“It
took me a while to realize, I may never carry a child,” Jessie Soukup
shared. She and her husband, Darren, had always wanted kids and after
years of trying, finally privately adopted a son, Gavyn.
From
the very beginning, it was as though Gavyn was meant for them. The
moment the birth mother saw
Darren and Jessie’s profile, she felt a
strong sense that they were meant to raise her precious son. When she
showed the profiles of prospective parents to her family, every single
person without knowing the other one’s choice picked the Soukups.
The
Soukups were elated when they got the call informing them a birth
mother had picked them. They supported her through the entire process
and when she gave birth, it was Jessie’s chest that Gavyn first laid
upon.
Although
worth every single penny, private adoption is not an easy or affordable
process and can cost over $30,000. Between savings, donations, and
second jobs, it cost a great deal to bring Gavyn home.
Now,
Gavyn is one year old and the Soukups want to bring this kind of love
to another child in need. Gavyn laughs and wakes up smiling, adding
immeasurable joy and laughter to the Soukup house. “Once we adopted
him, I felt like my purpose was being fulfilled. Since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mom,” Jessie said. The Soukups are looking to make their family of three, a family of four.
But,
how does a family expand when the cost to adopt is so high? That is
where organizations like Both Hands come in. Both Hands helps families
fundraise for their adoptions in a way that not only helps the adoptive
family, but also reaches into the community at large.
Adoptive
parents are paired with widows in order to create a day of service for
the widow where adoptive parents gather a team, access the widow’s
needs, and go to putting their hands together to help with tasks around
the home such as repairs, painting, landscaping, and de-cluttering.
Private donors sponsor the supplies and tools necessary for the project
so that the fundraised money can go 100 percent towards the adoption
while the team helps with the labor necessary to complete the tasks.
The
Soukups will be doing their day of service on April 1 to raise money to
bring home their future child. They are partnering with a widow in La
Palma whose husband passed away 20 years ago.
If
you want to help, the Soukups are still looking for a restaurant to
donate food on the day of service and a local nursery to donate plants
and soil. You can also support their growing family by donating through
their Both Hands page at: https://bothhands.org/project/soukup-335 or if you want to reach them directly, emailing at darren.jessie2013@gmail.com.
“I
know a lot of people are silent about infertility and adoption. But,
why be silent because who knows who is going through the same things?”
voiced Jessie. It’s families like the Soukups who not only bring
blessings to those that they directly help but also, free others to
speak up, seek help, and bring about positive change.
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