In a previous article, I described how we received a surprise phone call that informed us that the birth mother of the four boys that we were about to adopt had given birth to yet another boy. We quickly agreed that we wanted him. Talk about a surprise pregnancy!
However, there was one problem. The first state social worker that saw that he would be available ignored the fact that his siblings were about to be adopted and placed him in another home. Her reasoning was that Nancy and I were older parents. And, she noticed that early on we had to place one of the children in a respite home for a few months. Her thinking was that if we had trouble with four, we would have more with five.
If you have read the accounts of the gotcha days, you know that we had received three very traumatized little boys and a sick newborn in a few months. Nancy and I being with them all of the time was not enough manpower to handle them. Since the one child had been returned from the respite home, we had done about as well as any couple would considering the circumstances.
My personal opinion is that the state worker had been looking for an African American newborn for someone. When Isaiah appeared on her computer screen, she attempted to place him. In her mind, I assume, the fact that we had four already overrode the state mandate to try to keep siblings together.
Our adoption worker put any and all pressure that she could muster on CPS. I did some research and found out the name of the person who was in charge of the Houston area office for the state. I called his office and asked for an appointment. His secretary deflected me but asked me for all of my available information.
I presented my case to her. She kept slowing me down so I know she was writing everything that I told her. I am certain that I was also emphatic enough that she knew that I was not going to go away. The state’s policy backed up my arguments.
In a few days, we received word that the state had agreed that we should receive him. I feel compassion for the family that had him for a week, thinking that they might be able to adopt him. They had taken very good care of him. It has always been my hope and prayer that another child was made available to them soon after. Apparently, we had won the fight for Isaiah with a knock out in the second round.
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