Ava's Story
Ava was born here in Massachusetts and went home from the hospital with her adoptive parents when she was two days old.
Before Ava was born, Ava's birth parents and adoptive parents worked together to plan for Ava's future Ava's birth parents picked her adoptive parents by thinking about the characteristics they wanted Ava's adoptive family to have Ava's birth parents wanted her to be raised by a Catholic couple with a big extended family They wanted Ava's adoptive parents to be athletic, fun and honest with Ava about her adoption About six weeks before Ava was born, her birth parents and adoptive parents met each other in person to decide whether they wished to make an adoption plan together A few days later, just before Christmas, the birth parents and adoptive parents decided to move forward with the adoption plan.
The plan was for the adoptive parents to drive to a hotel near the hospital when Ava's birth mother went into labor The adoptive parents would wait to come to the hospital until the birth parents were comfortable with their decision to place Ava A short time after Ava was born, the birth parents called the adoptive parents and invited them to come to the hospital The adoptive parents were able to feed Ava, bathe Ava and sleep at the hospital with her. While the adoptive parents were at the hospital, they visited with the birth family and took pictures with Ava and her birth family.
Ava's birth parents were particularly concerned that Ava's adoptive parents tell Ava how much her birth parents loved her and that they chose adoption for Ava because they thought it would be in her best interest To communicate this to Ava and to give the adoptive parents information to answer Ava's questions about her birth family as she grows, the birth mother put together a scrapbook containing a letter to Ava about why she and Ava's birth father chose adoption for Ava and pictures of Ava's birth family Ava's birth parents also gave Ava a stuffed bunny that the birth mother had played with when she was a baby, several children's books about being adopted, and an outfit, complete with booties and a blanket.
After Ava's discharge from the hospital, Ava's adoptive parents stayed with Ava in Massachusetts until they received permission from the Interstate Compact Office to return to their home state. When they returned home, Ava's adoptive parents called Ava's birth parents to let them know that they had returned home safely Ava's adoptive parents have agreed to send pictures and letters and to talk on the phone so that Ava's birth family can see and know how Ava is growing.