LSS celebrates 7,000th adoption

Reese holds her little brother Carson for the first time following the adoption placement ceremony.

LSS rang in the new year with its 7,000th adoption with the placement of 4-day-old Carson, the new son of Alisha and Matthew of Central Texas.

“This was a wonderful gift for this family and for our staff,” said LSS President and Chief Executive Officer Kurt Senske. “We feel extremely blessed to serve as God’s hands and to place hundreds of children in loving homes every year.”

Alisha and Matthew began their adoption journey in October of 2006. While their adoption process took longer than a biological birth, the unexpected arrival of a healthy, eligible child for the family unfolded in mere hours, according to Karalyn Heimlich, executive director of adoption services with LSS.

“We received news of this child’s birth and the mother’s willingness to place the child for adoption in less than a week,” Heimlich said. “We called the family and asked if they could be ready in less than six hours.”

For Matthew, the news of his son’s unexpected arrival happened in the least likely of places.

“I was about five minutes away from being in a deer blind in El Campo, and was almost out of cell phone reception,” Matthew said. “We were told that the call could come anytime, but this was very unexpected. My wife, Alisha, was with her mother on the way to Beeville, and we all jumped on the road to Austin.”

The adoption placement ceremony took place at the LSS Austin offices, and was attended by family, friends and LSS staff.

“We really couldn’t quite grasp the idea that he was going to be our son,” Matthew said of seeing his son for the first time. “My wife and I had waited so long, and for it all to be at an end seemed unreal.  We both fell in love with him before we ever actually saw his face.”

This adoption will not be the last for the couple, who are planning for another adopted child in the next few years.

“Children are perfect in God’s eyes, and therefore it doesn’t matter who birthed that child, only that they are loved unconditionally,” Matthew said. “Love is not limited to only biological family, but all encompassing of anyone who would use it bountifully.”

The LSS domestic adoption program includes children adopted through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Those children come from families whose parental rights have been terminated due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Some children, like Carson, also come from single parents who have an unplanned pregnancy, and decide to place their babies for adoption.
The LSS international adoption program facilitates the adoption of children from many countries.

For more information about the LSS adoption program, call (800) 938-5777 or click here.

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