Leah’s Bio:
Leah is a birth mother of 19+ years in a fully open adoption and a mother of 5 that she parents with her husband. She has been writing, speaking, and serving the adoption community since 2004. Her passion for helping others blooms from the light found within the dark trenches of her life, and the support surrounding her. Sharing vulnerably about the beauty and aches as a birth mother, she aims to inspire hope and show how open adoption can be done well. Leah’s writing and story have been featured on national platforms including Focus On The Family, Epoch Times, and HuffPost. Her memoir, The Sixteenth Year, will be available soon.
Leah’s Story:
I was barely 16 years old when I saw those two pink lines confirming my suspicion of being pregnant. Thankfully, I had a supportive family that gave so much grace and love, allowing me to make my own decisions of what I felt was best. Though I loved my baby girl deeply and wanted to be her mom, I wanted to provide her with a different life than what I could offer her at that time. Because I had grown up in a split family I wanted her to grow up on a solid family foundation. Most importantly, I knew adoption was what the Lord was calling me to do. When I surrendered to His plans for our life, the peace settled in deep and never let go.
It’s now been 19+ years in our open adoption and it still is everything I had hoped it could be, and so much more. It was the best of both worlds for us at that time, she could grow up with the life I hoped she would have and I was able to continue growing up myself, yet still be a part of her life. She’s grown into a beautiful young lady inside and out with so many talents, and more secure in her identity because she has both sides of her family. We are blessed to enjoy sleepovers, taking trips, browsing Target aisles, and being creative together. On both the grief-filled days and the joyful days I’m able to be a support in my unique role as her birth mom. Adoption changed my world in so many ways and I’m forever grateful for her adoptive family who invited me into their family, too.
