that the decision to make an adoption plan stems from a place of selfless love. Although she is grateful for her birthmother’s choice, she wished that she knew more about the circumstances surrounding her adoption. Thus, she knew that if she were to make an adoption plan, openness was going to be an essential component. The Zumdahls and Kolene built an amazing connection planned to all be together in Washington for the birth.

Mimi, 37, and Michael Shrall, 30, have been married for seven years and live in a family friendly neighborhood in Fishers, Indiana. Mimi is an interior designer and Michael is a computer programmer. They wanted a big family, but have only succeeded in having one child (through IVF), their son Alex. After four frustrating years of additional IVF treatment, the Shralls decided to pursue an open adoption, and they were connected to Janelle Haycock, 21. Janelle decided to move home after finding out she was pregnant from an ex-boyfriend in California. She now lives with her father in Salt Lake City and is researching nearby university programs. Although she believes she that adoption is in the best interest of her unborn baby, actually going through with the placement was more heartbreaking than she ever could have imagined.