THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY. Tessa and Justin Palmer received this news in 2014 after a year of trying to get pregnant. Still longing to add another child to their family, which included 4-year-old son Owen and 12-year-old Arden (Justin’s daughter from a previous marriage), the couple decided to adopt. After all, like one in 10 Americans, Justin had been adopted, as a newborn.
Following the lead of Tessa’s sister, who had recently brought home a toddler daughter from overseas, the Palmers leaned toward adopting from China — the country that, in 2018, completed 36% of international adoptions. If they considered an older child with medical special needs from China’s “waiting child” list, the wait could drop from five years to two. But could they afford it?
To adopt from China, the Palmers learned, would cost them roughly $40,000. Though they lived modestly in rural Coopersburg, PA, they also had careers with modest earnings. Justin was an emergency room nurse at the local hospital. Tessa, a social worker, had worked weekends for a hospice care provider since Owen was born. The job let her be home with him and available to Arden during the week but limited her income.
So they turned to family. “We would need help with this,” they told their parents and siblings. With everyone on board, Tessa wrote the first $500 check to an adoption agency in June 2014 and crossed her fingers that the rest of the money would come.
What seemed like overnight, Tessa’s inbox exploded with paperwork. She and Justin were required to take 10 hours of parenting classes. For the home study, a social worker visited their house to ask seemingly a thousand questions.
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Good House Keeping - US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Good House Keeping - US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
inside the GH Textiles Lab
GH textiles pros reveal their top-tested tricks to help you make informed decisions about fabrics for your home and wardrobe.
Deep-Fried Favorites
Crispy food, coming right up! Pick an ingredient and a coating (if you wish). Add vegetable oil to the fill line in the deep fryer and heat to 350°F per manufacturer directions. Fry until golden brown.
EASY WEEKNIGHTS
Make a fresh and delicious dinner in less time than you'd need to order takeout.
Find the Right Pet Pros
Deciding on a new veterinarian, boarding facility or trainer can be stressful. Here's how to get the pick of the litter.
Crispy Chorizo Tacos
5-INGREDIENT DINNER
A Healthier Frying Oil
It comes from one of our nutrition director's favorite fruits.
Your Ultimate Deep Frying Guide
The sizzle, the crunch, the color-nothing quite compares to fried food. Here, our GH culinary pros dive into different techniques, tools and tips to help you master every step of the delicious process. Grab some oil and go for it!
HOST A COOKBOOK PARTY
The holidays may be over, but the fun doesn't have to be! This winter, gather a few friends to prepare a meal together from a well-loved cookbook or swap recipes. Here, our kitchen pros share their favorites.
Healthy Fating Guide
Nourishing your body doesn't have to be complicated. Our GH Nutrition Lab experts deliver simple, practical solutions that are also delicious!
HOW TO Take Better Care of Yourself
Have a healthier, happier 2024! We tend to associate \"joy\" with the holiday season, but striving for happiness should happen all year-even after the wrapping paper and tinsel have been packed away. A big part of that involves taking care of your health, both mental and physical. Here are 28 ways to do just that - at least a few will work for you!