Adoption

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”

— James 1:27

Adoption has been one of the greatest callings God has ever placed on our lives—and one of the most beautiful blessings we have ever received. But it has also brought us to places of deep brokenness, where faith is all we have left to hold onto.

Our son, Douglas III—our Doug—entered this world already carrying burdens no child should ever have to bear. In the womb, he was exposed to drugs, alcohol, and smoking. After he was born, his early years were marked by abuse and neglect—pain layered upon pain in ways we will never fully understand. Eventually, he was removed from that environment, only to face more instability when another family was unable to adopt him after a year with them.

Nearly ten years ago, God brought Doug into our home, just as he was beginning kindergarten. From the very beginning, he longed to be seen, to be loved, to be affirmed. There has always been something tender in him—a deep need for connection—but also a pull toward darkness that he has struggled to resist. The trauma of his past has shaped him in ways that have only become more evident as he has grown.

Today, Doug is almost 16 years old, and he is fighting battles that are heartbreaking to witness. The effects of his early trauma—both before and after birth—have surfaced in painful and frightening ways. He has struggled with harmful obsessions, manipulation, and deep emotional instability.

Over time, his behaviors escalated quickly into threats of harm—both toward himself and toward others. At times, he has threatened to take his own life. Even more devastating, he has made threats toward his younger siblings—the very ones who love him so deeply. We began to see a path forming that could not only endanger our family, but could also lead him toward consequences that might ruin his future. As parents, we knew we had to act before those threats became actions.

There have been years of confusion, fear, and behaviors that we simply cannot manage on our own.

We have sought help—again and again. Doctors, therapists, psychiatrists. We have prayed, fasted, pleaded with God, and poured everything we have into helping our son heal. But despite every effort, things continued to escalate. Doug was admitted to a psychiatric facility, but even that experience left him more traumatized and, in many ways, more deeply entrenched in manipulative behaviors.

Eventually, even professionals and law enforcement told us what no parent ever wants to hear: Doug needed long-term, intensive care beyond what we could provide at home.

Making that decision shattered us.

There are no words for what it feels like to send your child away—not because you don’t love him enough, but because you love him so much that you are willing to break your own heart to save his life… and to protect the rest of your family.

We knew we needed to act quickly. The state resources available to us had already failed Doug in the past, and time was no longer on our side. We desperately wanted a place where he would not only receive professional help, but where he would also be surrounded by the truth and love of Jesus Christ.

By God’s grace, we found a Christian residential treatment program that specializes in helping boys like Doug—boys with deep trauma, broken beginnings, and complicated stories. Their mission is not just behavioral change, but heart transformation—raising young men rooted in Christ, capable of building strong, faithful futures.

In faith, we brought Doug directly from the psychiatric hospital to this program. We prayed through every mile. We wept through every decision. And though it has been one of the hardest things we have ever done, we already see glimpses of hope. In just the first few weeks, we have received encouraging reports that he is engaging in the program—something we have long prayed for.

We believe God is at work. We believe healing is possible. But we also know this road is long.

The cost of this care is overwhelming. The program is $4,800 per month, with additional fees for counseling and specialized support. Most boys remain in the program for 12–18 months, depending on their progress. This means just for the cost of the program: we are humbly asking for $57,600 for one year of treatment. It is far beyond what we can carry on our own—but we believe with all our hearts that this is where Doug needs to be.

So we are coming to you with humility and faith, asking for help.

If you feel led to give, please know that every single gift—no matter how small—makes a difference. It is not just financial support; it is an investment in our son’s life, his healing, and his future.

If you are led to give something substantial and would like it to be tax deductible, please contact me and I can ensure your contribution can be given to the non-profit treatment center in a way that makes this possible.

If you are unable to give, we ask for something just as powerful: your prayers.

Pray for Doug’s healing.

Pray for his salvation.

Pray that he would encounter the transforming love of Christ in a real and lasting way.

Pray for wisdom, strength, and endurance for our family as we walk this road.

We are holding onto the promise that God sees Doug—that He loves him even more than we do—and that his story is not over.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

— Numbers 6:24–26

Thank you for loving our son.

Thank you for standing with our family.

We truly cannot walk this road without the body of Christ