How is this different from traditional adoption

We have been asked, “Why don’t you adopt children who are already here?”  To which we answer, “They are children who are already here”.  These children do have life.  Cell division has begun. A soul has been created.  They deserve a chance to live.  Let that sink in for a minute… this is human life.

But there are differences to a “traditional” adoption. 

First of all, in the eyes of the medical society and government this is treated as a medical tissue transfer, no different than an organ transplant.  Which has its benefits and drawbacks.  Since it is not recognized as adoption, there is no program for funding it, either before or after (such as with taxes credits), and no accountability – which can be kinda scary.  On the other hand, there also is no waiting or preparing on background checks, home studies, and dossier.  All of which we completely support in the traditional adoption setting.  These are all safety guidelines in places to ensure that children are being placed in healthy, loving, supporting homes that best fit their needs.  The difference is their needs are already known.  Some need to be placed in a specific environment.  The best environment for our future children is currently a womb.  There are still many necessary steps taken that endure that this environment is healthy.  Not all of them are easy, comfortable or quick.  They are simply different.

On the medical side of things, while this is not viewed as adoption – it is also not viewed as medical necessity, such a fertility treatments or diagnostics work.  It is not covered by insurance until pregnancy is confirmed, at which point it is treated as a usual pregnancy.  

The travel visits of a traditional adoption (local or international) have become many trips to our providing clinic in Seattle. 

Home studies become hormone treatments.

Waiting for a court date becomes waiting for a positive pregnancy test.

There are similar things as well.  Answering all the “why” questions from friends and family, waiting, the difficulty choosing your future children, waiting, preparing your home, and more waiting.

While there are many similarities and differences, the end goal is the same – to give a child a loving home.