Hello. My name is Teresa, and my son Ricky and my son-in-law Erick put their whole life savings into adopting a baby. They had to go through all the paperwork more than once (due to a typo made by a government office). After all that, they finally found a woman who knew she wouldn't be able to care for her child. She could see the love and longing in their eyes. She chose them because she knew her baby would be loved and well taken care of.

This woman sent ultrasound photos, sent updates from doctor visits, let them hear the baby's heartbeat, and even sent Ricky and Erick Happy Father's Day greetings. Now, even though they understood any money given to the birth mother was considered a gift, they still poured out everything they could so the birth mom would have a stable place to live instead of continuing to couch surf. They made sure she had resources to eat and pay bills since she had no job.

We had a baby shower for the little girl who was to be named Mary. Friends and family all came together to show support and love for Ricky, Erick, and the soon-to-be-born baby. They spent countless hours preparing for the new arrival. Mary's room was perfectly decorated. The plane tickets were purchased, and the Airbnb was rented. Their jobs were notified, and they were ready to spend about a month out of state in order for the baby to be properly detoxed after birth.

They were planning to fly out on Saturday since Sunday was the due date.

Instead, on Wednesday, they received a phone call. The baby was born, and she was keeping her.

That's it. An empty nursery. Gifts already put away, ready to be used by no one. Now Ricky just sits on that rocker for hours holding a stuffed animal, not Mary, and sobbing. All he ever wanted to be was a father. He's a fabulous uncle, an awesome father-figure to kids we know whose dad isn't around. He works at an after-school program and takes care of children that are not his own.

Yes, we hear about the bravery of birth moms and the difficulty in choosing to keep or give up a baby, but you don't ever hear about the adoptive parents who poured out their souls, only for their hopes and dreams and plans for the future to be gone in an instant, like a puff of smoke. It's like a miscarriage, but there is no closure. Only a void.

For Erick and Ricky, it was their only shot. They don't have another $40,000 or so lying around to do this all again. Unless one of us wins the lottery, we are asking to give our family another chance.

Thank you so much to any and all who would help Erick and my son be the best dads ever.