National Adoption Month 2024 - Liam’s Story

When Chris and Anita reflect on how their family came together, they often describe their journey as being “filled with joyful chaos.”

After enduring years of fertility challenges and several painful setbacks, the couple decided that adoption would be the best way to start their family. For Chris, who was adopted himself, this choice was especially meaningful, as he understood firsthand the transformative impact an infant adoption placement could have on a child’s life.

Chris and Anita connected with Boys & Girls Aid through the recommendation of one of Anita’s co-workers who adopted their daughter through the agency. Throughout their entire adoption process, Chris and Anita recall being consistently impressed by the dedication and care Boys & Girls Aid’s staff displayed at every turn. “It was awe-inspiring to see how the staff went above and beyond for us,” says Chris. “Everyone at Boys & Girls Aid lives by the organization’s mission.”

Within a year of starting the process, Chris and Anita found themselves meeting with the birth mother of their soon-to-be son. The couple’s story resonated deeply with her, as she, too, had been adopted. Days later, Chris and Anita received the news that they had been selected to adopt her baby; just 11 days after that, their son Liam was born.

But the most “joyfully chaotic” twist in this story was still to come. Within weeks of welcoming Liam home, Anita was shocked to discover she was pregnant. Nine months and 10 days after Liam was born, Anita gave birth to their daughter Vianne.

Fast-forward to the present, and this close-knit family is thriving. Liam is now an extremely personable 11-year-old who loves to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He’s been excelling on the football field as his team’s center. Vianne, meanwhile, has grown into a no-nonsense 10-year-old with a playfully mischievous streak. She’s become an impressive athlete in her own right, often bringing home the gold in cross-country races.

And while they may be a little reluctant to admit it at this age, Liam and Vianne – the “twiblings” – are each other’s best friends and fiercest advocates. Every day after school, you’ll find Liam in Vianne’s room, playing a round of “Dark and Seek” or “Noodleball,” or any one of the many other games they’ve invented together.

“They share a bond that’s rare,” says Anita.

After witnessing the profound impact Boys & Girls Aid had on their family, Chris was inspired to give back in a meaningful way. Today, he proudly serves on the Boys & Girls Aid Board of Directors. With experience on both sides of the adoption process, Chris has a deep appreciation for the transformative work done at the agency. This includes our open adoption process, which allows birth parents to build a connection with potential adoptive families and choose who will raise their child. “I never realized just how important it is to have an open, supportive adoption,” he shares. “As someone who went through a closed adoption, I hadn’t understood how much unresolved angst I carried from not knowing anything about my birth family. By learning about and participating in an open adoption through Boys & Girls Aid, I was able to work through much of that trauma.”

Since 1885, Boys & Girls Aid has been committed to the core belief that every child deserves a loving family to call their own.

Our infant adoption services match newborns who may otherwise be at risk of entering the foster care system and facing a childhood filled with uncertainty, with loving families who will offer a lifetime of stability and support. We have built a life-changing legacy of completing more than 18,000 adoptions for infants and children in foster care, impacting tens of thousands of lives along the way – and our work is far from over.

As we celebrate National Adoption Month this November, we ask that you make an investment in the lives of children and families with a donation to Boys & Girls Aid. Your gift will help us break the cycle of foster care and build a brighter future where every child has a family to call their own.

Thank you for your generosity, your support, and your continued belief in the power of family