Gibbons' Family Adoption Fund
Donation protected
Our Journey to Parenthood
Dakari and I have had a desire to grow our family since a year after we were married. Our desire was to first conceive biologically and then eventually adopt. We knew there was a great need for loving homes for children to be adopted in to and wanted to be able to provide that for at least one child. Adoption would come second though or that's what our plan was. For the next 8 years, little did we know we would face several fertility challenges.
We found out about our first pregnancy on my 30th birthday and were beyond excited! I announced it at my birthday party because we just couldn't wait to share the news! We were going to be parents! A few days later, we heard the words for what would be the first of many times - "There is no heartbeat." We were devastated. We didn't know that it would be so difficult to have children. After all, people do it all the time. Why was it so difficult for us?
Since the first miscarriage, we have had 7 miscarriages including an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in emergency surgery, a blood infusion and a loss of a fallopian tube. It is ONLY by the grace of God that I am here today. In 2012, I underwent surgery to remove several fibroids. The surgery was a little more invasive than initially thought, but again by the grace of God, I made it through.
In 2015, we had finally done it! Via an IUI (Intra-Uterine Insemination) fertility procedure, we conceived and surpassed our first trimester! Yay! At our 20-week visit, we learned that we were having a girl!!! We named her Genesis Grace Gibbons. She was so beautiful. One week later, I went into preterm labor and we lost her. Our beautiful Genesis was gone from us and into the arms of Jesus. Another devastating blow. We decided to take a break after that. No more doctor visits, no more needles, no more. My body needed a rest from all it had been through.
Two years later, we were ready to get back to it and worked with our doctor to devise a plan. We talked about doing an IUI three times and if we were not successful we would reevaluate after that. So it began again - doctor visits, ultrasounds, needles, etc. We were not successful after the first try. Disappointed to say the least, we decided to not move forward with the plan and allow God to take control. We continue to believe that we will bear a child and we rest in that promise - in His time. In the meantime, we will put our effort into adopting which brings us to today.
Thus far we have completed our Home Study (which was intense to say the least) and now we are ready to begin the match process which means time to start paying. Your kind donation will help extremely to offset the adoption fees.
This is a very humbling ask. We recognize that adopting is a choice and we can't expect others to fund a decision that we made, however we will greatly appreciate your support. It will help provide a healthy, safe, loving home for a child where they can live their best life. Any amount will be greatly, greatly felt and appreciated.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
With love,
Dakari and Shanelle Gibbons
Dakari and I have had a desire to grow our family since a year after we were married. Our desire was to first conceive biologically and then eventually adopt. We knew there was a great need for loving homes for children to be adopted in to and wanted to be able to provide that for at least one child. Adoption would come second though or that's what our plan was. For the next 8 years, little did we know we would face several fertility challenges.
We found out about our first pregnancy on my 30th birthday and were beyond excited! I announced it at my birthday party because we just couldn't wait to share the news! We were going to be parents! A few days later, we heard the words for what would be the first of many times - "There is no heartbeat." We were devastated. We didn't know that it would be so difficult to have children. After all, people do it all the time. Why was it so difficult for us?
Since the first miscarriage, we have had 7 miscarriages including an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in emergency surgery, a blood infusion and a loss of a fallopian tube. It is ONLY by the grace of God that I am here today. In 2012, I underwent surgery to remove several fibroids. The surgery was a little more invasive than initially thought, but again by the grace of God, I made it through.
In 2015, we had finally done it! Via an IUI (Intra-Uterine Insemination) fertility procedure, we conceived and surpassed our first trimester! Yay! At our 20-week visit, we learned that we were having a girl!!! We named her Genesis Grace Gibbons. She was so beautiful. One week later, I went into preterm labor and we lost her. Our beautiful Genesis was gone from us and into the arms of Jesus. Another devastating blow. We decided to take a break after that. No more doctor visits, no more needles, no more. My body needed a rest from all it had been through.
Two years later, we were ready to get back to it and worked with our doctor to devise a plan. We talked about doing an IUI three times and if we were not successful we would reevaluate after that. So it began again - doctor visits, ultrasounds, needles, etc. We were not successful after the first try. Disappointed to say the least, we decided to not move forward with the plan and allow God to take control. We continue to believe that we will bear a child and we rest in that promise - in His time. In the meantime, we will put our effort into adopting which brings us to today.
Thus far we have completed our Home Study (which was intense to say the least) and now we are ready to begin the match process which means time to start paying. Your kind donation will help extremely to offset the adoption fees.
This is a very humbling ask. We recognize that adopting is a choice and we can't expect others to fund a decision that we made, however we will greatly appreciate your support. It will help provide a healthy, safe, loving home for a child where they can live their best life. Any amount will be greatly, greatly felt and appreciated.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
With love,
Dakari and Shanelle Gibbons
Organizer
Shanelle Francis Gibbons
Organizer
Riverview, FL
