Kortekamp Adoption Fund
Donation protected
This is the story of a wonderful, strong, and loving couple named Brian and Summer Kortekamp, and their journey and struggle to have children. Two people who love to give, and give a lot, to those around them. You might wonder why me, a friend, is starting this campaign, and not themselves. That answer would be easy. Asking for help, especially monetary help, makes them uneasy. They would much rather give than get!
What is adoption? Here is a wonderful video from ilikegiving.com that captures the heart of those who choose to adopt. Brian and Summer's personal journey toward adoption is continued below this video.
Summer and Brian first met through mutual friends at Northern Kentucky University in 2003. Brian was quite smitten with Summer, and often found reasons to be around her. Summer, however, did not like Brian at all in the beginning, and was very adamant about finding him annoying. Summer eventually came around, and Brian's patience finally paid off. They started dating April 20th, 2004. Two years later, they were married on May 20th, 2006.
Their marriage started off as you might expect. Very much in love, and strong in their faith, they started making a life together! They finished school, bought a house, and started making plans to expand their little family. The were thrilled in May 2010 to find out they were expecting their first child!
In the midst of the celebration with friends and family, their world quickly shattered. Just a few short months after making the announcement, they lost their child in July 2010. Heart broken and confused, they tried to move on, but it was hard. They had lost a child.
They conceived a second child later that year in October. While more subdued, they were still excited to tell a few family and friends the happy news. Sadly, they lost that child as well, just a few days later.
Feeling empty, and lost, they prayed and searched for answers. They discovered that Summer had a condition called Policystic Ovarian Syndrome. While not impossible, it makes having children with out medical assistance more difficult. Over the next 3 years they tried everything to conceive and carry another child. They consulted doctors, and through various fertility methods conceived a third child in January of 2014. They lost this child as well, just a week later.
This time, while still feeling a great sense of loss, they decided it was time for a change. They had been praying and searching during those hard three years, and the idea of adoption had come up a few times. While they do not believe God ever wanted them to suffer, they do feel God is calling them to a different method of parenting. Through faith, they stopped all fertility treatments, confident that He is taking them down a different path.
They began the journey toward adoption shortly after losing their third child. Summer told me, when they made this decision she had such a sense of peace about it. She knew this was what they were suppose to do all along. She was meant to be the mother of a child in need.
Being the people they are, they didn't want to go with just any adoption agency. They spent several months searching for the right one. One that would not only help them find their child, but also serve the best interests of the mother and her family. They are currently working with A Helping Hand, which is affiliated with Nightlight Christian Adoptions. They will be doing a domestic adoption. You can find out more info about A Helping Hand and their domestic and international adoptions here: http://ahelpinghandadoption.org
Adoption by itself is a very expensive process. By going through an agency that does quite a lot for the mother and the families of the children being adopted, it is even more. Not to mention the various things every family needs when starting a family, regardless of the way that family starts. The estimated final cost for the entire adoption process is some where between $23,000 and $30,000. This will include their initial application, home study, agency involvement and many other fees that come with the process.
I've known Brian and Summer for nearly 12 years. They are hard working, caring people, who very rarely ask for help. They do not have to have all the money up front, however they also feel led to go through the adoption process debt free. They have worked hard to pay for the amounts needed at each step of the process. In recent months, they have had two yard sales, earning enough to finish their application process, and start pursuing the next step. They have plans to host a dinner, where patrons can enjoy a warm meal and friendly company, as well as participate in a silent auction to help raise funds for their adoption. But all of this will not be enough to completely fund their adoption, and the various needs that come with it.
I mentioned the idea of starting a donation campaign to Summer a while back. She was too nice to turn it down out right, but was uncomfortable with the idea of asking people for money, with out having something to offer them in return. Ever the giving and caring people I have known them to be for years!
Here is a short video I put together to tell you a little bit more about Brian and Summer and the caring people they are.
So on their behalf, and with their permission, I have started a campaign for them! They have a long way to go in this process, and even small gifts go a long way. Please consider donating to the adoption fund of this wonderful couple!
What is adoption? Here is a wonderful video from ilikegiving.com that captures the heart of those who choose to adopt. Brian and Summer's personal journey toward adoption is continued below this video.
Summer and Brian first met through mutual friends at Northern Kentucky University in 2003. Brian was quite smitten with Summer, and often found reasons to be around her. Summer, however, did not like Brian at all in the beginning, and was very adamant about finding him annoying. Summer eventually came around, and Brian's patience finally paid off. They started dating April 20th, 2004. Two years later, they were married on May 20th, 2006.
Their marriage started off as you might expect. Very much in love, and strong in their faith, they started making a life together! They finished school, bought a house, and started making plans to expand their little family. The were thrilled in May 2010 to find out they were expecting their first child!
In the midst of the celebration with friends and family, their world quickly shattered. Just a few short months after making the announcement, they lost their child in July 2010. Heart broken and confused, they tried to move on, but it was hard. They had lost a child.
They conceived a second child later that year in October. While more subdued, they were still excited to tell a few family and friends the happy news. Sadly, they lost that child as well, just a few days later.
Feeling empty, and lost, they prayed and searched for answers. They discovered that Summer had a condition called Policystic Ovarian Syndrome. While not impossible, it makes having children with out medical assistance more difficult. Over the next 3 years they tried everything to conceive and carry another child. They consulted doctors, and through various fertility methods conceived a third child in January of 2014. They lost this child as well, just a week later.
This time, while still feeling a great sense of loss, they decided it was time for a change. They had been praying and searching during those hard three years, and the idea of adoption had come up a few times. While they do not believe God ever wanted them to suffer, they do feel God is calling them to a different method of parenting. Through faith, they stopped all fertility treatments, confident that He is taking them down a different path.
They began the journey toward adoption shortly after losing their third child. Summer told me, when they made this decision she had such a sense of peace about it. She knew this was what they were suppose to do all along. She was meant to be the mother of a child in need.
Being the people they are, they didn't want to go with just any adoption agency. They spent several months searching for the right one. One that would not only help them find their child, but also serve the best interests of the mother and her family. They are currently working with A Helping Hand, which is affiliated with Nightlight Christian Adoptions. They will be doing a domestic adoption. You can find out more info about A Helping Hand and their domestic and international adoptions here: http://ahelpinghandadoption.org
Adoption by itself is a very expensive process. By going through an agency that does quite a lot for the mother and the families of the children being adopted, it is even more. Not to mention the various things every family needs when starting a family, regardless of the way that family starts. The estimated final cost for the entire adoption process is some where between $23,000 and $30,000. This will include their initial application, home study, agency involvement and many other fees that come with the process.
I've known Brian and Summer for nearly 12 years. They are hard working, caring people, who very rarely ask for help. They do not have to have all the money up front, however they also feel led to go through the adoption process debt free. They have worked hard to pay for the amounts needed at each step of the process. In recent months, they have had two yard sales, earning enough to finish their application process, and start pursuing the next step. They have plans to host a dinner, where patrons can enjoy a warm meal and friendly company, as well as participate in a silent auction to help raise funds for their adoption. But all of this will not be enough to completely fund their adoption, and the various needs that come with it.
I mentioned the idea of starting a donation campaign to Summer a while back. She was too nice to turn it down out right, but was uncomfortable with the idea of asking people for money, with out having something to offer them in return. Ever the giving and caring people I have known them to be for years!
Here is a short video I put together to tell you a little bit more about Brian and Summer and the caring people they are.
So on their behalf, and with their permission, I have started a campaign for them! They have a long way to go in this process, and even small gifts go a long way. Please consider donating to the adoption fund of this wonderful couple!
Organizer
Rebecca Overton Lehman
Organizer
Clinton, TN
