One week before Christmas in 1986, I was rushed to the hospital, due to very high blood pressure. At the time, I didn't realize how sick I really was until they did an emergency C-section. On Thursday morning my son was born. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. I had three days in the hospital with him before I was able to sign adoption papers. For those three days, I spent as much time as possible with him, feeding him, bathing him, and changing his diapers. Those were the best days of my life. The most difficult thing I've done was to go to my father's funeral when I was twelve; the second was to leave the hospital without my son. To this day, I still remember being wheeled down the hallway to the elevator as my counselor was taking my son to his new parents.

     My son is now a very active and happy ten-year old. I met his parents in 1992 and have had continual contact with them by way of letters and pictures. I even have videotape of my son that begins the day that they received him up to the present. I cherish every letter and picture. I sent him a baby ring as a symbol of the love I have for him. Now that he is getting older, I receive little notes from him. These are just the best!

     There are some days that I am sad, like Mother's Day and Christmas, but I know that adoption was the best choice at the time and I still feel this way. As time passes, these days become fewer and life goes forward. Many of the goals I had set for myself have come true, and I have Golden Cradle and my son's adoptive family to thank for helping me make these goals a reality.

     If you would like to talk with Daniele, call (800) 327- 2229 and we will have her call you.