To know Aften and Brian Bell, is to know how they show love through service.

Aften's love of design fueled a career as a highly-regarded product designer, inventor, and founder of a pet accessory brand. Her and Brian's love of animals has led to the rescue, foster, and adoption of hundreds of dogs through Aften's non-profit, The Love Pit. Brian's love of service is shown through his loyalty to friends and family and his talent as a Chef.

But their greatest love has been found in the joy of raising a family with Sydney, Brian's son and Aften's stepson. Of all the rocks upon which their life has been built, family has served as the bedrock of it all. And more than anything, they want to see theirs grow.

After four years of physically arduous and emotionally exhausting fertility treatments starting with surgery followed by 2 years of unsuccessful medical and naturopathic solutions, Aften, Brian, and Sydney have decided to grow their loving family through adoption. The family chose an adoption agency that mirrors their values and beliefs with birth mother support and choice. Since they are adopting an infant, they must ensure the birth mother receives all the necessary support and care for a successful pregnancy. This includes resources to choose the family she feels is best for her child and the ability to keep her baby if she changes her mind. In a world where many families are forced apart in broken state adoption systems, choice through a private agency is critical.

These considerations, however, come at a cost: $55,000.

To help meet these financial demands, we are asking for donations to help the Bells raise at least $20,000 to move forward with the next phase of the program to get matched with a birth mother. Their case workers will help them create a family life book and online profile to facilitate introductions. This process can be long, but placement is guaranteed, regardless of the timeframe.

Once a birth mother chooses them, the funds raised will pay for housing, medical care, food, and community resource expenses. They will also help with the services the Bells need to meet the birth mother in person and craft a post-adoption legal agreement.

The road ahead is complex. The process is costly. But for those who have been fortunate enough to know Aften, Brian, and Sydney, then you’ve been touched, if not inspired, by their uncompromising courage, compassion, and conviction that all the forces on this planet will never beat that of a family’s love.

Let's make sure Aften & Brian know they are not alone on this journey and that they have a village behind them. Please help support with whatever you can. No amount is too small.

In the end, love conquers all.